The new event is set to be something of a challenge, combining a road car with some interesting handling characteristics, relatively slippery Sports Hard tires, and a complex circuit with very little room for error. That will all likely lead to a lot of red times over the next 14 days.
Mount Panorama — also known as Bathurst — hosts the event, with its close walls always ready to bite should you make the slightest mistake. Unlike the course from the other time trial, which began last week, there's a lot going on and plenty of places to gain and lose time as you climb up the mountain and then rattle back down it.
You'll be driving the Renault Clio V6 for the event, on the aforementioned Sports Hard tires. Note that the car comes with Comfort Soft tires as standard so you'll either need to pay for the upgrade or use a rental car with the tires already fitted.
This madcap compact car takes pretty much everything from a second-generation Renault Clio and throws it in la poubelle. There's virtually nothing connecting the two aside from an overall shape, as the V6 model packs in a three-liter engine behind the driver rather than the usual position in the nose.
Renault had to make significant structural changes to make this happen, so the Clio V6 is a much heavier car than the regular Clio Sport and offers only a mild performance advantage over its front-wheel drive sibling. Nonetheless, it's a completely different proposition to drive.
That's something you can explore over the mountain this week. Currently the world record sits on the brink of a flat 2:30, requiring a 2:34.7 to make the gold time. We're not expecting that to last, and we'd estimate a 2:28.5 will take the crown so you'll want a 2:32.9 or better if you're looking to take the 2m credit prize.
In order to access the Online Time Trials, you'll need to unlock Sport Mode, by completing Menu Book 9 ("Championship: Tokyo Highway Parade") in the GT Cafe single player hub. As it's just you against the clock and not a direct, head-to-head multiplayer event, PlayStation Plus is not required.
You'll usually need to be within 3% of the fastest time globally once the event finishes in order to secure "gold" status and a 2m credit bonus prize. There's smaller prizes of one million for being within 5%, and 250,000cr for bronze at 10% off.
The events update every Thursday, with each individual challenge usually remaining available for two weeks and the oldest of the two events being replaced each week. You can look forward to the next new Time Trial arriving at 0700 UTC on Thursday August 22.
Gran Turismo 7 Lap Time Challenge August 15 – Mount Panorama
- Track: Mount Panorama
- Car: Renault Clio V6 '00 – Garage/Rental Car
- Power/Weight/PP Limit: BOP (H)
- Tires: Sports Hard
- Settings: Fixed
Gran Turismo 7 Lap Time Challenge August 8 – High Speed Ring
- Track: High Speed Ring
- Car: Porsche 917 Living Legend – Garage/Rental Car
- Power/Weight/PP Limit: BOP (H)
- Tires: Racing Hard
- Settings: Fixed
While they have specific purposes, all three events also offer up the regular Time Trial rewards for the various brackets, so if you can manage a time within 3% of the world record for each there's a possible 6m credits available for you!
Gran Turismo 7 Honda Racing eMS 2024 Challenge Class
- Track: Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps
- Car: Honda RA272 '65 – Garage/Rental Car
- Power/Weight/PP Limit: BOP (H)
- Tires: Racing Hard
- Settings: Partially Allowed – Brake Balance
Gran Turismo 7 Honda Racing eMS 2024 U17 Class
- Track: Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps
- Car: Honda RA272 '65 – Garage/Rental Car
- Power/Weight/PP Limit: BOP (H)
- Tires: Racing Hard
- Settings: Partially Allowed – Brake Balance
Gran Turismo 7 Mercedes-AMG Motorsport Virtual Championship
- Track: Laguna Seca
- Car: Mercedes-AMG GT3 '20 – Garage/Rental Car
- Power/Weight/PP Limit: BOP (L)
- Tires: Racing Soft
- Settings: Fixed
