rating: ***
Level: 0
No. of participants: 8
*The ratios below can be used with front or rear-drives
Autumn
Ring -- 3 laps
(1,200) 21.05 - 57 hp
(2,000) 28.18 - 71 hp
(2,200) 29.72 - 74
hp
(3,000) 31.91 - 94 hp
(4,200) 35.59 - 118 hp
Grand Valley East -- 2 laps
(1,200) 14.63 - 82 hp
(2,000)
22.22 - 90 hp
(2,200) 23.91 - 92 hp
(3,000) 26.31 - 113 hp
(4,200) 27.81 - 151 hp
Tsukuba -- 2 laps
(1,200) 18.65 - 65 hp
(2,000) 26.66
- 75 hp
(2,200) 28.29 - 78 hp
(3,000) 30.30 - 99 hp
(4,200) 31.58 - 133 hp
Having trouble at Grand Valley East? Start these no higher than 4th: Citroen C4 Coupe, any Peugeots
2 series, Honda Civics, any Mazda Miatas, Roadsters, or MX-5s, the Mazda 6 5-door,
MG TF, Mini Coopers, Nissan Primeras, Nissan Silvias, and Toyota MR-S / MR2.
At Autumn Ring Mini they can be started on any position. Tsukuba is the "judgment call" track.
* Some
taller vehicles like the VW Bus or any of Japan's Kei vans may need a small amount of additional power at Grand Valley East
and Tsukuba, where aerodynamics can limit their straight-line speed. I'm guessing about +10
hp at the most.
* Power can also be removed if none of the best cars show up. These better cars can be found in the Opponents
section below.
The ratios above are suggestions more than absolutes. They are simply a way to start
the game. The Sunday Cup is unpredictable, as I'm finding many of GT5's races tend to be. Some races are closer than others.
One suggestion for those who want close racing is to buy & drive cars which haven't had their power severely hacked
by the Power Limiter. Use something which starts with 88 horsepower, not 188.
Description
The
Sunday Cup is back! This is where it all starts, for those who don't begin GT5's sim mode in a kart. But why is
it called "Sunday Cup?"
My dad has described to me what it was like when he was a kid back in the 1940s and early
1950s. World War II was over, and America's public started delving into leisure time more often, taking advantage of all their
new toys.
But television was not common yet, so people did other things for entertainment. Jobs were
plentiful, gas was cheap, and many middle-class families had sedans or wagons. Why not go for a Sunday drive?
In America we had some inexpensive autos (Nash, Hudson, Ford, Chevrolet, Pontiac, Oldsmobile, Dodge,
and Studebaker), while others were costlier (Buick, Cadillac, Lincoln, Mercury, Chrysler, Plymouth, and Packard). Some
were mid-size while others were gigantic. I'm thinking the Japanese and Europeans also had their versions of Sunday
drives, as they also had emerging middle-class families, although they did not go for drives in monumentally large
automobiles as we did..
The idea was: the entire family would pile into the family car and go for a Sunday
drive. They would spend time together, explore the countryside, and maybe go somewhere they had never been before.
These Sunday drives were typically slow. The family would motor around at a leisurely pace as they took in the sights, dad
(usually dad) at the wheel.
Perhaps this has something to do with the slow pace of the Sunday Cup. :) Or perhaps
our infamous Sunday Cup opponents are men and women who work all week, finally getting in their commuter cars and making an
attempt at racing in our game. On Sunday.
The Opponents
The Ai drives pretty badly to be honest,
but they're supposed to be Sunday Cup drivers, which means they're all beginners. And
they certainly drive like beginners. They're unconfident and make plenty of mistakes. Yes, they're bad drivers, but they
also seem more human because of this.
(Edit: Update 1.06 has sterilized some of this "bad"
driving. I'm noticing some Ai cars now have TCS installed.
As they get sideways and
smoke their tires, fling off-track and lose their cool, it's our job to navigate around them, to do the best
we can with the least power possible.. It's very possible to win with very low power if you're already skilled
at seeing spontaneous racing lines as you navigate thru their messy traffic jams.
In GT4, certain cars like the MGF,
MG TF, Mazda Miata, Eagle Vision and a couple others were the strongest. In GT5, it's hard to say who's the best. If an MGF
shows up on the grid for instance, there's a chance it won't get anywhere near the front. Why is this? It's because GT5's
Ai drivers (including B-spec) must now deal with cars which handle with more variety than they did in GT4. So
a Miata or a TF might not be a slam-dunk if it shows up; matter of fact, front-drives sometimes outshine rear-drives.
But
bottom line: no cars really shine above the rest, not in a massive jackrabbit/predictable manner like GT3 & GT4 featured.
If there are any to watch for, they might be these...
'04 Citroen C4 Coupe any Peugeot
2 series any Honda Civics any Mazda Miatas, Roadsters, or MX-5s, the
'03 Mazda 6 5-door MGF or TF Mini Coopers Nissan
Primeras Nissan Silvias Toyota MR-S / MR2.
Start them no higher than 4th place at Grand Valley East or 3rd at Tsukuba, unless more
challenge is needed. These better cars can be started anywhere at Autumn Ring Mini, unless you've got yourself a real mess
of a slug to compete in.
All the computer cars are driving on Hard Sport tires, but
it's rare one of us will need these.
Recommended Parts:
Comfort Mediums for most at
Autumn Ring Mini.
Soft Comforts for most cars with ABS brakes at Grand Valley East. Those with exceptional handling
(some Kei sports cars, for instance) should still be on mediums.
Tsukuba can require either softs or mediums, depending how difficult the grid is. If the better cars mentioned above
start on pole or second place, definitely use softs. If the grid is packed with sloths, definitely use mediums.
Hard
Sport tires for many Historic cars (no ABS brakes) at Grand Valley East, maybe Tsukuba.
Sport
Suspension, for those who struggle with wins.
Close-ratio transmission at certain tracks (this can be overkill sometimes though)
Some
cars may require light drivetrain parts at certain tracks, just to give them an edge. Single plate clutch, a
lighter flywheel, etc.
Cars used to get ratios:
'98 Daihatsu Midget D Type II (flyweight
- 1,200)
'76 VW Golf I GTi (lightweight - 1,800)
'05 Fiat 500 1.2 Lounge SS (1 ton - 2,200)
'09 Toyota
Prius G (middle-heavyweight - 2,900)
'88 Volvo 240 GLT (ultra-heavyweight - 4,200)
--------------------------------------------------------------
FF Challenge
rating: **
Level:
0
Suzuka East--3 laps
(1,400) 22.58 - 62 hp
(2,000) 27.40 - 73 hp
(2,500)
29.41 - 85 hp
(3,000) 30.52 - 97 hp
(4,000) 33.90 - 118 hp
Clubman Route 5--3 Laps
(1,400) 17.07
- 82 hp
(2,000) 20.62 - 97 hp
(2,500) 22.12 - 113 hp
(3,000) 24.39 - 123 hp
(4,000) 24.69 - 162 hp
Deep Forest--2 Laps
(1,400) 18.18
- 77 hp
(2,000) 21.50 - 93 hp
(2,500) 22.12 - 113 hp
(3,000) 24.79 - 121 hp
(4,000) 25.80 - 155 hp
Description
A set of three races
featuring all front-drive models (duh). First time I tried the FF Challenge, I entered my tricked-out '88 Honda Accord Coupe
and raced several events. Found myself using less and less power, till I was about 80 hp less than the Ai on average, and
still blowing them away! Therefore, it doesn't take much to win here.
Opponents
Still
in the Beginner's League we certainly are. The drivers we're up against seem even worse than they did in the Sunday
Cup at times, as they take corners way too cautiously, braking for no reason, crashing into barricades, and making puzzling
half-moves that go no where. They'll finally let loose down those straights, but by then you may be far gone.
Even
the infamous Civic Type R seems to be driven by somebody who literally just got his driver's license...and I don't mean
his racing license...I mean his civilian driver's license!
The Civic Type R and
Mazda Kusabi, by the way, can wind up being the two most likely jackrabbits of the FF Challenges, although
in some races they screw up and don't get too far ahead of the others. Other cars may duel a bit, but rarely will one
of them get a true lead. The Honda Integra, Citroen C4, and Ford Focus sometimes also can put a good fight on the front
lines.
* Update 1.10 has made this above group of cars a little more likely to expand their lead over the
others. Consider this at Route 5, especially if you're driving a Kei or some other weakling, you may want to start these faster
cars downfield..
Secondary to those four are the usual crowd of coupes and hot-hatches:
non Type R Civics, Preludes, Golf GTIs, FTOs, 107s, 307s, Meganes, Celicas, etc. I've even seen Infiniti G20
sedans rocket towards the front! There's a chance one of these may wind up jumping far ahead of the others, but these
moments will be rare.
Be careful when following the Ai in these races.
As mentioned, they have a terribly annoying habit of slamming on their brakes mid-corner, as if an imaginary dog just
jumped in their way. If you're following them too close, it can cause an unecessary accident! Instead, it's best to take cornering
paths which (at first) seem unnatural. Practice taking turns from the outside, rather than in a typical
out-in-out manner. Just do whatever you can to avoid them, unless you don't mind playing bumper cars.
Parts
Recommended
>Comfort Medium or Soft tires.
Most cars (modern or historic) should be on mediums at Suzuka, but softs are better for historics (no ABS) at
the more-challenging Route 5, with all its walls and guardrails. Deep Forest is the "judgment call" track. Again, many modern
cars should be on medium tires.
>Fixed Sport suspension for cars that suffer the most
severe understeer. Go with stock parts otherwise.
> Some cars (like Japanese keis) may need transmission work
of some sort.
> Close ratio for those with tall gears / low torque. This can become overkill in some cars though.
> Single-plate clutch + Flywheel kit, again, for those with low-torque engines.
Cars
used for ratios:
'79 Honda Civic 3-door EX (flyweight / 1,700)
'88 Honda Accord (middleweight / 2,500)
'09 Toyota
Prius G (middle-heavy / 2,900)
'03 Honda Odyssey (ultra-heavy / 4,000) *
* = Hybrid
------------------------------------------------------
---------
World Compact Car Cup
rating: ***
Participants:
8
Level: 1
London
(1,100)
20.75 - 53 hp
(2,000) 25.64 - 78 hp
(3,000) 28.85 - 104 hp
(4,200) 33.33 - 126 hp
Circuito de Madrid - Mini
(1,100)
16.42 - 67 hp
(2,000) 20.61 - 97 hp
(3,000) 24.79 - 121 hp
(4,200) 28.76 - 146 hp
Cape Ring Inside
(1,100)
22.00 - 50 hp
(2,000) 26.66 - 75 hp
(3,000) 29.13 - 103 hp
(4,200) 33.60 - 125 hp
* The above ratios can be used for the majority of average front-drive
(FF) cars. FFs with above-average handling may need some power removed, if possible.
** The above ratios can also be
used for the majority of older rear-drives with mediocre handling, and no ABS brakes. Those FR or MR machines which rarely
get upset during cornering may need power removed.
*** Finally, these ratios should only be used if the MGF,
Citroen C4, MINI Coopers {especially the S version}, Ford Focuses, any Honda Civics
1990 or newer, Honda CR-X del Sol, and any Peugeot {206 thru
307} start slightly in front or behind us, in positions 3 thru 6. Power will need to be added if they start on or
near pole (1st or 2nd place). I'm guessing +5-15 hp depending how well the car handles, how good its traction is, etc.
After
applying this 5 to 15 hp bonus, do the first race at London. If we're blowing away the Ai here, this power bonus probably
won't need this bonus at Madrid and Cape Ring.
**** Conversely, if none of the faster hatches show,
a little power may need to be removed. Anywhere from -5 to 10 hp.
*****
Cars that have CVT gearboxes (Toyota Prius, Honda Insight, etc.) may need additional 5
to 10 hp removed.
****** Taller Kei MPVs like the Daihatsu Move should be given
5 extra horsepower at Madrid and Cape Ring.
Description
Now
it's time to tackle the WCCC, our first Level 1 events in the A-spec league. These are three races which can be
done as a series or individually. There are still 7 opponents per track.
Unfortunately, we cannot
practice or qualify once we're actually in the series, which really sucks. This is a new feature not found in
GT4. Grr. To get some practice time, it's recommended to go into Arcade mode or use the practice area of the game. All
three of these (London, Madrid, and Cape Ring) are new to GT5, which makes it very important to take some time to learn these
tracks in detail. But in truth, the WCCC isn't very demanding. As usual, I found myself using
less and less power to gain the above ratios.
To go off-topic for a moment, here are the official international compact
car size classifications, which should help settle the confusion of which cars should be entered and which can't. Truthfully,
any car in GT5 apparently can be entered in this race (from Volkswagen to Veyron), but for those trying to stick to a bit
of realism, there are some guidelines below.
Each classification represents the maximum length a car can be
to be considered a "compact", as per real-life international 2010-2011 regulations.
Hatches: 175" (4,450 mm)
Sedans, wagons, coupes, roadsters: 187" (4,750)
Compact MPVs: 177" (4,500 mm)
Crossover SUVs: 185" (4,700 mm)
Opponents:
It says
our opponents are all hot-hatches, but this is untruthful. The MG-TF (a roadster) makes an appearance on occasion.
I've also seen older classics like a '65 Skyline show up. We can also enter many cars other than hatches. I just raced
my '79 Nissan Bluebird (a coupe), for instance.
The WCCC drivers drive with a little more tenacity, a little more
confidence than they did in the Sunday Cup and FF Challenge, but they're still slow and occasionally stupid. There can be
some position changes and lots of dueling in these races. Both city tracks can be tricky to race since there's
walls, curbs, narrow areas to drive thru, but Cape Ring was surprisingly easy. I was shocked to be blowing away 170+ horsepower
BMWs, Peugeots and the like in my 70 horsepower Mitsubishi i at Cape Ring.
So far as the Ai goes, it seems the
MG TF, Peugeot 206s, Honda Civics (1990 and above) including the del Sol, Citroen
C4, Ford Focuses and MINI Cooper S hot hatches are usually
stronger than others, but (as usual) nothing is written in stone. But generaly, put these guys downfield for the closest
race, or start them on or near or on Pole position if you want more of a challenge.
Parts
used:
> Comfort Medium tires (front or rear-drives). Comfort
Softs can be used for poorer-handling vehicles, which includes most historic cars (no ABS brakes).
>
Close ratio transmission for some cars at some tracks, but at times this unit is overkill.
>
Full-custom transmission for cars with screwy gearboxes that are way too tall or too short for some tracks. Reserve
this option only for those which truely need it.
> Drivetrain parts as needed, especially for historic cars,
and those with low-torque engines.
Cars used for ratios:
'70 Honda Z ACT (1,100 flyweight category)
Toyota Yaris, '79 Honda Civic (1,700 lightweight category)
?
(2,700 middle/heavyweight category)
'88 Volvo 240 GLT Estate (4,200 ultra-heavyweight category)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lightweight K Cup
rating: ***
Level needed: 1
Participants: 8
Autumn Ring Mini &
Suzuka East Circuit
(1,100) 28.95 - 38 hp
(2,000) 34.38 - 58 hp
(2,100)
35.00 - 60 hp
*The above ratios should be used mostly if rear-drives show up (see below for details)
and start in front of us. If they don't show, power may need to be removed, which is sometimes impossible.
**The 2,400+ pound
Mitsubishi i-MiEV can also be raced successfully despite the fact that its power-to-weight ratio is much
higher than typical and it can't accept power upgrades higher than its stock 61 hp.
Description
After
World War II, many Japanese families struggled to buy a full-size or even a medium-sized family car. A new class
of vehicles was officially created by the Japanese government in tamdem with various Japanese manufacturers so that those
who couldn't afford to get a suitable road car could at least drive something other than a moped, bicycle, or
scooter. That's pretty much how the infamous Subaru 360 first saw pavement.
Kei (or "K") cars were restricted
in size (nowadays to 133.66 inches in length), and have an engine displacement no larger than 360 cc. Power
would rate no more than 64 ps (63 hp). Gran Turismo got interested in keis in 1998, putting these tiny
runabouts into GT2, which must have been a first for any videogames. Sure, Mario Kart has tiny runabouts, too, but
they're all fictional. ;) All the keis in GT5 are real! We cay buy, drive, and possibly race them in some countries.
Every
Gran Turismo except the very first one has had its version of the K cup, but rules haven't been so strict as to what could
be entered. In GT2, for instance, we could enter anything which fell under certain horsepower limits. Therefore, a Mazda Demio
(compact wagon much bigger than a kei) with slightly less than 100 hp could be used to blow away the K-Cup
in this game. In GT4, one could enter any vehicle, as long as it was less than 3,400 millimeters in length.
GT5 has
enforced stricter rules, so that now we can only enter vehicles which are actually Japanese Keis. This bummed
me out for awhile, as I was looking forward to using an Autobianchi or a Fiat 500, but I can see the reason PD implemented
this rule.
Opponents
Just like in GT4, the ones to watch for are the miniature rear-drive sports
cars. Honda Beats, Suzuki Capucinos, and Mazda AZ-1s top this list. The Daihatsu
Midget Type II also puts up a surprisingly good fight at Autumn Ring Mini if it starts on or near pole position.
Occasionally, some front-drives like the Daihatsu Copen convertible can also make a good showing.
But the reason I'm giving the K Cup a 3-star rating is because of its utter unpredictability. I just did a race
in which a Suzuki Wagon R-RR held the lead at Autumn Ring Mini, and continued to keep 2nd after I passed it.
It managed to keep a couple Cappys at bay behind it. Basically, you never know what's gonna happen next during the K Cup.
It is recommended to start the regular toughies (Cappy, Beat, and AZ-1) in 3rd
place or less if one wants to see a close race between several Ai vehicles, but it's okay to start them
on pole if more overall challenge is desired. Depending on what vehicle you enter, you may need such a challenge.
Every Ai vehicle in this race is restricted to 63 hp, just like in real-life. We are not. This makes it easy
for the multitude of cheaters out there, unfortunately.
Parts needed
> Comfort Medium
or Comfort Soft tires
> For an extra challenge, attach some Hard Comfort tires!
Some of you may need such a challenge, as it's possible to be in 1st place at the end of Lap 1 at either track, full
power-reductions included. 2 more laps to go. Let's see if hard tires can solve the boredom issue. >
Some models may need a close-ratio transmission, if they've got super-tall or awkward gears.
>
Some models may need a full-custom transmission, especially those which can't make Suzuka's straight without
hitting their RPM limit.
Vehicles driven for ratio classes:
'70 Honda Z Act (1,100 lbs.)
'98 Suzuki
Wagon R-RR (1,850 lbs.) '02 Daihatsu Move RS Limited
---------------------------------------------------------------
Japanese Classics
rating: ***
Level: 2
Participants: 10
Suzuka East
(1,250)
19.53 - 64 hp
(1,700) 21.49 - 79 hp
(2,300) 24.21 - 95 hp
(2,700) 27.00 - 100 hp
(3,000) 29.41
- 102 hp
Tsukuba
(1,250) 14.88 - 84 hp
(1,700)
19.31 - 88 hp
(2,300) 22.33 - 103 hp
(2,700) 25.47 - 106 hp
(3,000) 27.52 - 109 hp
Grand Valley East
(1,250)
13.58 - 92 hp
(1,700) 17.35 - 98 hp
(2,300) 18.81 - 122 hp
(2,700) 21.09 - 128 hp
(3,000) 23.07 - 130
hp
Several cars which appear in this series are faster than the rest, and I call these Class A.
These faster autos are listed below in the Opponents section.
The above ratios assume Class A is present in all races,
starting no higher than 2nd place, except for the Dome Zero. Extra power
(+10 to 20 hp) may need to be added if the Dome Zero is included.
If no Class A shows up, (or if the better cars only show
up downfield) remove 10 horsepower or more. In most cases, use Medium Comfort
tires and minimal upgrades. Do not apply these setbacks if the Dome shows up, starting anywhere, even last
place.
Description
Here
we have all the junior sports coupes, roadsters, hatches, and even some sedans from the '50s, '60s, and '70s to play with.
There's a broader selection of cars to choose from (YES!) when compared to GT4, since GT4's '70s Japanese Classics only allowed
cars from the 1970s.
The level of excitement really rises now; all a sudden the Beginner's Hall comes alive. The
Ai still makes some odd decisions here and there, but overall they're driving with more confidence and passion, occasionally
taking some risks. There's often multiple battles taking place, this is NOT just a bunch of cars robotically following one
another with a predictable outcome (as in GT4's Japanese Classics). Watch the replay. You'll see battles for 1st
place, but also a battle for 4th or 7th place, perhaps. Cars overcooking corners and sliding out. There's always
something going on somewhere.
The only reason the Japanese Classics is not a 4-star race is that it does have
a few jackrabbits, which I've termed "Class A". Depending where these cars start, what track they're at, and apparently what
sort of driver is at the wheel, these guys will sometimes predictably steal the show. But at least there's often several
of them sparring for the win.
Opponents
It's
looking as if these events are pretty tight, as evidenced by the fact that all 10 participants (including me) were
crammed into a 9 second window at the end of my first race at Tsukuba. This is good. Part of what makes some of these
races so challenging and fun is that there is a lot of traffic to fight! I don't miss earlier Gran Turismos' habits of
6 cars per track at all.
I mentioned Class A vehicles earlier. These cars are somewhat faster than the others,
and possibly include:
'78 Dome Zero
Nissan's Z
cars (especially the '71 Fairlady 240ZG)
'68 Nissan Fairlady 2000
'68 Toyota 2000GT
'73 Mitsubishi
Lancer 1600 GSR
'67 Mazda Cosmo and Mazda 110S as well.
* I'm really wanting to add the '71 Nissan Skyline GT-R
to the list since it was such an important car in racing, but the truth is it hardly ever shows up, and when it has, I haven't
seen it do anything spectacular.
Some Class A can be started on or near pole (for more challenge)
and some (like the Dome Zero) should not be, unless the unfairest race possible is desired! (unfair to YOU, that is). Anyways,
let's discuss those that are known to be strong contestants.
>>The Dome
is a mid-engine prototype which weighs less than most of the others. It also has slightly more power. It has some advantages
at Suzuka and Tsukuba where overall speed is low, but can get too skittish, losing it occasionally during Grand
Valley East's fastest sweeper curves. Truthfully, it can also wash out at the Suzuka and Tsukuba, but these moments will
be rare.
If it's included at all, make sure to start the Dome as far downfield as possible, and in most
cases apply that 10 to 20 hp bonus.
>>Nissan's Z cars
include the '71 240Z G and '78 280Z-L. These can spring to the front (from the rear
of the starting grid) at Suzuka and Grand Valley, but they don't do so well if they're downfield at Tsukuba. This mostly depends
on what competition they've got in front of them. Z cars are a bit heavier than the others, which could possibly a limitation
at times.
>>The '68 Nissan Fairlady 2000 was one of the stonger small cars during GT4's
1,000 Miles! events, and can possibly do better than others in the Japanese Classics, assuming it doesn't get
bottlenecked behind slower cars. Basically, it does well if it gets out front, but has trouble getting thru traffic at
times. It is safe to start the Fairlady near pole position.
>>The '67 Toyota 2000GT also
does well if it manages to get a lead, especially at Tsukuba, sometimes Suzuka East. Like the '68 Fairlady, the '68 2000GT
has problems getting to the front. But if it makes it up there, watch out!
>>The '74 Mitsubishi Lancer
1600 GSR is also another likely competitor at Tsukuba, not so much at the other two tracks where its top-end
gets squashed. I've seen the Lancer spar with a Z-car (and win by a longshot) at Tsukuba. But down those longer straights
at Suzuka East and Grand Valley East, it often gets outgunned by other Class A autos.
>>And
most of all, watch for the Mazdas, either the 110S or the Cosmo, with
their mean little rotary engines! I just did a race at Tsukuba in which a Cosmo started in 8th place,
yet it fought its way thru traffic, passed me, and won the race. This doesn't always happen, but just be aware that it
could.
Excluding the Dome Zero, none of these classics (Class A or not) really gets that far ahead of the
pack, not like in GT4 anyways, where Nissans would blow everyone else away.
Parts
needed:
Comfort Medium Tires for those who have superior handling. CMs can also be used on lesser
cars if no Class A shows up (or starts far downfield).
Comfort Soft tires for those with more serious
handling issues, and for grids heavy with Class A.
Close-ratio Transmission for some at Tsukuba,
only if the Dome Zero shows up, or if gearing is so tall that closer gears are needed.
Full-custom transmission for some at Suzuka and
Grand Valley, if the car maxes its revs down their long straights. This should be used only as a last resort for those cars
which max out of revs, or have some other drastic issues. Otherwise, stock trannies should be used at
all 3 tracks.
Try to run everything else stock. Everything but the tires and possibly the
power, that is. Only exception to this is if the Dome shows up. A lowered suspension, and single-plate clutch kit + other
drivetrain parts can be installed.
Settings recommended:
Try driving with ABS off
for a greater challenge. Remember, none of the vehicles in the Japan Classics would have had ABS installed.!
Dumb the Brake Balance down to 0/0 as well. This keeps non-ABS brakes from locking up too easily. Actually, I recommend
no ABS for all the classic events.
Cars
used for ratios
1,250 pound (flyweight) = '65 Toyota Sports 800
1,700
pound (lightweight) = '79 Honda Civic 1500 CX
2,300 pound (middleweight) '79 Nissan Bluebird 1800 SSS
2,700 pound
(middle/heavy) '78 Datsun 280Z-L
3,000 pound (heavy) '62 Prince Skyline
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Vitz / Yaris Race
rating: ***
Participants: 12
Level: 2
Fuji Speedway
F (3 laps)
(1,700) 20.00 - 85 hp
(2,000) 21.98 - 91 hp
(2,075) 21.84 - 95 hp
*The
power being recommended above is for the extremeists out there. Feel free
to use up to 10 hp more than suggested if you want an easier time with less bumping and grinding
among the Ai.
Description
Here's what seems to be one of GT5's only Manufacturer's events. There
used to be tons of these 1-make events, but now most of them are going to be in the Seasonal area.
But that isn't the
shocking part. The shocking part happens when we come to the realization of just now many Vitz and Yaris
hatches we have in our new game! Sheesh, just look at that Regulations list...the one that shows which
cars we're allowed to race. There are ELEVEN of these we can possibly choose from, and this doesn't even include the
real-life sedan versions! Yikes.
But to those who think they shouldn't have to run this event at all, do not despair.
There is only one race at one track to accomplish. And it's not a walkover. The racing itself is somewhat fierce.
The Ai punts, the Ai cock-blocks, the Ai does whatever it can to make sure you do not win. I have never seen Ai in a
Gran Turismo game quite like this (at the Beginner level, anyways).
...Granted, GT2 had some pretty intense drivers
early on, but they're all being rubber-banded in this game. This means no matter how fast (or sometimes how slow) you drive,
they'll generally swarm around you. GT5's Ai seems to be using its wits to some extent. There is no invisible logarithm in
place modifying their power, grip, and traction during the race; they're actually driving their cars now. As long as
we limit our power and parts, there is some decent racing to be had.
I gave this one a 3-star rating
because it's pretty much guaranteed you're gonna get stuck in traffic with those recommended power-restrictions up above.
Stuck in traffic, and rubbing fenders with multiple cars. The Vitz races are actually not as competitive as they were before
Update 1.06, because as a standing-start race, the entire field would possibly gang up on you, but they're still pretty
tough.
Recommended Parts:
Comfort Soft tires
Everything else stock,
except maybe an oil change and light power-ups for some models.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
European Classic Car Championship
Rating: **
Participants: 10
Level: 3
---------------------------------Cars--------------------------
Circuito
de Madrid - 3 laps
(1,200) 14.29 - 84 hp
(1,800) 18.95 - 95 hp
(2,200) 19.29 - 114 hp
Cóte d'Azur - 2 laps
(1,200) 16.00 - 75 hp
(1,800)
21.69 - 83 hp
(2,200) 22.22 - 99 hp
-------------------------Trucks & Buses--------------------
Circuito
de Madrid
(2,500) 17.36 - 144 hp
Cote d'Azur
(2,500) 19.08 - 131 hp
*
These ratios can be used if the Lotus Europa Special or either Alpine (A110 or A310) starts
no higher than 4th place at Madrid, or 3rd at Cóte d'Azur. Power may need to be added if any one of them
starts on or near pole.
** For every grid placement higher than 4th or 3rd at Madrid or Monaco, add 5 horsepower. So if your Autobianchi requires 90 horsepower at Madrid,
and an Alpine starts on 2nd place, give your car 100 horsepower instead of 90. This only works with Alpines; if
the Lotus starts up there, you'll need to add even more power.
*** A small amount of power can also sometimes
be docked if they start behind you. This is only true at Cóte d'Azur, where the three jackrabbits listed above sometimes
have trouble getting thru traffic. Remove no more than 5 horsepower here.
Description:
All
European classics here, which (again) means 1979 or earlier. One thing that really sucks is we can't enter any vehicle
older than 1960. Why the hell not? I really wanted to race my Beetle, man. Spent about 75,000 credits customizing it
before I discovered this stupid rule.
Otherwise, these races are kinda fun, and the prize is very unique.
If you don't like or want the prize (an ancient VW Kubelwagen or something) you can sell it for a lot of credits.
But unlike the Japanese Classics, the European version is also very predictable, hence there's the second 2-star
rating of the Beginner's Hall. Often there is no "up in the air" feeling. Often, you know exactly who you'll be competing
with even before the race has begun.
Opponents:
The ECCC is packed with 2-seaters and 2+2 coupes,
targas, and convertibles. There's the occasional hatchback ('76 VW Golf GTi) or city car ('79 Autobianchi Abarth).
There is also an incredible array of drivetrain types: front-engine / front-drive, front-engine / rear-drive, mid-engine
rear-drive, and rear engine / rear-drives. It's the MR and RR cars which are to be feared.
Circuito de Madrid
Watch
out for the super-light Lotus Europa, Alpine A310 1600VE, and Alpine A110 1600S. It's
these three which dominate the others without question at Madrid. So far, the mantra of the Beginner's Hall is "...but this
is not set in stone", right? Well this rule is not true for the ECCC. These three cars always appear (or
at least one or two of them does), and I have yet to see a race in which they don't become top dog at Madrid. Doesn't
matter if they start in 1st place or last place, they'll make their way to the front eventually, and there's always
at least two of these cars present per race.
Cóte d'Azur
At Cóte d'Azur the three jackrabbits sometimes
make it to the front, but sometimes they get too eager going into those tight corners and slide out of control. Cóte
d'Azur often has an element of humor and surprise due to these moments. I'm finding that often, a lesser car (other than the
Alpine team or Lotus) can wind up competing with you towards the front.
Parts
Recommended:
Comfort Soft Tires
Medium tires can be used for a few models with better-than-usual handling: Alfa Romeo
GTA, BMW 2002,, Ginetta G4, (and so on) . The Autobianchi or '76 VW Golf too, assuming the grid is an easier one.
Those with tricky handling can go with Comfort Softs + a Fixed or Height-adjustable Suspension..
Single-plate
clutch + either of the flywheels. Limited-slip can be used for an absolute horribly-handling
car. Otherwise, go stock.
Cars used for ratios:
'70 Mini Marcos GT (1,200 flyweight)
'68
Volkswagen Karmann-Ghia & '76 VW Golf GTi (1,800 / lightweight)
'73 Alpine A310 1600VE (2,100 / lightweight)
'66 Alfa Romeo Spider 1600 Duetto (2,200 pounds / lightweight)
'62 Volkswagen Samba Bus (2,500/middleweight)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
World Classic Car Series
rating: ***
Participants: 12
Level: 3
-------------------------------Cars---------------------------
Circuit
de la Sarthe 2009 (no chicane)
(1,000) 11.36 -- 88 hp
(1,500) 15.00 - 100 hp
(2,000) 17.69 - 113 hp
(2,900) 19.20 - 151 hp
Eiger
Nordwand Short Track
(1,000) 10.00 - 100 hp
(1,500) 13.64 - 110 hp
(2,000) 16.36 - 122 hp
(2,900) 16.96 - 171 hp
Autumn
Ring
(1,000) 11.11 - 90 hp
(1,500) 14.56 - 103 hp
(2,000) 17.23 - 116 hp
(2,900) 18.95 - 153 hp
---------------------Muscle Cars---------------------------
Circuit de la Sarthe 2009 (no
chicane)
(2,500
(3,000) 15.38 -- 195 hp
(3,500) 15.62 -- 224 hp
Eiger Nordwand
Short Track
(2,500)
(3,000) 16.39 -- 183 hp
(3,500) 16.72 -- 215 hp
Autumn Ring
(2,500)
(3,000) 17.64 -- 170 hp
(3,500) 17.76 -- 198 hp
---------------------Buses-----------------------
Circuit de Sarthe
(2,500)
18.38 - 136 hp
Eiger Nordwand
(2,500) 17.36 - 144 hp
Autumn Ring
(2,500)
18.38 - 136 hp
* There are two classes of opponents we can face during these: Class A and Class B
(see below in Opponents section).
Sarthe: Class A can be started on any position at Sarthe, including Pole, if driving any type
of vehicle (car, muscle car, or bus). Drafting and cornering tends to help us catch them, even though this is just a 1-lap
race.
Eiger or Autumn Ring: Class A can be started no higher than 3rd place
at Eiger or 2nd at Autumn Ring if a Car or Bus is driven..The only exception is the Ginetta G4 at Eiger.
It's advisable to start it no higher than 5th, otherwise it WILL jackrabbit. Some Class B (such as the '65 Alfa Romeo GTA) can
do well at either of these tracks as well, so careful including these on Pole or 2nd place.
Disregard the above Eiger/Autumn Ring rules if driving a Muscle Car. One of these can handle Class A starting as
high as 2nd.. I am defining this is mostly Americans with gigantic, torquey engines. They usually have higher torque
ratings than horsepower ratings. Note that all the muscle I've used so far have been hybrids, with weaker 6 cylinder engines
from other American cars.
Description
The World Classic Car Series (WCCS) first
appeared in GT4's Professional hall. In the GT4 WCCS, we were only allowed to race cars manufactured in 1970 or
earlier. In GT5, this rule has now been amended to 1969 or earlier. Despite this, there is a HUGE number of cars we could
use in GT4, and even more now. Some players may opt to use some old muscle, destroy the entire series, and then complain how
"easy" it was. Others (like us) will choose one of GT5's many underdogs.
There are three tracks in the WCCS, all of
which require different strategies. Have a look at the chart below the next paragraph to get an idea of which cars I'm
going to call "Class A". These would be the fastest ones on the grid.
Circuit
de la Sarthe (1 Lap)
Many classics will need a full-custom transmission to survive here; that's
the first step. The second is to employ drafting as a racing technique, just as Jeff Gordon teaches us during the NASCAR tutorial.
With the lowish power I'm recommending, you're gonna need to draft & dodge!
None of the Ai mobiles have FC
gearing ... they're all stock. Therefore, sometimes more than half the Ai winds up falling behind as they toil down Sarthe's
long straights, their rev limiters bogging their speed back! Those that don't suffer lost speed usually drive Sarthe's
Porsche Curves and various other chicanes and sweepers too conservatively, which is where we can hopefully catch up to
them.
Eiger Nordwand Short Track & Autumn Ring
Both Eiger and Autumn Ring are tighter circuits, of course. In many cases, stock trannies can be used, but some
slugs might still need full-custom work.
>>At Eiger, Class A autos almost always
make it to the front of the pack...like 90% of the time.
>>At Autumn Ring, I'm finding Class
B vehicles (also on the chart below) can also become front-runners, although this assumes they also start towards
the front (on or near pole position). These slower cars can often keep faster Class A from passing them at Autumn Ring.
Opponents
It
seems many of them are possibly given top power, as many of our opponents rate somewhere near 200 horsepower. This
puts a lot of cars on the same page theoretically, since everybody is rated about the same. Some cars are heavier than
others, of course, while others have goofy transmissions (like the 2-speed '53 Corvette) which limit their track abilities.
Now, let's meet the enemy!
*Cars with their name in red ink are Class
A
*Cars with their name in blue ink are Class B
*Cars
which are listed in black ink or are not listed at all are not usually a threat, though keep in mind that in some cases
(maybe 10% of races) they can hold their own towards the front.
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'68 Isuzu Bellett 1600 GT-R
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'66 Alfa Romeo Spider 1600
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'67 Nissan Skyline 2000 GT-B
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1966 Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint
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'62 Nissan Skyline Sport Coupe
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The chart goes from fastest (top) to slowest (bottom), which should be especially helpful for setting up grids at
Sarthe. At the other two tracks, sometimes these faster cars make it to the front (assuming they start towards the rear
of the pack) and sometimes they don't.
The dynamic Mazda duo: Mazda Cosmo Sport and the 110S,
along with the '68 Nissan Fairlady 2000 and super-aerodynamic '67 Toyota 2000GT are
the absolute fastest at Sarthe. There are a few others which will be able to struggle towards the front, but generally it's
the Mazdas, 2000GT, and Fairlady to watch for. Sometimes there can be several Mazdas on the grid, too!
At the
other two tracks, the super-lightweight Ginetta G4 tends to be King, especially at Eiger. Note:
the G4 doesn't slide around and lose its prowess constantly like it did in GT4's 1,000 Miles! events.
Lesser
"Class B" can sometimes keep up towards the front lines at Autumn Ring, but this assumes they start
towards the front. At Eiger Nordwand, Class B almost always concedes to Class
A.
Parts Recommended
Comfort Soft tires
Fixed or Height-adjustable Sport Suspension (only for those who need real cornering help. If a muscle-car
gains too much cornering advantage for instance, ditch these parts).
Comfort Medium tires can be
used for those cars with superior handling ('66 Alfa Spider or '65 GTA, for instance) especially at the two "handling" tracks:
Eiger and Autumn Ring.
No ABS or Brake Balancer
Full-custom transmission at Sarthe for most
classics, possibly at the other two tracks for some cars which have really short gearing. Set it about 150 mph (243
km/h) or slightly higher.
Drivetrain parts (clutch, flywheel, driveshaft, and differential) as needed.
Cars used for ratios:
'67
Honda N600 (1,000')*
5 Toyota Sports 800 (1,250)
'69 Nissan Bluebird 1600 (2,050)
'54 Chevrolet Corvette (2,900)
'62 Volkswagen Samba Bus (2,500)
'69 Chevrolet Camaro (3,000 / Muscle Car Class) *
'64 Pontiac Tempest Custom (3,500 / Muscle Car Class) *
* - Hybrid. I used the '54 Corvette engine for the Camaro and "Tempest".
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FR Challenge
Rating: ***1/2
Participants: 10
Level: 4
-----------------------Cars
/ Modern-------------------
Grand Valley East
(2,000) 12.05 - 166 hp
(3,000) 13.95 - 215 hp
(3,500) 14.89
- 235 hp
(4,000) 16.66- 240 hp
Tsukuba Circuit
(2,000)
12.42 - 161 hp
(3,000) 14.22 - 211 hp
(3,500) 15.22 - 230 hp
(4,000) 16.52 - 242 hp
Trial Mountain Circuit
(2,000) 14.92 - 134 hp
(3,000) 15.87 - 189 hp
(3,500) 17.50 - 200 hp
(4,000) 19.14 - 209 hp
------------------------Cars / Historic-----------------
Grand Valley East
(1,000) 6.25 - 160 hp
(2,000) 11.23 - 178 hp
(3,000) 13.15 - 228
hp
(4,200) 14.63 - 287 hp
Tsukuba
(1,000) 6.37 - 157 hp
(2,000) 10.93 - 183 hp
(3,000)
15.21 - 226 hp
(4,200) 16.53 - 254 hp
Trail Mountain
(1,000) 8.20 - 122 hp
(2,000) 14.18 - 141 hp
(3,000) 14.43 - 190 hp
(4,200) 20.79 - 202 hp
-------------------------Trucks---------------------------
Grand Valley East
(3,800) 13.42 -- 283 hp
(5,000) 15.83 -- 316 hp
Tsukuba Circuit
(3,800) 14.13 -- 256 hp
(5,000) 17.24 -- 290 hp
Trial Mountain
(3,800) 17.27 -- 220 hp
(5,000) 19.68 -- 254 hp
8/11/12: the FR Challenge now includes Historic and Modern
categories for cars. Historic cars are older models which would not have ABS installed, so think of some from the 1980s and
older. Historics also don't have modern-car tire technology, and therefore require more power to succeed.
** If the Shelby Series 1 shows up, anywhere from 20 to 40 horsepower
will need to be added, depending on how confidently your car handles and how far back on the grid the Shelby starts. This
hp bump might not be needed if the Shelby starts on 9th or last place.
*** BMW M3s (any
sub-model), the Corvette Grand Sport, Honda S2000, Toyota Supra RZ, Mazda RX-8s and
some late-model Mazda RX-7s (like the Spirit R type A and the '97 RX-7 Type RS) can also jackrabbit
mildly at Grand Valley East and Trial Mountain. Start these no higher than 3rd place at Grand
Valley East or Trial Mountain, unless more challenge is desired.
Tsukuba does not require this rule, if a Modern Class car is driven. Apply this rule to trucks and the Historic
Class.
And of course, if the car you're driving is a difficult one to handle, easier grids can be sought as well.
Description:
Front engine / rear-drive cars only. Three
laps per race, and some really good competition. GT5's version of the Beginner's League FR Challenge puts GT3 & GT4's
versions to shame. The racing is so good at times, and requires all our attention. What a way to end the Beginner's League.
There's
often an "up in the air" sort of feeling from Lap 1 to Lap 3. Who is going to win? Who is going to wind up competing
with me for top spot? Oftentimes, four or five potentials can sit on the same grid, any one of them possibly becoming
top dog. I've done some races in which a couple cars battled it out with me, while another car manages to make it
to the front, upsetting the race entirely!
For this reason, I'm finally recommending Sport tires for some cars during
some races. Usually, Grand Valley East requires Sports (Hard or Medium) while the other two tracks require Comfort Softs on
newer cars (1990s and newer), or Hard Sports for older models.
Some cars will require Comfort-level radials at all
three tracks. A good rule of thumb is: if you're driving a car with lots of power that needs to be lowered via the
power-limiter, and which corners with extreme confidence (minimal understeer & oversteer) this is an auto
that will most likely need cheaper tires, especially if it's a modern sort with ABS brakes. Personally,
I avoid such cars, especially those which require too much power-limiting.
Opponents:
Notice
how the enemy is driving with a superior sort of confidence, as if they're preparing for the Intermediates.
Although
there are moments when certain cars jackrabbit over the rest, they're not always a sure thing. I'm noticing that many automobiles
are virtually on the same level. Skylines, Z-cars, RX-7s, RX-8s, BMW M3s, newer
Corvettes (C4 generation or later), Silvias, TVRs, S2000s, and other obvious sports cars are all pretty
much on the same page. Only some older models, like the '63 Corvette, are guaranteed losers. Muscle cars like the '87 GNX,
or heavier sedans like the Lexus GS300 or Jaguar XK can also be counted out. But everyone else is game.
The
Shelby Series 1 is the only real jackrabbit. If it shows up power should be added. The only possible exception
is if the Shelby starts in 9th or 10th place. Fortunately the S1 does not very often.
Parts:
>
The FR Challenge is the first set of races that are difficult to recommend just one tire type for a huge cross-section of
cars. But typically we can go with...
Grand Valley East: Hard Sports for most Modern Class cars & trucks, Medium Sports
for some Historics.
Tsukuba & Trial Mountain: Comfort Soft most for Modern Class cars & trucks. Hard
Sports for most Historic Class cars.
There are those which suffer hugely drastic fishtailing and oversteer issues, of course. Some FRs also understeer
heavily. These may need a bump up in tire type to be successful.
Closer
gears for some models at Tsukuba, sometimes Trial Mountain. Usually, this unit is good for those with lowish torque.
Single-plate Clutch, Carbon Driveshaft + Flywheel, again, for those with lowish torque.
Fixed or Height-adjustable Sport Suspension. Most newer sports cars
(newer than 1990) won't need an improvement here, but there are some older cars with difficult handling qualities that
could use some handling help.
Limited-slip differential for those with poor or iffy traction.
Cars
used to get ratios
'64 Ginetta G4 (1,000 pounds--flyweight, Historic)
'71 Datsun 240Z
G (2,000 pounds--lightweight, Historic)
'78 Datsun 280Z-L (2,700 pounds--middleweight, Historic)
'88 Volvo GLT
Estate (4,200 pounds--heavyweight, Historic)
'95 Mazda MX-5 VR-Limited (2,000 pounds--lightweight, Modern)
'00 Nissan Silvia Varietta (2,900 pounds--middle/heavy,
Modern)
'96 Nissan 240SX (2,900 pounds--Modern)
'97 Chevy Camaro Z28 (3,500 pounds--heavyweight, Modern)
'05
Chrysler 300 Touring (4,000 pounds -- ultra heavyweight, Modern)
'03 Chevrolet SSR (3,800 pounds--Trucks)
'03 Chevrolet
SSR (5,000 pounds -- Trucks)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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