A sold-out 700-strong crowd on the BBC’s well-known TC1 studio in West London’s Tv Centre was handled to an superior demonstration of racing on Gran Turismo 7 on Saturday, 7 June. With a show of gorgeous vehicles gracing the Helios Circle exterior the long-lasting venue, and an enormous display relaying the motion to these with out a ticket, there was a pageant really feel as a few of the world’s quickest SIM racers gathered within the UK’s capital metropolis for Spherical 1 of the Gran Turismo World Sequence 2025.
First up was the Producers Cup, a crew competitors by which the drivers signify their favorite automotive marque. Current for Spherical 1 have been the crew members who had certified on-line for the Asia-Oceania area. The mix was Gr.3 vehicles racing across the Tokyo Expressway – South Counterclockwise.
First blood went to Group BMW’s Seiya Suzuki who took pole place in a two-part qualifying session. Lining up alongside him was two-time Producers Cup champion Takuya Miyazono representing Group Subaru. Lined up in P3 was Group Porsche’s 911 RSR, pushed by Shota Sato.
The Grand Ultimate noticed technique play a decisive function. Groups have been required to make one pit cease and had to decide on between soft- and medium-compound tires. The early phases of the race noticed drivers maintain their positions, assessing each the monitor and their rivals. However as soon as all of the rivals had accomplished their sole pit stops, the tone shifted dramatically. The gloves got here off, remodeling the competition into an all-out battle royale.
Lap 16 delivered a second to recollect. A fierce midfield battle involving a number of vehicles erupted, and within the chaos, the Porsche 911 RS was nudged from behind, sending it to the again of the sector and successfully ending its race. The race culminated in a tense last showdown between Sato within the BMW and Miyazono within the Subaru. The 2 drivers traded the lead a number of instances, however it was Miyazono who executed a flawless move in his BRZ GT300 on the final hairpin, slipping by Sato’s M6 GT3 to take the checkered flag and the six championship factors. BMW settled for 5 factors, whereas Group Mazda, led by veteran Ryota Kokubun within the RX-VISION GT3, claimed the ultimate podium spot and 4 factors.
Within the Nations Cup the Le Mans 24H monitor offered a becoming setting for the Dash Race, every week earlier than the 93rd operating of the well-known race, and the Aston Martin Valkyrie the precise automobile for the job. Spaniard Jose Serrano stored countryman Pol Urra at bay with a victory that rewarded him with pole place for the Gran Finale.
As is custom within the Gran Turismo World Sequence, the drivers would swap to the Pink Bull X2019 Competitors vehicles adorned of their nations’ colors for the Grand Ultimate race run across the reverse configuration of Gran Turismo 7’s Gran Valley Freeway. Practically each driver on the grid selected to begin the 20-laps on medium-compound tyres. Nevertheless, the Netherlands’ Kaj de Bruin, ranging from P10, opted to gamble on softs. His daring technique paid off early, propelling him into the lead by the fourth lap. But he struggled to keep up the tempo underneath relentless stress from Serrano, Urra, Kylian Drumont of France, Takuma Miyazono and Takuma Sasaki of Japan, and Italy’s Valerio Gallo.
Exceeding 320 km/h on the straights, the drivers left nothing on the desk. Tyre technique performed a pivotal function: de Bruin made two stops, whereas most others managed with only one. Miyazono and Drumont selected hard-compound tires for his or her last stints, a bet towards the favoured mediums and softs. Within the closing laps, a fierce wheel-to-wheel battle for the lead unfolded between the 2 Spaniards, every pushing the opposite to the restrict. The incredible sold-out crowd watching the motion reside was on the sting of their seats, gasping and cheering with each flip and tried overtake.
In the end, Serrano emerged victorious, crossing the end line first by simply over two-tenths of a second. Urra settled for 2nd, with Gallo finishing the rostrum in third.
With a spectacular Spherical 1 full, the motion strikes from London to Berlin the place Spherical 2 will likely be hosted within the Uber Eats Music Corridor near the East Aspect Gallery.
Tickets are on sale now right here. Spherical 3 tickets for The Orpheum Theatre in Los Angeles are additionally obtainable right here. Add the Gran Turismo World Sequence to your calendar and are available and be a part of us for extra thrilling motion.
Spherical 1 – London, UK | Saturday, 7 June
Spherical 2 – Berlin, Germany | Saturday, 20 September
Spherical 3 – Los Angeles, USA | Saturday, 8 November
World Finals – Fukuoka, Japan | Saturday, 20 and Sunday, 21 December
Full particulars of the Gran Turismo World Sequence 2025 might be discovered on https://www.gran-turismo.com/world/gt7/championships/2025/.
