To mark the closing of the 75th anniversary celebrations of the time when Ferrari’s first-ever racing car, the 125 S, exited the factory gates in 1947, the sportscar maker has unveiled the Ferrari Vision Gran Turismo. However, this closed-wheel single-seater is not a production model: it is the first Ferrari concept car created specifically for the virtual motor sport world.
This model signifies an important step for Ferrari in the virtual environment, while also redefining its stylistic language. It represents a futuristic design manifesto for Ferrari’s road and racing cars, a stimulus for both the engineers and drivers (real and virtual) of tomorrow.
The McLaren Solus GT was born in the virtual gaming world of Gran Turismo SPORT. Now, the carmaker will make it a reality that can be driven on racetracks. Only 25 will be built and all of them have already been sold before the official unveiling in California yesterday. The pricing of the hypercar has not been revealed although it can be expected to be many, many millions of ringgit.
The striking futuristic exterior design is remarkably faithful to its virtual inspiration. While machines in simulator games have total technical freedom because the designers are not constrained by cost or regulations, the Solus GT is based on proven aerodynamic principles and McLaren’s ‘everything for a reason’ design ethos. This is further supported by CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) and wind-tunnel aerodynamic research.
Among the numerous external features are the sliding canopy above the single central (like a jet fighter) and wheels are shrouded in aerodynamic pods and located by suspension arms. A large front splitter feeds air into ground-effect tunnels before it exits the car via a full diffuser. A motorsport-inspired intake above the cockpit integrated into the design of the roll-over hoop cover feeds cold air into the engine. The sidepods which house the Solus GT’s radiators are inspired by racing car design.
A twin-element, fixed rear wing is key to a downforce figure (over 1,202 kgs) that exceeds the overall weight of the hypercar (1,002 kgs). The downforce to drag ratio is also optimized, aiding straight-line performance as well as enhancing cornering abilities.
In common with every McLaren since 1981, the Solus GT is based around a carbonfibre monocoque, in this case one created using specialist low-volume production methods. The front and rear chassis structures are also made from carbonfibre, with the engine and gearbox forming the rest of the chassis.
Carbonfibre is not the only high-value material in the hypercar. Further embracing technologies used in the top tiers of motorsport, 3D-printed titanium components have been used for the halo cockpit protection structure and roll hoop. This is the first time the approach has been adopted for structural elements in a McLaren production car, allowing a tailored design as well reducing weight.
The powertrain is a naturally-aspirated 5.2-litre V10 engine with a bespoke 7-speed sequential shift gearbox. It can rev to more than 10,000 rpm and will produce over 829 bhp/650 Nm. The engine’s responsiveness is enhanced by the use of barrel-driven throttles for each cylinder – a system only suitable for track application – and is entirely gear-driven, with no chains or belts for camshaft or ancillary systems.
The engine was also chosen for its structural qualities; for the first time in a McLaren production car, the engine is an integral part of the chassis. Conventional practice in race car construction, this design approach optimizes weight reduction by negating the need for additional chassis structures or subframes behind the carbonfibre monocoque.
The race-derived 7-speed sequential gearbox, which features a bespoke casting and casing – the latter manufactured from aluminium with magnesium panels – is mounted to the back of the engine with the rear suspension fixed to the gearbox casing. The system is fully automated and software controlled, removing the need for the driver to operate the clutch, aiding pit-lane pull-away.
McLaren says the Solus GT will be capable of the fastest lap times of any McLaren outside of single-seater racing and delivers a driving experience close to the engagement and sensation of driving a Formula 1 racing car. Acceleration from 0 – 100 km/h has a target time of 2.5 seconds and the top speed will be more than 320 km/h.
In the cockpit, the steering wheel (with a unique design among McLaren production cars) takes its inspiration from Formula 1, with instrument panel display and essential controls integrated to suit the tight confines of a single-seater track car. Beyond the steering wheel is a view through the glass ‘bubble’, with integrated halo-style cockpit protection.
The perfectly symmetrical 180-degree line of sight provided by the central driving position is further aided by the dramatically styled wheel pods in helping the driver to position the hypercar on a track. Above the driver’s head are switches for engine ignition and the fully plumbed-in emergency fire extinguisher.
This area also houses the rearview display, streamed in real-time from a camera located on the roll hoop behind the driver’s head. The wide-angle camera provides a comprehensive rear view of the track to allow traffic to pass on a slowing-down lap or aid pit-lane maneuvering.
To further enhance the driving experience for Solus GT owners, McLaren is offering a full ‘racing driver experience’. This includes a driving seat molded to the driver’s individual body shape; an FIA-homologated race suit, helmet and HANS device bespoke to each owner, and radio-enabled ear inserts.
All owners will get a flight case to allow them to support their own track activities. This includes a comprehensive set of tools, vehicle jacks, stands, radio sets and a coolant pre-heater. After the cars are delivered next year, Solus GT track events are planned and a full driver-development coaching program will also be available to help owners fully exploit the potential of their new hypercar.
The annual Michelin Asia Cup Powered by Gran Turismo returns again for gamers from Thailand, Indonesia, and Australia, and Malaysians are also invited to compete for the opportunity to represent Malaysia. This is an e-racing competition that will use the ‘Gran Turismo’ platform on PlayStation 4 in Sport mode.
The Grand Prize Winner will win an all-expense paid trip to enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime experience at the Michelin Passion Experience (MPE) event, held this year at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The First Runner-Up will receive a full set of tyres, while the Second Runner-Up will receive a fuel card worth more than RM1,500.
Registration for qualifying rounds runs are on from now until July 8, 2022. The first 500 registered participants in Malaysia will each receive exclusive Michelin merchandise. It is important to note that the Grand Prize Winner must have a driving license or a racing license (valid at least until September 9, 2022), to be eligible to claim the prize. Needless to say, he or she should also have a valid international passport.
The registered participants must submit their best time to the Qualifying Round from July 11 – 15, 2022. The top 6 participants with the fastest lap time will be announced on July 20, 2022 to represent Malaysia in the Semi-Finals, racing against the top 6 from 3 other participating countries. The total of 24 semi-finalists will be divided in two groups, each consisting of 12 gamers.
The 6 fastest gamers of each group will advance to the Final Round, which will be broadcast live on August 26, 2022 onwards, via social media channels. The top three winners will be officially announced on August 30, 2022.
Last year, Michelin Malaysia held its first-ever e-Racing competition – the Michelin Virtual Racing Series 2021 – as the brand’s first major endeavour into the local e-sports industry. This activity has seen increased activity in the past few years, especially when the pandemic-related Movement Control Order (MCO) limited outdoor motorsports events.
The event, which had prizes worth a total of RM70,000 (in cash, tyres and merchandise) was run in 3 phases in June and July. All the races were held on the Sardegna Road Track AII with participants using the BMW M6 GT3 M Power equipped with Michelin racing medium tyres.
Genesis has announced its debut in Sony Interactive Entertainment’s Gran Turismo 7 (GT7) sim racing videogame series as an official manufacturer partner of the Gran Turismo World Series, an online global motorsport championship. GT7 is developed by Polyphony Digital Inc. and was recently released on PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4 consoles.
The luxury brand of the Hyundai Motor Group will make available to championship competitors the Genesis X GR3 and G70 GR4 concept vehicles, as well as the G70 Sport Sedan for the Manufacturer’s Cup.
“Genesis is pleased to be presenting the dynamic G70 sport sedan and our ambitious GR3 and GR4 concepts in Gran Turismo 7,” said SangYup Lee, Executive Vice-President and Head of Genesis Global Design Centre. “This platform allows fans of racing to get behind the wheel and discover the bold designs and performance ambitions of Genesis as we continue to explore the brand’s entry into motorsport.”
The X GR3 and G70 GR4 are concept vehicles which were shown last year when Genesis revealed the vehicle design process at an ultra-modern experiential installation called ‘The Performance of Design’ during Monterey Car Week. The two concept vehicles were part of a trio of models developed in collaboration with the creators of the Gran Turismo videogame series.
The X GR3 is based on the Genesis X Concept shown last year and reinterpreted in the Gr.3 racing specification. It is powered by a 3.3-litre V6 twin-turbo engine with 555 ps.
The G70 GR4 Gran Turismo, is a California-built 420 ps racing car derived from the Genesis coupe. It is a completely reimagined G70 sport sedan for competition with a GT-inspired racing package. Building on the existing G70 model to create a bold, yet elegant, high-performance racing car, it showcases the motorsport intent of the brand.
Other concepts under study are the GR1 Alpha_DB, GR1 Bravo_GB, and GR1 Charlie_ET, all of which are potential designs for a future Vision Gran Turismo Concept that will be an elite racing car.
Gran Turismo 7, the super-realistic sim racing videogame by Polyphony Digital/Sony Interactive Entertainment received its latest update recently. This follows the update in April which saw the addition of 3 new cars (2 Subaru BRZs and the Suzuki Cappuccino) and the 24-hour layout of Spa-Francorchamps.
With this update, players get another 3 new cars – the Roadster Shop Rampage, Toyota GR010 HYBRID ’21, and Suzuki Vision Gran Turismo. Additionally, new events have been added to the World Circuits, namely the Lightweight K-Cup, Vision Gran Turismo Trophy and Gr. 1 Prototype Series.
Toyota GR010 HYBRID ’21
Roadster Shop Rampage
Suzuki Vision Gran Turismo
Of the 3 new cars, the Suzuki Vision Gran Turismo has been much anticipated. It showcases Suzuki’s expertise in both 2-wheel and 4-wheel products, highlighting the company’s involvement in both motorcycles and automobiles. Only a handful of companies can lay claim in mastering the two genres, and fewer still can boast international racing success in both.
Suzuki’s Vision Gran Turismo, which joins a number of other Vision Gran Turismo models from other many carmakers, was developed as a unique all-wheel drive super sportscar which fuses the company’s motorcycle and automotive know-how.
The 2-seater in the familiar yellow colour of the brand has a convertible bodystyle with a front-engine/rear-wheel-drive layout. It has a very powerful hybrid drivetrain consisting of the 1340 cc inline-4 petrol engine taken from the company’s flagship sports bike, the Hayabusa, and electric motors.
There are 3 electric motors – 2 in front and 1 at the back. The combined system output is shown as 318 kW/432 ps at 9,700 rpm with 610 Nm of torque.
During development of this virtual supercar, Suzuki employed much of its racing technology in the construction, using as many lightweight components as possible. As a result, the car weighs just in 970 kgs.
As for the styling, the Vision Gran Turismo’s low stance and flowing lines were inspired by popular Suzuki production sportscar models like the Swift Sport and Cappuccino.
This isn’t the first time Suzuki fitted its powerful Hayabusa engine into an automobile. In fact, the company used it to power the GSX-R/4, a mid-engine sportscar concept that was shown in 2001. With the Vision Gran Turismo, Suzuki is recalling memories of that legendary showcar while introducing the latest technology.
According to Polyphony Digital, there will also be a Gr.3 version of the Suzuki Vision Gran Turismo soon. That would certainly raise this classic sportscar formula to the next level.
The Vision Gran Turismo (Vision GT) project began 9 years ago when Polyphony Digital, the Japanese videogame developer famous for its Gran Turismo series, invited carmakers to design cars with no limits on technical specifications. The designers jumped at the opportunity and created some amazing cars which were close to fantasies and very futuristic. These cars were incorporated in the virtual world of Gran Turismo 6, which later became Gran Turismo Sport.
Since 2013, many carmakers have provided their designs and gamers around the world have chosen their favourite models to use in races. Jaguar has been among the participating companies, with two cars submitted – the original Jaguar Vision Gran Turismo Coupe and the extreme Vision Gran Turismo SV endurance racer.
Third Vision GT model
The British carmaker has now added its third all-electric virtual gaming sportscar – the Vision Gran Turismo Roadster. This is an all-electric single-seater which combines the race-proven powertrain from the Coupe with a taut, sculpted form inspired by the iconic, timeless Jaguar D-type.
The flowing surfaces, dramatic lines and perfect proportions of the first two Jaguar Gran Turismo Vision cars are instantly recognisable but, in place of a deployable canopy, the Roadster has a swept-back aero screen directly in front of the driver.
Behind, there’s a modern interpretation of the fin synonymous of the 3-time Le Mans-winning D-type, aerodynamically-optimised using the latest computational fluid dynamics tools to be deployable at speed for enhanced stability with minimal drag.
The fin also features one of the beautiful details to be found throughout the Roadster, the form of a Union Jack etched – using the Jaguar monogram pattern – into the fin itself, and subtly illuminated by LEDs. The theme continues with the hand-crafted leather straps on the front fenders and iconic roundel lights in the front grille.
Open-cockpit racing experience
The dramatic, driver-focused interior combines lightweight, luxurious materials and finishes with stunningly intricate details. Looking out onto the gracefully long bonnet with the unmatched all-round visibility inherent to open-cockpit racers, gamers will be fully immersed in the action.
The Roadster’s light, stiff monocoque body is expertly and meticulously crafted from carbon-fibre composites and advanced aluminium alloys. A state-of-the-art lithium-ion battery pack is packaged as low down in the structure as possible, contributing to the low centre of gravity, low roll centre and near 50:50 weight distribution that are fundamental to the car’s outstanding driving dynamics.
3 motors, 1,020 ps/1,200 Nm
The Roadster is designed to bring gamers the pure, visceral driving experience of an open-cockpit Jaguar sportscar. It is powered by 3 electric motors generating a total power output of more than 1,020 ps and instant, maximum torque of 1,200 Nm. Power from the battery is fed to the light, powerful and compact motors, developed using learnings from Jaguar Racing’s Formula E experience. Acceleration from 0 – 60 mph (96 km/h) is said to be under 2 seconds and a maximum speed in excess of 320 km/h is possible.
“As a car designer, being part of the team that has delivered three virtual cars for the Gran Turismo series has been a dream project. Since the reveal of the Vision GT Coupe in 2019 and Vision GT SV in 2020, we wanted to curate the perfect way to present the full line-up of the three cars together when we revealed the Roadster,” said Oliver Cattell-Ford, Exterior Designer, Jaguar Advanced Design.
Available in Gran Turismo 7
The Vision Gran Turismo Roadster is now available in the new Gran Turismo 7 for PS4 and PS5 consoles. In recognition of Jaguar’s three versions of their Vision GT car, the design team created new bespoke liveries of these cars, which are not directly available in GT7. These new liveries feature specially developed black and grey paints and subtle graphics which emphasise the cars’ inherently dramatic, beautiful designs. In GT7, players can re-create these new liveries using the Livery Editor feature.
Today’s videogames have superior realism that they can even be used for global racing championships which thousands participate in. Even the FIA, the world motorsport governing body, has recognised simulation videogames, terming them as ‘digital motorsports’.
One of the companies that has been constantly pushing the edge of the simulation envelope further has been Polyphony Digital Inc., developer of the Gran Turismo series for Playstation (PS) consoles since 1997. The series has been constantly improved in all respects, especially realism, and will start its seventh version in March 2022 for PS4 and PS5 consoles.
Official technical partner
For Gran Turismo 7 (GT7), Polyphony Digital has chosen Brembo, a well known and leading designer and manufacturer of performance brake systems as an official technical partner. Brembo supplies brake systems to competition cars (including Formula 1) and motorcycles, as well as roadgoing cars.
In GT7, Brembo will appear in the Tuning Shop of the videogame where its UPGRADE products will be available to players. Like a real-world workshop, this virtual shop is where they can upgrade the performance of their cars.
Upgrading with different brake systems
In this environment, gamers will be able to replace their original brake discs with those from the Sport range and, as they progress through the game, to upgrade their car with different Brembo brake systems. The choice will range up to the highest performing and most distinctive products for road cars, including Carbon Ceramic brake discs and GT|BM calipers, available in 8 different colours.
Now part of Gran Turismo
“We are particularly proud to deliver the uniqueness of Brembo brake systems to the Gran Turismo series. This iconic driving simulation video game franchise has built a strong community of millions of gamers around the world since its creation almost 25 years ago,” said Daniele Schillaci, Brembo’s Chief Executive Officer. “For Brembo, this partnership represents an extraordinary opportunity to reach out to the younger generations, which is in line with our vision, ‘Turning Energy into Inspiration’. From the asphalt of the track, the performance and design of our systems have now become part of the virtual world of Gran Turismo 7. Our ambition is to further enhance the gaming experience, just as the driving experience does in reality.”
Kazunori Yamauchi, President of Polyphony Digital Inc. and Producer of the Gran Turismo series, has personal admiration for the brand. “Even before we released our first Gran Turismo, Brembo was a hero brand to me,“ he said. “As a street racer back then, I had often struggled with the brakes fading. This was because most production cars at the time, excluding a very select few, were not equipped with brakes that matched the power and weight of the car. I always found Brembo to be reliable on the circuit and, as a result, always had a connection with the brand. So it’s a pleasure to announce this partnership between Gran Turismo and Brembo, a true high performance brand.”
Brembo’s profile and values will be visible in the Gran Turismo 7 game’s Brand Central. The 60 years of the company’s history will be presented in the Brand Central Museum. In addition, Brembo will be visible with its branding on the tracks featured in the game as banners or billboards in the background.
Hyundai’s luxury brand, Genesis, is aiming to develop a performance side to its image, just like the three Japanese luxury brands (Lexus, Infiniti and Acura). It is already finalizing a range of GT models that will appear in showrooms in the next couple of years.
This weekend, during the Monterey Car Week in California, Genesis is showing its design process at an ultramodern experiential installation called ‘The Performance of Design‘. At this event, the brand will unveil 3 concept models developed in collaboration with the creators of the PlayStation Gran Turismo videogame series.
G7o for competition
One of the models that will convey its motorsport intent are the G70 GR4 Gran Turismo, a California-built racing car, during an exclusive event. This is derived from the G70 sedan but completely reimagined for competition with an all-new GT-inspired racing package.
“The G70 GR4 GT builds on the existing G70 model to create a bold, yet elegant, high-performance racing vehicle,” said SangYup Lee, Senior Vice-President and Head of Global Genesis Design. “We are pleased to be presenting this vehicle and others as we explore the brand’s entry into motorsport.”
4 other concepts
Besides the G70 GR4 GT, there will be the GR3 and 3 potential designs for a future Vision Gran Turismo Concept, an elite racing vehicle. The three design studies are:
GR1 Alpha_DB – an experimental concept that embraces ‘Athletic Elegance’, separating the brand’s iconic two lines to form one seamless design and testing the limits of aerodynamics and speed.
GR1 Bravo_GB – a sophisticated mobile sculpture, proving that function and beauty can work as one.
GR1 Charlie_ET: a design embracing the technical precision of ‘Athletic Elegance’, capturing the tension, athleticism and performance of Genesis products.
Immersive experience with AR and VR
Visitors to the facility will be able to ‘experience’ these new designs with the use of augmented and virtual reality technologies that will create an immersive environment.
In October 2019, Jaguar revealed its first all-electric sportscar created for the globally-renowned Playstation Gran Turismo series – the Jaguar Vision Gran Turismo Coupe. It was built in the real-world as full-scale design study and served as the starting point for a more advanced car – the Vision Gran Turismo SV.
It was an opportunity to re-evaluate everything that could improve performance and in doing so, re-think what an electric Jaguar endurance racing car could be. Fundamental to that process was detailed analysis of gamer feedback from online videos and forums. This ‘virtual world testing’ combined with many hours ‘behind the wheel’ enabled the design and engineering teams to determine exactly how to optimise the Vision GT SV to create the perfect electric gaming endurance racing car.
Ultimate gaming endurance racer
“Jaguars created for the racetrack and the road have always shared the same DNA – whether that’s the D-type and XKSS, or the I-PACE and the I-TYPE. So, when the design team behind the Vision GT Coupe were asked to create the ultimate electric gaming endurance racer for Gran Turismo, they worked with engineers from SV and Jaguar Racing to create something really special,” said Julian Thomson, Jaguar’s Design Director.
“The Vision GT SV is a dramatic and visually arresting car which showcases what’s possible when the traditional boundaries governing real-world car design are completely removed. In bringing this car to life with a full-size design study, we’ve been able to showcase the most extreme version of an electric Jaguar racing car that is inspired by the past but looks fearlessly to the future,” he explained.
Designed as the ultimate virtual endurance racer, the Vision GT SV pays homage to its illustrious forebears not only in a host of styling and surfacing references but in its unique circuit board livery which nods to milestones such as the Le Mans debuts of the C-type and D-type in 1951 and 1954 respectively.
Engineered by experts
The streamlined, lightweight composite body structure houses 4 Jaguar Racing and SV-designed electric motors (one more than the Coupe), generating a combined output of 1,903 ps/1,400 kW with 3,360 Nm of instant torque. To efficiently and positively transfer all that output to the road is an intelligent all-wheel drive system and torque vectoring. Acceleration from 0 – 60 mph (96 km/h) is said to take just 1.65 seconds, on the way to a maximum speed of 410 km/h.
“We were given one objective: take everything that makes the Jaguar Vision GT Coupe so special – the performance, the handling and the soundtrack – and take it to another level,” recalled Jamal Hameedi, Engineering Director for the Jaguar SV. “And the team didn’t just achieve that target – they exceeded it, developing a virtual electric car which really could compete successfully in the extremes of 24-hour endurance racing.”
“Not only that, they were able to see their work in the virtual world, turned into reality with the production of the stunning full-scale model which will no doubt excite gamers about what’s to come in Gran Turismo,” he added.
The Vision GT Coupé’s elegant silhouette is still clearly recognisable in the GT SV, including the curvature of the C-type and D-type-inspired fenders, and – even with the additional motor driving the front axle – the wheelbase remains unchanged at 2721 mm.
Measuring 5540 mm from nose to tail, the GT SV is 861 mm longer overall – a change driven entirely by aerodynamics. To deliver the increased downforce needed for greater traction for faster cornering and increased high speed stability on long straights, the GT SV has a new front splitter and a new deployable rear wing.
In addition to the larger, more effective splitter – which produces downforce over the front axle – apertures in the front valance channel air across the face of the front wheels to reduce turbulence and help air to flow cleanly towards the rear of the car. Air passing through the wheel wells is also smoothed towards the rear via exit vents in the fenders.
The completely enclosed, sculpted underbody – which includes a keel element behind the front axle to aid high-speed stability – accelerates airflow, reducing its pressure and therefore helping to reduce lift, before it exits at the rear via a large venturi.
Deployable rear wing
The single most effective aero feature developed for the GT SV is its deployable rear wing, inspired by endurance racing cars from Jaguar’s past, including the XJR-14. Meticulously developed from concept to final design through many iterations, the wing’s main, fixed, section wraps over and around the back of the car, blending smoothly into the rear haunches.
The wing is designed as an integral element of the sculpted bodywork while also providing the aerodynamic performance required for endurance racing: two moveable sections automatically rise at speed to deliver extra downforce when needed but drop back to their nominal positions to minimise drag.
As a result, the GT SV has a drag coefficient of Cd 0.398 – remarkably low for a racing car – but also generates 483 kgs of downforce at 320 km/h.
Jaguar Racing engineers developed the GT SV’s quad-motor all-electric propulsion system. They also designed the system for the first Jaguar Vision GT car, applying all of their knowledge and experience from developing the Jaguar I-TYPE over 6 successive seasons.
Power comes from a state-of-the-art lithium-ion battery pack which is housed low down in the light, stiff body structure, delivering a low centre of gravity, a low roll centre and near-perfect weight distribution.
The thermal management system is enhanced by an additional liquid nitrogen circuit which provides extra capacity to enable the battery to provide maximum power for longer while remaining within its ideal temperature range. The nitrogen cooling is also linked to the boost button within the cabin to ensure that even during the most demanding operating conditions the battery will not exceed its upper temperature limit.
Ultimate virtual driving experience
The unique, powertrain soundscape so fundamental to the visceral driving experience of the Vision GT Coupe has been further enhanced for the GT SV version. Reflecting the increase in power and torque from the 4 electric motors to its precursor’s three, the GT SV generates a sound that is even more purposeful and distinctive, and is authentically yet futuristically Jaguar. Building to a crescendo at the 40,000 rpm redline, it reflects the GT SV’s true racing DNA and delivers unrivalled driver reward.
Online racing or sim racing has been growing over the years and this year, its popularity has accelerated (or at least activity) due to the global COVID-19 pandemic. As people around the world were forced to stay home and large-scale activities like motor racing were not permitted, the alternative very quickly became racing online. There were already some popular series running and some manufacturers began to also create their own championships.
One of them has been Toyota which has been stepping up its presence in motorsports through Toyota GAZOO Racing (TGR). One of the new activities created was the GR Supra GT Cup ASIA 2020, a regional event which would see the best sim racers from 5 countries – Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines and India – competing against each other.
Organized by Toyota Motor Asia Pacific, it was the first virtual motorsport racing championship in Asia. Each country has held its own series to find three of the best racers, and these were the ones who represented the country. The 15 contestants challenged each other using identical GR Supra RZ20 racing cars on the PlayStation platform, watched by millions of viewers worldwide… certainly way more than a real-world race.
Three races, 15 competitors
The event comprised 3 races, starting at the Fuji Speedway in Japan. At the end of this race, A. Aleef from Singapore led the pack with a strong 6-second lead. He was followed closely in second and third place, respectively, by Muhammad Iqbal Ahmad Suji and Taj Aiman, both from the Malaysian team.
The second race was an exciting 5 laps through the night ‘Shuto’ expressway of Tokyo – obviously only possible in the virtual world! Lap 5 saw one of the most exciting duels of the race as Suji, Tanapat (Thailand) and Shaz (Singapore) race 3-wide through the long straight to compete for P7 in a one-lane turn. But it was Aleef who again finished with a strong first place, followed closely by N. Sirigaya (Thailand) and T. Lallave (Philippines).
Nurburgring was where the final battles took place. This circuit runs over 20 kms and has more than 150 turns, requiring a mandatory pitstop and tyre change. After 3 intense laps, Taj Aiman came in first with an incredibly close second from Sirigaya and Aleef in third.
The overall winners were determined by their total points at the end of the three races. Aleef had the highest score of 36 points, while Taj Aiman came second with 33 points, and Sirigaya was in third with 25 points.
Overall winner faces global challengers
Aleef won US$6,000 in cash and a coveted spot to race in the global final GR Supra GT Cup 2020 in December. He will this represent Asia against the best of class e-Motorsport challengers from around the world.
Taj Aiman, placed second, received US$3,000 while Sirigaya, who came in third, won US$1,500 USD. All three winners were also awarded trophies.
“It has been a phenomenal year for me, having won the Toyota GR Velocity Esports Championship, given the honour to represent Malaysia and going on to finish second in the GR Supra GT Cup Asia, What an incredible experience!” said Taj Aiman. “Coming in second and just 3 points short of an overall victory is tough but that’s racing, and it is what it is.”
Malaysian event inspiration for GR Supra GT Cup Asia
UMW Toyota Motor (UMWT) continues to be the first, and remains as the only car company in Malaysia to be associated with e-Motorsport activities. The company has run three seasons of the Toyota GR Velocity Esports Championship, which was also instrumental in inspiring the very first GR Supra GT Cup Asia series.
The Toyota GR Velocity Esports Championship has been held in Malaysia over the last three years.
“With simulator racing becoming more competitive and also regarded as an important stepping stone for some of the world’s best real-life racers and teams, it is important that Malaysian virtual racers are also given the opportunity to compete at regional as well as international levels. At Toyota, we are delighted to be able to provide them with this exposure,” said Akio Takeyama, GAZOO RACING Malaysia’s Chief Motorsport Officer.
President of UMW Toyota Motor, Ravindran K., said the company’s contribution to Malaysian motorsports will continue both on the racing track and in the virtual world as it aspires to bridge both disciplines and bring motor-racing to the masses.
“It’s amazing to see how far virtual racing has come and, in many ways, today becoming an important element in accelerating the learning and development of a driver on the track. Virtual racing has also been instrumental in growing the interest and appreciation for motorsports and moving forward, UMWT will continue to invest in its potential,” he said, adding that part of UMWT’s initiatives include the recent launching of a GAZOO RACING Young Talent Development Program which is aimed at allowing both young karters and simulator racers to transition into real racing.
