Gran Turismo World Series discussion (2026 Nations Cup: 11-28 February)

[Moose78]

Has anyone managed to duplicate the weather from free practice in a custom race / lobby? I've tried R05 on 2x speed and it starts off with a bit of rain, then dries incredibly quickly with no further rain.

I'm pretty sure that PD has access to a hidden setting that controls how quickly the track dries. Whenever we have races where the track starts out wet and dries out leaving a dry racing line, it happens much slower than it does in custom races or lobbies, where the track dries out completely in a lap or two. In these GTWS races, the edges of the track stay wet for ages.

I've given up on trying to replicate this effect myself. When we have races with weather now, I just stick to practicing in the Free Practice mode, since it seems to be the only reliable way to get something that resembles what we'll get in the race.

 

[Zorz]

Has anyone managed to duplicate the weather from free practice in a custom race / lobby? I've tried R05 on 2x speed and it starts off with a bit of rain, then dries incredibly quickly with no further rain. Or do I just need to keep restarting until the patterns match?

I just did a custom race that mostly got it right, although the start was noticeably wetter than the real thing will be.

This is the setup I used:

It took a few restarts, but that led to a decent pattern with a race where the dry line appeared around lap 12/13. It started off with a random pattern of green/yellow, then moved into solid bars heading down to blue and light blue, then some solid lines moving back up to blue and briefly green before the rain stopped altogether around lap 9/10.

I think I also found a bug which has me laughing. I used AI cars to get up to 16 to try simulate the extra drying and was a bit confused when I lapped a Ferrari 296 on laps 3 and 8. I thought maybe it started on Hards and didn't have any Wet tyres or something, but the reality is so much better. Polyphony have implemented Ferrari strategy into the game. It started on Wets then pit for Softs at the end of lap 1 and stayed on them throughout the entire wet phase.

Just pure chef's kiss.

 

[BGreenFace]

Polyphony have implemented Ferrari strategy into the game. It started on Wets then pit for Softs at the end of lap 1 and stayed on them throughout the entire wet phase.

There you have it folks the optimal strategy according to all the people at the Ferrari team. You can ignore my strategy analysis from earlier 🤣

 

[ZEE]

Hey all, check out my highlights video edit from Round 1, good luck to all on Round 2 today and hopefully the wet wont get us all!!

 

[Uday9479]

Did a test run in free practice and here are my thoughts
Laps 1-2 rain high for inters
Laps 3-5 pause drying a little
Laps 6-9 rain resumed
Laps 10-20 rain stopped and drying conditions
Laps 16-20 only then for slicks

Now of course being 16 cars on the grid the track will dry faster so I don’t think the inters no stop will be viable. Also since there is a dry patch at the start the wets will have a hard time getting to the slick unless you are some kind of wizard/tire whisperer. If you do start on wets to have the edge during the heavier rain you will likely need to change for RM to get to the end.
The best strategy I think will be to start on Inters and try to hold on and then change to soft when the track is very much dry. Just make sure you can get to the end on this compound…

This is what makes the upcoming DT event so wonderful. A lot of strategy variations can be played out.

In my 27 lap qualy run, I started on wets. Even when after a few laps it stopped raining, the track was wet enough for wets. It started to rain again and then as You said the sequence of a drying track to a complete dry track played out.

The trick is if You as a driver can make wets last or if You can brave the rain/tricky conditions on inters till the track is dry enough. Depends on one's skill & even the car they're driving. Real fun this....

 

[KAlex122]

Anybody think that Wet --> inter --> Soft with two pitstops could make sense?

I'm definitely faster at the beginning with Wets but Inters are mangable and as this round is all about survival, especially in lower lobbies, I'll go Inter as the drying phase is more critical to me than the beginning in the rain.

 

[Zorz]

I've just skimmed over some streams from GT2 and GT3. This really looks like Inters > Mediums.

2 stopping is just asking to finish badly. You need to drive that dry line when it arrives, even if you're really cautious about it.

Qualifying is dry. During the race, the drying effect of all the cars is noticeable even whilst it's raining. The race I just looked at had a visible dry line forming during the brief gap in rain around lap 4-5.

The proper dry line will start to arrive around lap 11. Anyone trying to put off the switch will only be able to postpone it by a couple of laps at most. Even the Inters get some noticeable wear during the rain stint.

 

[Hdbd04]

I did a test run with the free practice setup for weather. The Jag is predictably looking for a chance to kill its driver, so I've decided to set TCS to 2 just to be safe from Lap 1-9 onwards. Although somewhere between Lap 5 there was a hole of no-rain. Which kinda confirms that despite the start, Inters is the way to go.

Eventually after Lap 9 the weather stopped showing up and by Lap 16 or even Lap 14, the track was dry enough for a change.

Based on a single session, I'm going to predict that rain is going to last for 10 laps at best, with 4 laps or earlier for the track to dry out for a tire change. The only thing I haven't tried out yet is a dry lap, along with how the tires are going to last.

At least the time-slots (for my area at least) would give me enough time to really squeeze out any test if I wanted to. Skipping the 1st slot (At 7 PM) to either do the 2nd (9 PM) or 3rd slot (11 PM).

 

[VTEC Driver]

It would be interesting to understand if when start drying the track the rest keep wet enough to cool the inters till the end.

This track has so long straight that out of the dry line could stay wet enough and so it could be possible to try the no stop strategy.

The doubt is about the 5x tire consumption that could affect inters also on the wet part.

 

[dazdilly75]

It would be interesting to understand if when start drying the track the rest keep wet enough to cool the inters till the end.

This track has so long straight that out of the dry line could stay wet enough and so it could be possible to try the no stop strategy.

The doubt is about the 5x tire consumption that could affect inters also on the wet part.

I don't believe this is viable, because the rain isn't strong enough at the start to sustain a wet track for 20 laps, like it was at RBR in the last exhibition season, where a no stop on inters was actually viable. I always have issues transitioning from rain to dry tyres, so I wish a no stop was possible for this combo.

 

[Zorz]

It would be interesting to understand if when start drying the track the rest keep wet enough to cool the inters till the end.

This track has so long straight that out of the dry line could stay wet enough and so it could be possible to try the no stop strategy.

The doubt is about the 5x tire consumption that could affect inters also on the wet part.

Not happening. This is a screenshot from a Polish guy who's streaming right now. This is what Inters will look like around lap 6, and he's got the best case scenario since he's leading (so least drying out of everyone) and he's actively going off the dry line down the straights.

Start of lap 11:

End of lap 11:

Polyphony have this set up to force a pit stop and make everyone drive the dry line. There is no escaping it without shooting yourself in the foot.

 

[Pakiti]

Anybody think that Wet --> inter --> Soft with two pitstops could make sense?

I'm definitely faster at the beginning with Wets but Inters are mangable and as this round is all about survival, especially in lower lobbies, I'll go Inter as the drying phase is more critical to me than the beginning in the rain.

That's what I initially wanted, but after running a few simulations, I decided to start on intermediate tires and make one stop. Of course, everything will depend on the specific weather conditions, as they may vary from race to race.

 

[FlapJackFlash]

From a few custom races with vaguely similar weather, it does seem the dry line is very wide - can be tough to find the wet areas on the 2nd straight so don't think much tyre cooling can be done here. Does seem to mean that switching to dry tyres is a bit less of a gamble than RBR, but I did find the curbs in the Esses quite slippy. Question I have, would tyre cooling help the M or S last longer as well?

Also need to remember to practice some dry driving so qualifying doesn't take me by surprise like it did in RBR.

 

[Blade_Rudder]

I tried slot 2, GT2 league, door 7 in a Porsche in my alt account. Quali was dry, but I made a mess of it so started 10th on IM tyres. A few must have started on slicks as I was 7th by the exit of the first corner. I pitted on lap 11, as recommended by @Zorz above, for mediums. Despite the rest of the race being uneventful I finished 4th due to others taking themselves out or changing to softs too early. A clean race too

 

[Norbsthebald]

It would be interesting to understand if when start drying the track the rest keep wet enough to cool the inters till the end.

This track has so long straight that out of the dry line could stay wet enough and so it could be possible to try the no stop strategy.

The doubt is about the 5x tire consumption that could affect inters also on the wet part.

To echo above, you've got no chance. Even cooling my tyres on the wet bits of the track down the straights during the drier parts, I could still only coax my IMs to lap 11 before I would have needed new rubber anyway.

Door 14, Q12, kept it on the grey bit, P3! 137pts, pleased with that.

 

[Moose78]

I've just skimmed over some streams from GT2 and GT3. This really looks like Inters > Mediums.

I was just watching a European GT2 stream where the driver did a 10W-10RS in the Citreon. I thought for sure they'd burn through the softs, but somehow they got to the end without another pit. I was also surprised that the track was dry enough for slicks on lap 10. It definitely looked sketchy, but doable. I think I'd wait another lap, though.

I'm not sure I'm brave enough to go with RS tires for the drying stint, especially if it is going to be that long. I'm leaning towards a 11IM-9RM strategy

Good luck to everybody who has yet to race!

 

[Zorz]

I was just watching a European GT2 stream where the driver did a 10W-10RS in the Citreon. I thought for sure they'd burn through the softs, but somehow they got to the end without another pit. I was also surprised that the track was dry enough for slicks on lap 10. It definitely looked sketchy, but doable. I think I'd wait another lap, though.

I'm not sure I'm brave enough to go with RS tires for the drying stint, especially if it is going to be that long. I'm leaning towards a 11IM-9RM strategy

Good luck to everybody who has yet to race!

10 laps on Softs? Wow.

I suppose you can't really push whilst tracing the dry line so the tyres will last longer, but that still sounds impressive. I might consider Softs later then in the Audi... 🤔

 

[Blade_Rudder]

10 laps on Softs? Wow.

I suppose you can't really push whilst tracing the dry line so the tyres will last longer, but that still sounds impressive. I might consider Softs later then in the Audi... 🤔

Pitting on lap 10 could bring Wet tyres into play. I lost a place to a 296 on wet tyres on lap 3. I saw on replay he breezed past a couple of others with intermediates too. He stretched them to lap 10 before he pitted for Softs, though he didn’t get 10 laps out of those, so it is a gamble.

 

[VillaJ100]

Going to give this a go today but struggling in Grade B!

 

[BGreenFace]

Not happening. This is a screenshot from a Polish guy who's streaming right now. This is what Inters will look like around lap 6, and he's got the best case scenario since he's leading (so least drying out of everyone) and he's actively going off the dry line down the straights.

View attachment 1506548

Start of lap 11:
View attachment 1506549

End of lap 11:
View attachment 1506550

Polyphony have this set up to force a pit stop and make everyone drive the dry line. There is no escaping it without shooting yourself in the foot.

so It seems like it is gonna be an inters start. No way that the wets will get to lap 11…

 

[Uday9479]

10 laps on Softs? Wow.

I suppose you can't really push whilst tracing the dry line so the tyres will last longer, but that still sounds impressive. I might consider Softs later then in the Audi... 🤔

10 laps on softs can only be achieved by those who are really smooth with their steering & braking inputs. But 10 laps on RS is real good.

Pitting on lap 10 could bring Wet tyres into play. I lost a place to a 296 on wet tyres on lap 3. I saw on replay he breezed past a couple of others with intermediates too. He stretched them to lap 10 before he pitted for Softs, though he didn’t get 10 laps out of those, so it is a gamble.

It's really tempting to me to go on wets instead of inters because the start of the race will be really heavy rain. Wets will at least give stability. I even noticed wets last well if You know how to make them last till the dry spell. Inters will be faster in the mid of the race (drying track) so I need to do some thinking here.

I was just watching a European GT2 stream where the driver did a 10W-10RS in the Citreon. I thought for sure they'd burn through the softs, but somehow they got to the end without another pit. I was also surprised that the track was dry enough for slicks on lap 10. It definitely looked sketchy, but doable. I think I'd wait another lap, though.

I'm not sure I'm brave enough to go with RS tires for the drying stint, especially if it is going to be that long. I'm leaning towards a 11IM-9RM strategy

Good luck to everybody who has yet to race!

Mediums is a seriously good shout. I rather be safe than sorry as I use a DS4 so my tyre saving skills ain't that great. RM is also quick but about 1.5-2 seconds slower than RS. I wouldn't mind being a little slower instead of having fully worn RS tyres before the end of the race.

 

[Moose78]

RM is also quick but about 1.5-2 seconds slower than RS. I wouldn't mind being a little slower instead of having fully worn RS tyres before the end of the race.

RS are faster until they're not. As the tread wears, they lose grip and after a few laps get slower than the RMs. With the 5x wear multiplier, it can happen pretty soon. In my tests with the Renault, for example, the RSs were only faster than RMs for stints that are 3 laps or less. Anything more than that and the RMs came out faster overall.

 

[Uday9479]

RS are faster until they're not. As the tread wears, they lose grip and after a few laps get slower than the RMs. With the 5x wear multiplier, it can happen pretty soon. In my tests with the Renault, for example, the RSs were only faster than RMs for stints that are 3 laps or less. Anything more than that and the RMs came out faster overall.

Yeah Mate. Like I said, better to be safe than sorry. You've opted for R.S.01?

I think inters is more practical than wets although they will offer lesser grip when it downpours. When the rain gets scanty, inters will work better.

 

[Shackster]

Yeah Mate. Like I said, better to be safe than sorry. You've opted for R.S.01?

I think inters is more practical than wets although they will offer lesser grip when it downpours. When the rain gets scanty, inters will work better.

Being a bit rubbish in the wet, I think I have to start on wets, the logic being that I’ll lose less time with a two stopper for inters then mediums/softs than recovering from spins if I start on inters 🤣

 

[Uday9479]

Being a bit rubbish in the wet, I think I have to start on wets, the logic being that I’ll lose less time with a two stopper for inters then mediums/softs than recovering from spins if I start on inters 🤣

I took part in a simulated race of DT in a lobby today. Most started on inters including myself even when it was raining. We basically need to be careful on those real tight corners such as the one after the back straight (180 degree turn) & the last double left hander before the main straight.

The million dollar question is how far can the wets last when the rain stops falling but the track is still wet till it starts to dry? So wets to RM or inters to RM/RS is the way to go.

Also thanks to GT Eng!!!ne (X), found this amazing data going into tonite's Manu event:

 

[stpatty]

I was planning on 15/5 inter/soft but if the track dries quicker than that and softs aren't going to last, I guess it'll be mediums. Can softs manage any more than 5 laps?

 

[Dule savic]

They can. You are forced to drive on racing line only, you cant overdrive and burn front right in T1, or front left in tehnical section. Also, it most depends in your driving style and skill

 

[stpatty]

you cant overdrive and burn front right

Also, it most depends in your driving style and skill

That'll be a no then, thanks

 

[MCL1974]

Could not really practice so decided to do a race on my alt account as a practice session. So entered a GT 3 race with the Beemer, and qualified in fifth with a high 1.34, the pole position was a 1.32 something so there was some good competition.

Start went okay, lost one please but that guy spinned out so got it back. Car 1 drove away and place 2 to 4 were fighting and I stayed behind them waiting for them to take each other out, which thay did. Ended with a race long fight with a Ferrari for 2nd place.

Funny thing I noticed was that the guy in the Ferrari was very fast, untill he got in front of me, then he started to make mistakes and drive sloppy. So we swapped postion a few times an I pretty much waited for him to make a mistake at the end of the race and he did so again in lap 19, I overtook him and finished in 2nd place, far behind the winner.

Hope to get a chance to drive on my main account this evening. The Dodge is not very fast here but did okay in the wet so qualifying will be the main problem.

 

[Medronio]

My experience from a middle B DR rank who finished 2nd today:
Qualifying dry as expected. I went for a full stint on softs, no tyre change, and finished first.
Race weather exactly like in training session. But because of 16 cars on the track the line dries quicker than expected.
I started on Intermediates and lost 2 or 3 places in the rain as I am not a good driver in the rain.
Changed to softs in lap 13 on 2nd place. First had mediums and changed end of lap 11.
I could gain some time on him but after lap 17 he went away and I had no chance of finishing first.
So my recommendation:
Go Intermediates and change to medium tires after lap 11. You can push with mediums as opposed to softs.

Good luck for you all