For a brief spell over the next few hours, Gran Turismo 7 Online Time Trial enthusiasts will have four events — twice the usual amount — running simultaneously, with some enhanced rewards in two.
As is regularly the case after a content update, some of the new goodies introduced are quickly put to use in the various curated events. We saw that last week with the Espace F1/Yas Marina combo, and while you’re not on one of the two new tracks this week you will be in one of the eight new cars again.
That comes in the shape of the Mine’s BNR34 GT-R N1, which is actually something of a curiosity. It’s a car well-known to Gran Turismo fans, having made a debut in Gran Turismo 2 but not as entirely the same car.
The original model, a 600hp monster R34 built by Mine’s, appeared as a car from 2000, persisting through Gran Turismo 5/6 where it was accompanied by an updated, and “Premium” 2006 variant. This was the car that originally, and famously, sported the AutoArt model branding on the underside.
While still technically the same car, it’s been updated again with a restoration in 2021. The Gran Turismo 7 car references that with a neat, chipped GT-R badge on the nose that copies the real thing — left untouched to honor its history.
Speaking of which, you’ll be heading to Tsukuba in the car to set your Time Trial lap, where the Mine’s R34 recorded a 58.675-second lap in 2003. You’ll need Sports Medium tires — and if you don’t have a spare 3,000,000cr, we recommend renting the car for this one — as you aim to beat this time.
Currently the world record for this is a 56.912-second lap, and the only one below the 57s. We’re not totally sure how this will play out, as it’s a very short lap and there wouldn’t seem to be much left on the table at this point.
Either way though, we can say you’ll need to beat the real-world record for gold as that currently sits at 58.619. It’s a dynamic target though, so we’d say for now to aim for at least a 58.4 pending further records at the top.
Another one-off (technically) awaits in the other regular event which has a week remaining, as you pilot the aforementioned Espace F1 around Yas Marina.
We’ve got another standout time at the top of the leaderboards, with GTWS finals regular Kenta Morimoto the only driver into the 1:46s at a 1:46.967 and two-tenths clear of second. That’s going to be tough to beat so the current 1:50.176 gold target is likely safe enough — but we’ll still say to aim for anything in the 1:49s.
In addition to this, there’s two events with direct links to the upcoming Gran Turismo World Series finale in Fukuoka later this month:
As of time of writing there’s single-digit hours remaining on the first, which offers one winner a VIP trip to the event on December 20-21. That’s the Polestar 5 Time Trial Challenge, which requires you to lap the tiny Brands Hatch Indy circuit in an 871hp, two-ton+ EV with rather slippery Sports Hard tires.
The event actually mimics the Invitational Race staged at the GTWS Round 3 event in Los Angeles, but as it’s just you against the clock you won’t have to deal with lapped traffic and nonsense penalties. The record has barely moved, but currently sits at a 49.617-second lap, setting the gold time at a 51.105. Someone’s going to hit a 49.5 of some kind though, so you’ll need a 51.060 or better for the 2m prize.
A new second event will run for the next two weeks, over the World Finals, and uses a car/track combination that will be part of the Nations Cup racing in Fukuoka.
You’ve got a choice of 12 Gr.1 cars in which to set a lap time at Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps. These consist of the Group C Jaguar, Mazda, Nissan, Porsche and Sauber/Mercedes cars, the 2016 Audi and Porsche, the Peugeot 908, the GR010, and three derived from Vision GT cars: Dodge, Hyundai, and Mazda. This likely reveals the 12 cars that’ll be used in the main event — and curiously you can rent all but the Dodge SRT Tomahawk for this one…
Not that it seems to matter much, as the leaderboard is dominated by the 2016 cars. That includes the current top time of 1:58.734 in the Porsche 919 Hybrid, setting gold at 2:02.296. You’ll likely not need much more for gold by the end of the two weeks, but we’d say to look at breaking into the 2:01s.
In order to access the Online Time Trials, you’ll need to unlock Sport Mode, by completing Menu Book 9 (“Championship: Tokyo Highway Parade”) in the GT Cafe single player hub. As it’s just you against the clock and not a direct, head-to-head multiplayer event, PlayStation Plus is not required.
You’ll usually need to be within 3% of the fastest time globally once the event finishes in order to secure “gold” status and a 2m credit bonus prize. There’s smaller prizes of one million for being within 5%, and 250,000cr for bronze at 10% off — doubled to 500,000cr for the Polestar 5 event and GTWS tie-in, with the bronze margin also doubled to 20% for that latter one.
The events update every Thursday, with each individual challenge usually remaining available for two weeks and the oldest of the two events being replaced each week. You can look forward to the next new Time Trial arriving at 0700 UTC on Thursday December 18.
Gran Turismo 7 Lap Time Challenge December 11 – Tsukuba
- Track: Tsukuba Circuit
- Car: Mine’s BNR34 GT-R N1 Base – Garage/Rental Car
- Power/Weight/PP Limit: BOP (L)
- Tires: Sports Medium
- Settings: Fixed
Gran Turismo 7 Lap Time Challenge December 4 – Yas Marina Circuit
- Track: Yas Marina Circuit
- Car: Renault Espace F1 ’95 – Garage/Rental Car
- Power/Weight/PP Limit: BOP (M)
- Tires: Racing Soft
- Settings: Fixed
Gran Turismo 7 Lap Time Challenge World Finals – Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps
- Track: Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps
- Car: Gr.1 Selection – Garage/Rental Car
- Power/Weight/PP Limit: BOP (H)
- Tires: Racing Soft
- Settings: Fixed
Gran Turismo 7 Polestar 5 Time Trial Challenge 2025 – Brands Hatch
- Track: Brands Hatch Indy Circuit
- Car: Polestar 5 Performance ’26 – Garage/Rental Car
- Power/Weight/PP Limit: BOP (L)
- Tires: Sports Soft
- Settings: Fixed
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