We’re a tiny bit late this week – you may have noticed one or two big news articles the last few days – but fear not, the third GTPlanet Track of the Week pick is here!
Last week’s track was Formidable’s fantasy Valleyside Raceway circuit, while the inaugural week was NingDynasty’s impressive Sebring replica.
This week’s pick comes to you care of, er, me actually: Sonoma Raceway, recreated by community member Venari. The track formerly known as Infineon (and Sears Point before that) is not a 100% replica as you’d expect, but the layout trace is faithful to the real-life location. Most of the elevation changes match up too, if not in height, then at least in the right direction. You’ll find helpful rumble strip placement, providing accurate braking points. The biggest change comes at the end of the lap, where a slight climb uphill deposits you into difficult, blind-downhill-apex hairpin.
Venari has definitely put in the time with the relatively limited Course Creator to produce what is arguably the closest we’ll get to the track being back in the series, with its last (and only) full-game appearance being on the PS2’s Gran Turismo 4.
For more circuits to download, visit our GT6 Track Database, where you can browse by the most-downloaded or highest-rated. You can also stop by our GT6 Course Maker forum for more discussion and tips on how to get the most out of the Track Path Editor app.
Note that all of our weekly staff picks will be selected from the database, so be sure to add any of your custom tracks for consideration right here.
See more articles on GT6 Course Maker and GT6 Track of the Week.
Sonoma? …I thought it was called Infenion?
Infineon did not renew the licensing back 2012, so know the track is simply known as Sanoma Raceway until a corporate sponsor fills in the naming rights. Remember, the track was also known as Sears Point (named after the Sears Point Ranch nearby, not the company).
Thanks for all the positive comments, guys. You might note there are a couple of extra versions of the circuit, marked ‘V2’. First, like this, the Sports Car version, with a slightly modified last hairpin, and also a Stock Car version taking out the infield.
I’m having fun with the Andalusia theme at the moment, when you widen the track out a bit more you can make some fun circuits to have races on. If you like Sonoma, you’ll love my Circuito de Santa Mónica and Circuito Hornachuelos – each track has multiple layouts and whether you race MX-5s or XJR-9s one of them will suit you.
It looks a little off, but in a good way. It seems much more enjoyable than the normal track.
There’s an error in the article, Sonoma was also in Gran Turismo PSP.
A technicality; I wrote “full-game” to signify the main numbered titles. :)
Very nice!
Nifty.
Good stuff Venari. I tried and desperately failed at trying to get a good rendition of this track, and it looks really close on your video. I’ll be giving it a run soon, as I love this track.
Dang it, I didn’t make it this week. Maybe once I start updating my track.
Nice work Venari, you even managed to capture much of the elevation changes at Sonoma. You could easily go from this to a developer created version and feel right at home. Well done.
Funnily enough, I had been doing a bunch of laps around Sonoma in an Elise in FM6 earlier in the week, and yep, it definitely feels close enough to be familiar almost immediately.