As you may recall, GT series creator Kazunori Yamauchi joined the Team World Car Awards for the 24-Hour Nurburgring race just a few weeks ago. Despite some mechanical troubles, they finished fourth in their class, with Yamauchi himself setting the team’s second-fastest lap at 9:48. Check out on-board video of one of his laps below, featuring his signature smooth-and-steady driving style. Congratulations to the whole team, and thanks to all who sent this in!
NURBURGRING, GERMANY (May 15-16) The 38th edition of the Nurburgring 24-hour classic turned into a sprint race from start to finish as the clouds, which threatened to drop more rain, parted to create cold but dry track conditions. Under the gaze of over 220,000 race fans, 197 race entries followed pace cars around the 25km-long track (combination of Nordschleife and GP F1 track) in starting grid formation before blasting through the start-finish line in a thunderous rolling-start.
Driving a Lexus IS-F and with a very capable pit crew from Toyota Europe, Team World Car Awards battled with mechanical and aeroparts problems but remained fast and competitive to record a memorable 4th in class finish and 59th overall. Team drivers Kazunori Yamauchi (Jpn), Owen Mildenhall (UK), Hideshi Matsuda (Jpn) and Peter Lyon (Aus) took turns for 70-minute stints behind the wheel.
Start driver Kazunori Yamauchi pushed from the outset chasing a strong field of class rivals. Classified in the SP8 class, Team WCA came up against the likes of two factory Lexus LFA’s, an Aston Martin Rapide, V12 Vantage, V8 Vantage, Aston Martin N24, Chevrolet Corvette, an Audi R8 and two other V8 Audi’s.
A fuel pump problem forced the IS-F to pit costing around 25 minutes. Running at 6th in class as night fell, a brake issue led to another pit stop which was solved by switching to different brake pads. In the first of two night stints, ex-Indycar pilot Matsuda posted a 9 minute 58 second lap time, the team’s best night lap time. Just after Mildenhall handed over to Lyon for the mid-morning stint, severe vibrations from a split front spoiler forced the team to pit once again and repair the damage. Running at 5th in class, Yamauchi took the wheel and posted his fastest time of the race, a 9.48. That was just after Matsuda had recorded the team’s fastest lap of 9.46.
As wear and tear and accidents saw one-third of the field retire, Team WCA stayed in the race, gradually moving up the rankings until finishing 4th in class, just behind two Astons and a factory Lexus LFA.
Meanwhile, the focus of the race fell on the Manthey Porsche GT3 R, winner of the event for the last 4 years. Securing the race lead from an Audi R8 LMS on a lightning fast first lap, the Porsche met with disaster when it was taken out of the race after just 7 hours after a slower car collided with it. Then the Manthey Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid held the lead for 15 hours until a blown engine forced its retirement with just 90 minutes to go.
The eventual winner of the race was the BMW M3 GT2 which had qualified in 9 position, after four Audi R8’s dominated the first two rows. In second place was the Ferrari F430 GTC followed by an Audi R8 LMS.
At the prize giving ceremony after the race, Team WCA was awarded a trophy for 4th in class, a great result for a program which started in August 2009 with an SP8 class win in the team’s very first VLN 4-hour race. Gran Turismo driving simulator creator Kazunori Yamauchi also received a special trophy from the race organiser for “Distinguished Services to Motor Sport.”
SP8 Class Results
1st – Lexus LFA (factory team)
2nd – Aston Martin Rapide (factory team)
3rd – Aston Martin V12 Vantage
4th – Lexus IS-F (Team World Car Awards)Team WCA wishes to thank Toyota Europe, Gran Turismo, Alpine Stars and Yokohama Tires for their collaboration in this racing effort. Look out for race reports in magazines and websites around the world as WCA jurors cover the story.
Feedback data from the race car will be used in future Toyota models.
See more articles on Kazunori Yamauchi, Lexus IS-F, Nurburgring 24 Hours, Nurburgring Nordschleife, and Videos.
This is one of the best racing videos I’ve ever seen. Just simple footage of an entire lap from inside the race car. The sense of speed was great, and it was a privilege to see the decisions carried out from this point of view. Yamauchi appears to have great reflexes for a middle-aged software engineer and made some pretty bold moves in passing cars. Thank you, and congratulations.
Will people please quit posting idiotic, whiny crybaby comments complaining how they demand to play this game this second? Five years is a perfectly reasonable development time for a game created in this HD generation.
make Says:
June 8th, 2010 at 8:54 am
“I can imagine that 0:32 and 0:55 would look completely different in the GT5 online race, i.e. Lexus would bounce Seat off the track. That’s why GT series will never be a respected racing simulator.”
If you really do want to drive like an idiot and smash up cars, you can easily go off and play Need For Speed, Forza, GRID, or some other arcade racer. The Gran Turismo series is, in fact, the world’s most respected driving simulator.
I like that menu system in the video link BHG posted. Its much better than the GT5 Prologue menu in my opinion. I hope it stays like that.
maybe if we didn’t have this “Kaz racing here, Kaz taking photos there, Kaz making an appearance over there” crp, we’d be playing the game by now. i studied, worked, married… when will the game be released, when i retire?
@bhg thanks 4 the link, i wonder if
mimaximax works 4 PD or he could b a
tester 4 GT5, n either case it’s looking
good :D
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tkenSVbJ00s
1 more week for E3!
:(,man, go work , when gt 5 ? :(
Also, that C30 looks very quick through the twisty bits. Would that be 4WD or FWD? I know some Volvos have 4WD, but not sure about a quick version of the C30.
@ JustCause. I got it. LOLz
Its obvious that you didnt realise I was being sarcastic about the complaints that people have about GT5 J.P. My comment was about the video of Kaz doing a lap on the Nurburgring track.
How could I use the following complaints about that video when its real life?
he trees are still 2D , The car models look like crap , The physics are way off , theres no reverse lights , theres no sparks flying everywhere , the drivers hands dont move properly when he is changing gears , the internal camera is in the wrong place , the sounds are rubbish , theres no rain , its not night time , theres no snow and its only 720P.
Also Some people complained about backfires , skid marks and sparks. Look at the video of KY doing a lap and point out the backfires on the cars? Point out the skidmarks from the cars? Show us the sparks?
@JustCause – you’ll be the one missing out!!
Maybe KY got inspired from this and we will have fuel pump failures in GT5. After all, it has to be perfect :D
I don’t think he bothers at all about realeasing the game- he is enjoying life lapping the Ring, why would he have to share his pleasure with us by releasing GT5? :D
Way to go, Kaz. Teach your stupid fans (clients) that they cannot simply get what they want (to pay for) once and for all. Who cares about profit and revenue nowadays anyway? There’s no point in producing games. Talking about them is the real business
1 WEEK FROM TODAY……….. SONY’s DAY AT E3 2010!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I feel blessed getting a game made by a real life race car driver/fanatic. I’m glad that he has hands on experience that will reflect in the game. Cant wait till I’m the one behind the wheel on GT5!
racing is good, but stop racing! release the GAME!!!!!
I would like to know what he thinks when he drives. If he thinks how to add this experience to GT, or if he just forgets about GT5 when racing.
He is a pro in the virtual and real world!
When GT5 is up and runing we will all know who the quickest drivers are, for better or worse. And this vid makes me think Kaz will be at the top, this is a 4door car!
Good driving, but I want to play GT5 now!!
I can imagine that 0:32 and 0:55 would look completely different in the GT5 online race, i.e. Lexus would bounce Seat off the track. That’s why GT series will never be a respected racing simulator.
@reaperman
your clearly american.
quite good driving…… for a slacker.
“reaperman Says:
June 7th, 2010 at 12:08 pm
9:48–I do that in a van.
I kid, but he’s driving so calmly that aside from the noise and trees moving quickly, it looks a bit like he’s driving to church.”
You’ll need that calm head if you want to get through the 24 hours safely (but fast!) ;]
BTW the complaints in my last post are what I see in this video not in the GT5 replay videos.
That video just proves what I have been saying all along. The trees are still 2D , The car models look like crap , The physics are way off , theres no reverse lights , theres no sparks flying everywhere , the drivers hands dont move properly when he is changing gears , the internal camera is in the wrong place , the sounds are rubbish , theres no rain , its not night time , theres no snow and its only 720P. Im not buying GT5 because of all those flaws.
I Love You Kazunori Yamauchi!
I want to watch my GT5 replays from this angle!
realize that the 948 lap that he ran was on the old course combined with the new gp course, so there is alot of added time. he probably ran somewhere around 700 which is like 20 seconds faster than the quickest lap for a supercar
To all those complaining that he should stop racing and get back to work. Do you honestly believe that the reason GT5 isn’t finished is because he has a life outside of his work?
Personally, I think it is a good thing that he gets out the office to do things like this. It gives him a perspective on things that you can’t get sitting at a desk. When I watch videos like this it excites me more than captures of GT5 because this sort of stuff shows why GT5 will be something special. It shows that these people understand motorsport in a way that most of us never will.
Yes, he must get an incredible feeling of accomplishment when he’s racing along a track he’s been recreating for a long time and just having the constant thoughts about all the time he’s spent in front of computers looking at that scenery. He has such a great commitment to his franchise and seeing his logo everywhere has got to be amazing. Kaz is THE MAN !
Agh, it’s painful to see “Gran Turismo” plastered on a Porsche knowing I still can’t drive one in the game!!
@3-2-1_contact
I was just thinking about that.
But anyways Kaz is a very good driver, I was surprised how he passed them GT style on the straight!
in wich level of hd are our eyes ?
Does he know he’s not playing gt5 ?
I wonder if it’s weird for Kaz every time he sees billboards of his own creation
@DaveTheStalker
Ohh, I get it… *wink* *wink*
Haha
Kaz is a G!
That is some really calm steering input and just 2secs off the record lap in that car lol
It is always nice to see that Kaz having so much fan driving while we eating ur nails off in the unbearable anticipation!
It is clear that Kaz is very confident with his skills. The man is living his dream!
You are so right Gran Turismo Vet. it will make the game better. keep racin KY
Why is that Porsche sponsored by Gran Turismo? It probably means nothing but you know…
@reaperman
You drive 150+ mph in a van, to church…. I doubt….
The more exp he gets the better GT will be or at least I hope so
GT5 will reenact the 24Hr race….
But dynamic weather, day/night cycles and Porsches are all in question?
Great reenactment. Like for like.
Does get me angry seeing Porsches with GT windscreen banners. Oh and before you say ‘We have Ruf’, has anyone seen ONE Ruf screenshot yet…. just one??
And, if said 24hr race is in the game, how can I use my Ruf to compete angaist bland mundane dross like Kaz’s Luxury Toyota? Your telling me that there will be a full race spec with race livery Ruf based on the 997? Balderdash.
/Porsche fan rant ;-)
E3! E3! E3! Dammit….
Pardon me but 9:48 is decent at most, in a car as powerful as an IS-F, being a RACING version, should have been a faster lap. Just Doing some racing makes u a good RACING DRIVER
Dan Greenawalt owns a car and talks about it too much.. does that count?
9:48–I do that in a van.
I kid, but he’s driving so calmly that aside from the noise and trees moving quickly, it looks a bit like he’s driving to church.
Call Me stupid,but its hard to believe that people talk smack about a game who’s developer is a seasoned and respected OFFICIAL RACE CAR DRIVER.you tell me one other game developer who’s willing to stick their neck out to provide the most realistic physics to a game and then maybe we can talk.
that is bloody smooth.
@ Marrymegt5 i totally agree with you. I mean, we only c these stupid race events, its almost in every way not connected tot the game. And these gameplay videos of the Ring, are getting boring.:P So release some freakinn videos of the tuning options.
Congratulations kaz and team!!!I hope E3 huge media blowout and release date GT5!5 years waiting this game…..long time!
/But,i not see 2D trees and 2D public your racing video:)/
I think it’s funny that he has a Porsche right up his ass, haha.
This is is the first video in which noone has complained about 2D trees and sparks :D
@ Niko & Marrymegt5,
Guys seriously do not worry, Kaz getting involved in racing doesn’t stop the rest of PD from finishing the game, and certainly won’t affect the release date…whenever that may be!!
Great vid. Kaz can really drive, and it looks really close to what we see in the game. Amazing!
Now just waiting for release date.
September, anyone?
@ el zaido – Gran Turismo already has RUFs which basically are Porsche but better. :)
Gran Turismo 6 Prologue Gameplay!
Why can’t you see this?
I also have a mate that does not stop complaining about the sence of speed in gt5p, “it looks like your doing 50kph when the spedo is saying 200kph”, I should show him that vid and show him that its like that in real life too.
Marrymegt5!!
“STOP RACING AND RELEASE THE FREAKING GAME”YES,YES!!!!!
Man I must say the Kaz on the ring footage looks a hell of a lot like the recent GT5 vids of the same track we’ve seen lately!
And to the people who think wind and road noise is not loud in a race car at speed, watch the above vid ;)
Im happy that Kazunori is getting all of this seat time in these different races, but I really wish he would just focus on releasing Gran Turismo 5 to the public. Articles like this are cool but pointless.
They’ve got their own Japanese copy of Richard Hammond on the team!
For once, driving like it’s a video game went very right.
congrats yamaushi ..!
go YAMMA! GO!!….. yes… go to work! XD
AHHH the wonders of drafting lol he passed up everyone in the straight by drafting haha just like in the games but the games are just like real life
It made me smile to see how closely real life resembles the game-and thats saying alot
this dude can drive ,but don’t hurt your self cause we need u for gt6,7,8…
Odd how we don’t see the makers of that racing game on that other console participating in events such as this.
It was all going so well… Then he got overtaken by an Astra lol. In all seriousness though that was a very cool vid with some very cool driving. Supose it would make sense that the creator of the best racing game out there would be a damn good driver in reality.
man I cannot imagine driving like that for 70min stints….it feels like your heart would explode being excited constantly for 70 mins! imagine what it’s like for other teams that have drivers that do it for hours! I guess that’s what separates the men from the boys…
I would love to see an in-car view at night.
@MarrymeGT5 – Hey, I think I hear a wee bit of jealousy…that is…if youre serious about Kaz stopping a passion he enjoys..and where he gets his inspiration for the GT series.
Who would rather play a console version…versus a racing in a real race car….no-one!!!
That would be like having virtual sex versus…the real thing….same difference, ha!
Anyway, he might be stressed a little in having to get the game out this year. I am willing to cut him slack, as I know the game is going to be awesome…and I am anticipating a 2010 release…please 2010 release :)
So this is why they couldn’t meet the march deadline.. Kaz needed his racing fix.. lol
I guess Yamauchi san will head straight to E3 now with a release date for gt5 hopefully :D
Kaz makes it look so easy! True sign of a talented driver. I had de ja vue watching that video compared to GT5 footage. You definitely know Kaz practiced hours on end in GT5 for this race, those slipstreaming skillz were very appropriate :p
@el zaido
PD is a sponsor of the race, all cars have GT on them
Amazing!
KAZ my hero !!
can you tell this FORZA ?? :P
@ el zaido
Oh yeah. Didn’t even notice that. I would think they would have said something about it though.
Wow… I actually thought that was GT5 for a second there… I’m tellin’ ya, that’s what it’ll look like on the PS4.
PS- Good driving, Kaz!
does this mean there will be porsches in gt5? because two porsches has gran turismo labels
Awesome. After watching that vid , I have the utmost respect for the driving ability of Kaz.He has some real guts and knows what he is doing.His firsthand knowledge of actual racing is what will make GT5 so great.
MarryMeg5: LMAO i said 3 years ago !
wow, only nine comments till someone told kaz to stop doing what he loves. like he is going to listen to us.
STOP RACING AND RELEASE THE FREAKING GAME
great lap
Also happy I saw a Volvo C30 =). But yeah, there is not a better sound than a Toyota engine being pushed to its max. Glorious lol
just so happy i saw Volvo C30 on this track :D yahhoo
I love this kind of stuff. One of my goals in life is to go watch the 24 hour race of Nurburgring. We don’t get good service here in the US. Thank you GTPlanet for putting this kind of stuff up.
congratulations kaz and 2 ur team, now head back
2 the office and check 2 c if ur masterpiece (GT5)
;) is finished yet.
Congratulations !
Fast lap time!
WOW
Nice lap.
First!
Great Driving