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The Directory NASCAR Spring Series 2012 | Race 13 of 16 | Indianapolis Super Speedway | May 18
Thread Starter: Oldtimer01 mobilmasher Today, 08:33 AM
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TPRA News
by Published on 05-01-2012 03:56 PM
Here we go again with another year of furious competition!
The 2012 Academy has launched in the following countries:
2012 European GT Academy
-- Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg (Benelux)
-- France
-- Italy
-- Spain
-- Portugal
-- Switzerland
-- Austria
-- Poland
-- United Kingdom and Northern Ireland
-- Republic of Ireland
2012 United States GT Academy
-- United States of America
2012 Russian GT Academy
-- Russia
2012 German GT Academy
-- Germany
The PlayStation Blog reveals all of the details:
The "demo" is just over 3GB in size and took this reporter around 2 hours to download and install. So a substantial size then but that's what one would expect from such an ambitious project put together by Polyphony Digital, Sony Computer Entertainment and Nissan.Here’s how everything works – the exclusive Gran Turismo content will be available to download from PlayStation Store, free of charge, from 17.00BST / 18.00CEST on May 1 until 23.59BST / 00.59CEST on 24 June. You can download and take part at any time during this period, so even if you miss the start you can still play catch up and get involved.
Once you have downloaded the content, Polyphony Digital will release new rounds approximately every two weeks; in total there are eight rounds and within each round there are five sections.
Here’s a list of the rounds and when they will be available:
Round 1 and 2: 1/5 (Tue) 17.00BST – 24/6 (Sun) 23:59 BST
Round 3 and 4: 14/5 (Mon) 00:00 – 24/6 (Sun) 23:59 BST
Round 5 and 6: 28/5 (Mon) 00:00 – 24/6 (Sun) 23:59 BST
Round 7 and 8 (ROUND 8 IS FINAL/QUALIFICATION EVENT): 6/11 (Mon) 00:00 – 24/6 (Sun) 23:59 BST
The prize? A chance to drive for Nissan at the 2013 24 Hours of Dubai endurance race next January. A winner from each region will get the chance to secure a seat in the race for the Nissan team.
Players who download the demo but live in non-eligible countries will still be able to play but won't be eligible for the main prize. Also, a thing to note is that all Silverstone finalists from last year's Academy will NOT be eligible for the main prize but can still download the demo.
Chat all things GT Academy in our dedicated thread that has been live for some time now.
Good luck to all competitors in this year's GT Academy!
Thanks to former GT Academy finalist 'Gar529' for the help with this article.by Published on 04-29-2012 06:28 AM
Special Stage: Route 5. Where Season Two begins.
The first season of the Grand Tour took us from the foothills of Mount Fuji, Japan, across America from sea to shining sea, east to the mighty circuits of Europe, then culminating in an epic endurance extravaganza at Circuit de la Sarthe in France.
Oreca Team Viper pilots 'tunernaut' and 'MoparSRT' took the championship title by 60 points over the '09 Race Modified Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 of 'rmk700' & 'Peyepete', while the Father/Son team of 'NBA336' and 'Jaedon' pipped 'Choate51' and 'jkmayol' for third by 1 point.
Downforce on the Dodge Viper was one of the keys to victory for tuner and Mopar; their car was also very evenly balanced, resulting in a Viper that was not only easier to drive than the other cars on the grid but also fast.
Before the season even started, all of the competitors knew that the Viper was the car of choice and tuner and Mopar were lucky to get it. Why were they lucky? Well the selection process for what teams raced what cars was chosen by Lady Luck herself. All of the available cars for the season, together with all of the teams that signed contracts for the season were thrown into a proverbial hat and the pairing of who drives what was totally random. This eliminated the common practice of all drivers in a season choosing the car that was the fastest and made sure that the grid was diverse with different makes of car. Some cars were faster than others and it was up to the drivers to leave it all on the table and show who really had the skills to bring their vehicle across the finish line first.
The season started in Japan at the Fuji Speedway with all of the teams filling their themselves up with sushi while their cars were filled up with good ol' gasoline. In qualifying it was 'tunernaut' on pole (as expected in the Viper) with his team mate 'MoparSRT' lining up 4th on the grid. The surprise of qualifying was 'Monster-Energy71' who managed to get his Jaguar XJ220 all the way up to the front row. A great achievement considering the car's relative lack of pace. In comparison, his team mate 'ISU_SYCAMORES' qualified 18th of 20 runners.
Monster couldn't repeat this in the race though as he retired very early in on lap 2 with an engine that refused to cool down and overheated. The race was eventually won from third on the gird by 'Choate51' in the Ford GT with the Vipers of 'MoparSRT' and 'tunernaut' finishing second and third respectively. The other Ford GT driven by 'jkmayol' finished the race in a comfortable fifth position, moving up two places from his original grid position.
GTLM stayed in the Land of the Rising Sun with 'tunernaut' taking victory in Tokyo from third on the grid and 'MoparSRT' spectacularly winning from pole position at the Suzuka endurance race to round out the Japanese leg of the Tour. Next it was on the plane for some long-haul flying home for most of the teams as the Tour moved on to the USA.
The Indianapolis Road Course was the stage and the players put on a fantastic show with 'rmk700' winning from pole in his Corvette ZR1 and his team mate 'Peyepete' bringing the other ZR1 home in 8th position. 'tunernaut' and 'Choate51' rounded out the podium with the latter starting in 4th and finishing and impressive 2nd, crucially ahead of that Dodge Viper of 'tunernaut' in 3rd. 'Monster-Energy71' couldn't convert his 3rd place into a much-needed win and finished 5th as he continued to struggle with his Jag.
Rounds 5 and 6 also took place in the land of the free and the home of John Wayne as the Tour travelled to the famous Laguna Seca circuit in sunny California and then back east towards the hallowed ground of the Daytona Road Course. 'Monster-Energy71's luck looked to change at Laguna Seca as he grabbed pole position by around three tenths of a second, but it was not to be as retired on lap 22 with engine troubles; the same sort that plagued him back at Fuji at the start of the season. This left 'tunernaut' to take the win from third on the grid in an impressive display. At Daytona the drivers settled down for a endurance event lasting almost two and a half hours. The race was separated into two stints with 'tunernaut' winning the first stint and 'rmk700' winning the second.
So the Tour's time in the USA was over and it was now headed toward Europe - the land where racing began. Their first stop was at one of the most historic race circuits in the world - Monza. It's famous concrete bowl in the shadows of the new, now commonplace still high speed circuit with its long straights, heavy braking zones and tight chicanes. Those heavy braking zones caught one driver out with 'THE_KART96' retiring his Nissan GT-R as it suffered from overheating brakes.
The race was won by Journeyman driver 'Windfire1010' after starting from pole in his Honda NSX-R. In the championship picture, 'tunernaut' took another podium as he finished second with a great effort from another Journeyman driver 'SSRacing69' to grab the last step on the podium in his Chevrolet Camaro. Another great impression was made by 'nuTTTz' who qualified on the front row of the grid in his Nissan 350Z and finished in an awesome 4th place to grab some vital points for his team.
Next, the Tour travelled north to the infamous Nurburgring; not the Nordschleife but the much more modern GP course. And it was a much better result for 'Monster-Energy71' as he took his Jag to a victory that he and the car deserved. The win was a long time coming and it was a great day of racing overall. Bringing it home behind Monster was 'rmk700' 'Jaedon', the latter recording his first podium of the season in his Chevrolet Camaro.
After that it was onto one of the most talked-about circuits in the world - Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium. And who would win at this prestigious place? Well 'tunernaut' of course in that dominant Viper. If it was not taking a podium, it was always there or thereabouts and with the season coming near to its close, most bookies had 'tunernaut' and 'MoparSRT' as the favourites for the title. There were 16 drivers on the grid for this special race but two ended up being handed stern disqualifications. 'mobilmasher' and 'Satrek' were removed from the final classification for failing to change to the mandatory Hard tyre during the race. Something another driver, 'Peyepete' had also failed to do at Laguna Seca a few races back handing 'calvins48' the victory. Second place at Spa was taken by the consistent 'rmk700' and crossing the line in third was 'Choate51'.
The season culminated at Circuit de la Sarthe for another endurance event. After just under two and a half hours of racing, 'Windfire1010' took another victory with 'Monster-Energy71' behind him in second and 'tunernaut' crucially in third. 'Monster-Energy71' had now got used to his car and was bringing in the results but it was too little too late as Team Oreca Viper won the championship in style with 'tunernaut' on the podium once more. He brought his team mate, 'MoparSRT' onto the podium to share in the champagne celebrations. After 14,627 miles (23,541 kilometres) of travelling and 10 tantalising races, the win and the champagne could not have tasted sweeter.
But the drama doesn't stop. The second season and subsequently the second Grand Tour begins on May 1st back in Japan at Special Stage: Route 5. It's the first night race of the Gran Tour and will bring an added sense of danger to precedings. From there, the teams stay in Japan at Fuji Speedway then head to the last stop on the Japanese leg of the calendar - Suzuka for another endurance event.
As with the first Tour, the USA comes next as we begin the American leg at the picturesque Grand Valley Speedway then back to Laguna Seca and a culmination endurance race at the Daytona Road Course.
Last but certainly not least is the last leg of the tour and the final four races of the season. We start off Europe at Monza once again, head to la Sarthe, make our way back to Belgium as we return to Spa then celebrate the end of the second season with what's sure to be a shocker - an endurance race on the 24-hour configuration of the Nurburgring Nordscheliefe. Fading light and the potential threat of poor weather are just some of the factors that the teams will have to plan for and handle during this heart-pumping race to cap off the Tour.
The Teams for Season 2
1.) 'MoparSRT' & 'tunernaut' (Team #02)
Dodge Viper GTS-R Team Oreca '00
2.) 'rmk700' & 'Peyepete' (Team #05)
Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 Race Modified '09
3.) 'nuTTTz' & 'NBA336' (Team #15)
BMW McLaren F1 GTR Race Car '97
4.) 'Choate51' & 'SWERV_GRIFFIN' (Team #14)
Chevrolet Camaro LM Race Car '01
5.) 'desmalta1' & 'jkmayol' (Team #20)
Dodge Viper GTS-R Team Oreca #51 '00
6.) 'Monster-Energy71' & 'Satrek' (Team #18)
Jaguar XJ220 LM Race Car '00
7.) 'THE_KART96' & 'Windfire1010' (Team #19)
Honda NSX GT500 Stealth Model
8.) 'oldboy1943' & 'Wheeler_Turner' (Team #03)
Nissan Fairlady Z Concept LM
9.) 'MiamiPhill' & 'pkr_aracer77' (Team #17)
Ford GT LM Spec ll Test Car
10.) 'ekrainey' & 'DCPLR434' (Team #16)
GT by Citroen Race Car
Congratualtions to all of those that competed in what many will remember as one of the best seasons at the TPRA and the best of luck to all of the competitors taking part in the second season!by Published on 04-19-2012 08:13 AM
The famous bridge at High Speed Ring.
It always throws things up in the air when it comes to racing at the highly-rated High Speed Ring (HSR) and yesterday's race was no different. The Mazda RX-7 Touring Car series staged its second race of the season here with 'Choate51' pulling it out of the hat to win Division 1 with 'dcplr434' taking the chequered flag in Division 2.
Division 1 got off to a close start (as things usually do at HSR) with the entire field of 9 drivers all together in one pack. Off the starting line well were 'calvins48' and 'Monster-Energy71', the latter gaining 6 places in the first lap while 'calvins48' jumped from 3rd into the lead by Turn 1, passing pole-sitter 'Windfire1010' 'calvins48' lead the first few laps until the rest of the pack slipstreamed him on the home straight, causing him to defencelessly drop from 1st to 5th before he even got the first corner.
On lap 5, 'SSRacing69' hit the outside wall exiting Turn 2, forcing 'mmacek96' to slam on his brakes in an effort to avoid a potentially enormous crash. The two were left out of the main pack because of this. However, their fortune was about to change.
Coming into the final turn on lap 7, 'calvins48' got a slight tap from behind and hit the Armco, causing his rear end to become loose as he lost control and skidded down the banked turn, clipping a few cars on the way down but unluckily collected 'AgentWD40_FL'. Both re-joined in 8th and last places respectively but both with major damage to their cars. They recovered but without drafting properly (as is crucial at HSR) they finished the race as they had ended up from 'calvins48''s crash.
After the first round of pit stops around lap 12-14, drivers spilt off into groups all drafting each other. 'Monster-Energy71' made a rare mistake late on in the race, ultimately costing him the race win. This enabled 'Choate51' and 'SSRacing69' to fight each other for the win during the last 10 or so laps. 'Choate51' held off 'SSRacing69' to the line, something that's very hard to do at HSR.
'SSRacing69' explains what happened, "I had a run coming out of the last turn but hit ['Choate51''s] bumper trying to make the pass, [he] zigged when I thought [he was going to] zag!" As 'SSRacing69' mentioned, getting a good run out of the final corner and onto the home straight is a must-do for crossing the line first. However, the former GT Academy finalist 'Choate51' defended like the expert racer he is and came across the line first, just seven-hundredths-of-a-second ahead.
There were two retirements in the race. 'AgentWD40_FL' retired on lap 43 due to a broken suspension arm, possibly caused by his earlier collision with 'calvins48'. He managed to get the car back to the pits. Crucially for the championship picture, now former leader 'Windfire1010' also retired during the race. TPRA News does not at this stage understand why 'Windfire1010' retired from the race.
TPRA News caught up with three drivers from Division 2, who explain their race and their experience of HSR.
'GTP_FLASH48' felt the effects of driving alone - "Lesson learned - don't look back while going around a corner! That mistake got me tangled up in a wreck a couple [of] corners later! [I] hate racing by myself in 4th place, with nobody to draft with." One of the main things needed at HSR is a "drafting partner". Another driver to drive with so one can use each other's slipstream or 'draft' on the home straight to achieve consistently higher top speeds, and thus quicker lap times.
Division 2 race-winner 'dcplr434' appreciated his drafting partner - "[I'm] just glad I was able to avoid the big one [a large crash during the race]. Thanks for the draft help 'ekrainey'; really came through for me. [I] don't think I would've caught [second-place finisher] 'oldboy1943' without the help." His words again reiterate the importance of another driver to draft with at HSR.
'Satrek' was thankful that his practice worked wonders - "Wow, even had fastest lap in the race. This race had me so amped! The first 11 laps with [race-winner] 'dcplr434' and 'oldboy1943' were intense for me. I finished on lead lap, just so pleased with my racing tonight. All the wheel time is paying off. Thanks everyone for such a great race."
So what does all this do the championship? 'SSRacing69's second place promotes him up to leading the championship on 340, just 10 points ahead of a struggling 'Monster-Energy71'. 'Monster-Energy71''s dominance has fluctuated as of late. He has yet to lead this championship and had a poor performance by his standards in yesterday's race, only coming home in third.
'PeyePete' moves up to 3rd in the championship gaining an impressive 5 places! 'MoparSRT' moves up three places into 4th, some 44 points behind the leader.
After retiring from yesterday's race, 'Windfire1010' now sits in 5th in the title race, dropping 4 places as he sits on 294 points. That's 46 behind the leader 'SSRacing69'.
'dcplr3434''s win in Division 2 cements his 6th place in the championship, while 'Choate51''s win in Division 1 puts him in 12th place.by Published on 04-11-2012 10:07 AM
CLICK HERE TO VOTE FOR YOUR CANDIDATE!
Copy of post from US PS forums:
What you need to know
We have entered part 2 of the Fanatec ClubSport Wheel Community Test. During this phase the community will carefully assess the 6 applicants and vote for the candidate they believe is most qualified to review and test the Fanatec CSW.
During the application phase I asked the candidates to submit their application with the following information:
Driving style: (Road GT, Road F1, Oval, Rally, Drift, etc)
Most Frequently Played Racing Games: (Gran Turismo 5, F1 2011, iRacing, etc)
Owned Gaming Platforms: (PC, PS3, 360)
Current Racing Gear: (Logitech G27, etc)
Age: (#)
Country/State Residing:
A short bio:
<250 words on why you would be the best for the job:
Link to reviews/write ups/posts you made in the past:
Please consider all this information when deciding who to vote for. In addition, I will include each candidates join date and number of posts on the US PlaySation Board. It is critical that you judge the candidates on the whole of their application, not focusing on one criterion. We are looking for a well-rounded individual. This test is not soley about who owns the most gear or who is the most senior member. It is about who is the best person for the job, bottom line. For a complete description of what the chosen applicant will be responsible for, please review my previous thread.
As a voter there are a couple of things you need to completely understand. You must read EVERY candidate’s application before you vote. If you are not able to do this, please do not vote. Second, I will be monitoring this poll very closely for any manipulation. Any votes from users who joined after April 2, 2012 will not be counted. The ONLY exception to this is if you are a TPRA member and you provide a link to your TPRA profile which also has your PSN profile listed. TPRA members were given permission to apply, so it is only fair that they can vote. Obviously, the same rules about join date apply to TPRA accounts. If this exception applies to you, please provide a link to your TPRA profile in a post in this thread.
Candidate Profiles
(read all of them)
Renown787b
Driving style: (Road GT, Road F1 and Rally)
Most frequently played games: (PS3: F1 2010/2011, GT-5, Dirt 2/3 and Shift 2) (PC: GT: Legends and GTR-2)
Owned gaming platforms: PS3 and PC
Current racing gear: Ball Racing Development racing rig with Cobra Suzuka FIA GT seat with Logitech G25 wheel and G25 pedals.
Age: 42
Country: USA/California
Bio: I’m the head of U.S. marketing for one of the largest hobby companies in the world (Tamiya) and I play racing games and sims as much as I race our own high end radio control racing car products. I’ve been racing PC and Playstation games since the PS1 with GT1 and Grand Prix on the PC. I’ve had almost every consumer grade steering wheel hardware as I could get my hands on and I have owned every Logitech wheel ever made with the exception of the G27. My G25 is still in great shape! I take care of my hardware.
Why I would be the best for the job: I believe I would be a great tester for the FANATEC CSW for a few reasons: 1. I race on my rig at least 7 hours a week and my rig is designed to accommodate any new release easily as it is fully adjustable. Right now I am mostly racing GT-5 and F1 2011. 2. I understand hardware and fine tuning to get the best feel possible for the application. Since I race radio control products the importance of feel with the radios we use is vital to tuning our cars. We use hardware that is super fast in terms of response time with next to zero lag. I have become very sensitive to input lag and my experience with RC has helped me better help my friends who race on their PS3 and it has helped me better adjust my Logitech wheels. 3. I like to test new hardware just for the sake of finding something better to improve the racing experience, achieve more consistent lap times and to go faster. 4. Because of what I do for a living I’m quite aware that helping people understand the hardware is vital to selling it and helping someone maximize the hardware they own will keep them brand loyal. 5. I also own a BMW M3 and have auto crossed it countless times so I’d like to share with the community how this new wheel feels compared to the real thing.
I participate in the following forums:
GT-Planet and RC TECH. I’m known as FMW. I also run a race team on www.teamtrf.com/ where I make sure all my team drivers update their racing BLOGS and keep informative information about our racing products.
Forum Information: 15 posts since Oct 14, 2005
MadRR
Driving style: Road GT, Road F1, Oval, and Rally
Favourite Games (and platforms): Iracing & Richard Burns Rally (PC), GT5 (PS3)
Current gear: Fanatec CSR wheel & shifter set, Clubsport Pedals, Playseat Evolution Alcantara race seat, ibuypower gaming pc, PS3
Age: 28
Country: USA, NC
Bio: I first started sim racing with GT on PS1 and Nascar racing on PC. I didn't get serious about it being a hobby until the PS3 came out and being able to race online with others. Been racing seriouly since then. End of last year I got a gaming pc and got into iracing. That's what I mostly race now along with RBR. I've ran a SBK bike racing league & forum for over a year and I have been in mutiple road and oval leagues on both iracing and PS3.
Why I would be the best for the job:I think I would be a great tester for multiple reasons. I've been sim racing for quite a few years now and have played lots of sim racing games. I have both PC and PS3 to test the CSW on. Also I currently & competitively race road, oval and rally. I believe by racing in all these different styles of racing that I can give a review that will benefit all types of sim racers and not just a certain type of racer. I've also been using fanatec products since joining iracing. Another good reason I think I could give a complete review is because I own and have used 4 different wheels in the last 8 months. I have a Logitech momo, DFGT, Fanatec GT2 & currently a CSR.
Link to reviews/write ups/posts you made in the past:
I have yet to write a official wheel or sim product review, but I have given my insight on various games and products on different forums like my league forum at onlinesimracing.proboards.com.
Forum Information: 8 posts since Dec 18, 2009
RockEcko
Driving style: (Road GT, Road F1 and Rally), Drift
Most frequently played games: PS3: GT-5, Dirt 1&3 and Shift 2, PC: IRacing, Xbox 360: Forza 1,2,3,4
Owned gaming platforms: PS3/Xbox 360/PC
Current racing gear: GTR Racing Simulator Touring Model,PS3/PC- Logitec G27 Steering Wheel,XBox 360-Newest 250$ Mad Cats Wireless Racing Wheel.
Age: 31
Country: USA/Maine
Bio: I am a single father of one and a factory worker for Proctor & Gamble. Sim Racing is my passion, my hobbie, my "Me Time". This is what I spend my money on! I started playing Racing Sims back on PS1/2 and I can happily say I am very satisfied where the racing wheels have come from and are now currently performance wise. Aside from taking vacations with my daughter and work I put in atleast 20-30 hours on my racing simulator a week playing GT5 and Forza Motorsports 3&4. I have begun relizing my dream as an actual race car driver over the past months and being I live very close to Oxford Plains speedway I am trying to get into racing and am actively seeking sponsers now to help relize my dream. I even wrote a letter to Oprah begging for money!
Why I would be the best for the job: I own all the newest wheels on the market. My favorite so far is the Logitec G27. But because it is only PS3/PC compatable I will be upgrading once again in 2 weeks to the Fanatec CSR Ellite wheel and I am not saying that just for sake of improving my chances here. I own all the newest wheels on the market and believe with the ammount of hours I put in on the virtual track weekly and my heavy use of all 3 current generation systems It will only aid me in making informed opionions about the product. Either way in two weeks time Fanatec will have almost six Hundred $dollars$ of my hard earned money and I would like to benefit myself, and you at a cheaper cost to both of us as well as serving my fellow gamers and brother racers. Thanks
I have not done many product reviews on this website unfortunately but I have done a great deal of it on Ebay(michaelrockecko) and Amazon.
Forum Information: 18 posts since Dec 23, 2008
mrwagsisfast
Driving style: All Terrains All Skills But Love The Dirt
Most Frequently Played Racing Games: (Gran Turismo 5, F1 2011 To Many To List) I usually race 4-5 hours a day after I put the girls to bed and slap on the Sennheiser 180's
Owned Gaming Platforms: (Alienware Area 51 ALX PC,360,PS1,2&3)
Current Racing Gear: Playseat Dirt 3 Edition,Logitech G27 and Momo Wheels,Buttkicker LFE,Mitsubishi WD-73835 DLP 3d Screen,Motion Platform In Progress
Age: 44
Country/State Residing: USA,Indiana
Bio: Grew up racing go-karts with Tony Stewert and went on to become a 6 time National Champion Dirt Track Motorcycle racer and spent 3 years as a Factory Yamaha Racer & Test Rider as well as 2 years with Factory Cagiva Motorcycle Road racing.
Why I would be the best for the job: My years spent with Yamaha and Cagiva have honed me for exactly what you guys want... a true racer who can tear up an anvil with a rubber mallet by way of using it for EXACTLY what it was intended for RACING. I have included pictures with my reply to show my true intentions and that is to simply build a simulator that a Nascar professional would appreciate and feel the use of the Fanatec Wheel Set is what will fill the bill and in return if allowed YouTube weekly postings will be done and if not allowed weekly reports DIRECTLY to Fanatec upon any and all issues comments and suggestions by folks who know racing live racing and have proven it by achieving multiple Championships in Multiple Professional Divisions of Racing both 2 and 4 wheels. Our comments and suggestions will be concise and directly to the matter at hand the way we have been trained our entire racing lives to do. This saves time and money and returns a more direct reflection of the final product and more importantly we are here in the USA where we feel a strong presence is justly needed but only if we correct errors in the past and in our honest opinions what you are doing here is a HUGE step in the right direction.
Forum Information: 1 post since Apr 5, 2012 (Please note this applicant was not able to access his normal PSN handle [NoLifeJoe] for use on the US PS Boards. He has communicated with me through email and has provided me sufficient proof that the words in his application are genuine. Please consider this when reviewing this candidate.)
Choate51
Driving Style: Road course GT/F1, circle track, anything with wheels that can go fast.
Most Frequently Played Racing Games: I Play GT5 for the most part, have F1 2010 and Dirt 3.
Owned Gaming Platforms: PS3
Current Racing Gear: I have a Logitech G27, and a GT5 Playseat (prize from GT academy rd1) with custom gear holder and footplate.
Age: 27
Residence: Columbus, Indiana USA
Bio: I have been a huge sim racer since I can remember. I have raced everything from Grand Prix Legends to F1 96 to Grid. I enjoy all types of racing games and spend some decent time making sure I'm pretty quick. I am mostly known for being a Nissan GT Academy North American finalist. I finished 7th in the competition and was able to meet some fantastic people in Silverstone. I currently race with the TPRA and love helping others gain speed.
Why I would be the best for the job: The reason why I would make an excellent tester is, as seen on the TV show I don't hold back. I say what's on my mind. I will call a stick a stick, or a diamond a diamond. If there is something I like or dislike I will mention it. All my reviews come with an improvement idea or a reason why something worked so well. I currently work as a Mechanical Testing Engineer for Cummins Engines. I run complex tests every day and write and develop test procedures for new products every day. I understand the difference between an alpha, beta, PV or DV part. I understand the confidentiality of a company's product, I deal with it every day at work. Hopefully my ability as a sim race driver and as a test engineer I can help Fanatec with their review.
Thanks,
Steve Driscoll a.k.a. "Choate51"
SWERV_GRIFFIN
Driving style: Road GT, Road F1, Oval, Rally
Most Frequently Played Racing Games: Gran Turismo 5, Ferrari Challenge, DiRT, ToCA Series games, SHIFT
Owned Gaming Platforms: PS3 (160bg Slim and BC PS3 80gb Fatty for PS2 Games)
Current Racing Gear: Logitech G27 on Custom self-designed and built Racing Station, previous DFGT user
Age: 51
Country/State Residing: USA, Oregon
Bio+Why I would be the best for the job: I am a regular competitor at the Tuner's Pit Racing Association and a staff member there. I represent the average driver, and am usually a mid-pack finisher. My results are representative of a huge group of racers worldwide, enthusiastic clean racers that are not at the top of the Podium. I have 17 years of experience designing, building , and testing metal fabricated components of all configurations in an R&D environment for a major luxury coach manufacturer that's clients included Jeff Gordon, Kyle Busch, Kurt Busch, Paul Newman, Richard Petty, Tony George, and many others. I have the ability to adapt this unit to my own Racing Station (pictured above). I witnessed and reviewed the data gathering process of PD scanning the Trans-Cammer into GT5. I have worked part-time at Grand Touring Garage, the builder of the Trans-Cammer.
Link to Review I did of Polyphony Digital gathering Data on Trans-Cammer for inclusion into GT5 community.us.playstation.com/thread/201683?start=0&tstart=0 I respected their wishes, and did not reveal any of their secret methods of data gathering or specifics on what equipment was used.
Forum Information: 5312 posts since Jan 18, 2008
Final Words
If you are reading this section, you may now vote. If you have any questions please contact me by private message. This thread is open for discussion and questions. This is truly a great opportunity and may the best candidate win. Good luck to you all!
La Li Lu Le Lo
Disclamer: Sony Computer Entertainment of America is not involved with this contestby Published on 04-04-2012 09:19 PM
The ClubSport racing wheel from Fanatec.
Sounds pretty good! Make sure you check this out!I used to be a very frequent member of the US PlayStation Boards. I know many members of TPRA used to reside there (and maybe still do). Last time I check you guys were/are part of the community there.
I have been tasked with heading up the responsibility of running a community driven test event for the new Fanatec ClubSport Wheel on the US PlayStation forums.
I know you are a dedicated and active community, so I would like to give you all the chance to participate.
If you are interested in learning more (there is a lot more) please CLICK HERE.
Please read all the rules very carefully.
Please be aware you have 1 week from the time this post was made to submit your application.
If you decide to participate, please submit your response in the thread linked above. This is simply a notification. I look forward to reading your applications.
The Fanatec ClubSport racing wheel while draw the line between real-life and video games with a very thin pencil. The wheel rim can be quick-released from the all-metal, ultra-customizable base, allowing you to switch between a Formula-style wheel, a Grand Touring-style wheel, a NASCAR-style wheel and a rally-style wheel. Pricing will be in the upper escholons and only for those serious about their sim racing: $450 (excluding taxes) for the base, plus between $150 and $300 for each rim. Want the machined aluminum ClubSport pedals to match? That's another $200. Expensive but well worth it.by Published on 03-29-2012 04:04 PM
Zoom Zoom.
While many may not have predicted it, Canadian-born, 'nuTTTz' took the chequered flag in the nASCAR event at the Daytona Superspeedway in Florida, U.S.A in supreme style. Anything can happen in NASCAR and on March 16th, it surely did.
Qualifying is intensely close in NASCAR, but especially so at Daytona's Superspeedway oval. Predictably, 'SSRacing69' put it on pole with a time of 0:42.799, but the entire field of 15 drivers were covered by just over a second with 'GWNR_coldion10' qualifying last with a 0:43.812.
It didn't get much closer between 'mobilmasher' and 'snakegt40', both of whom qualified with exactly the same time of 0:42.897; 'mobil' starting on the grid ahead of 'snake' because he set the time first. As usual, the #43 Ford Fusion was the car of choice as 6 of the 15 drivers opting for it; the top three qualifying postions were all achieved with the #43 car.
So how did 'nuTTTz' do it? He started in 5th place and finished first. Quite a feat, especially in a NASCAR event at an oval. I caught up with 'nuTTTz' today and asked him a few questions about his race.
The key? Having a friend. 'nuTTTz''s win was very much aided by the super-talented Alien, 'Monster-Energy71', who bump-drafted and effectively "pushed" 'nuTTTz' for a lot of the race. Nothing is to be taken away from 'nuTTTz''s performance though - it's not a free ride. Skill, patience and stratgey all played a big part in the victory.
Practice also helps. 'Monster' and 'nuTTTz' practiced all week long for the race and got their tunes and race strategies mapped out. They knew that bumper-to-bumper they were fast and their goal was to beat the two guys on the track they saw as the main threat to what they wanted to be a victory - 'SSRacing69' and 'Windfire1010'; both of whom are Aliens here at the TPRA.
The pack was as one for the opening few laps as drivers battled to get into first position. It would seem foolish to try and take the lead that early on with drafting playing a big part in a NASCAR oval race; staying in front doesn't last long like it can in other forms of motorsport.
But it was actually critical to be out front. What if a wreck were to occur? Those that were out front would have a better chancing of coming out unscathed, while those that were in the pack were likely to get caught up in the carnage. So the fight was on to lead the pack. And who won the fight? 'Monster' and 'nuTTTz' pushed their cars to the limit ('Monster' quite literally) and drove an aggressive opening stint to take the lead on lap 16.
By lap 23, what many thought would occur did actually occur. A wreck. To compensate for the accident and as a bold but smart stratgey move, 'nuTTTz' and 'Monster' took to the pits. They'd originally planned to eke their tyres out to lap 24 but ended up diving into the pits prematurely. They came out in 6th and 7th positions respectviely.
'SSRacing69' and 'badbaoya1' were caught up in the accident but had managed to baby their accident-ridden tyres until lap 27 - 3 laps longer than 'nuTTTz' and 'Monster'. 'Windfire1010' and 'orbitarts' were also caught up in the accident but went even further and pitted on lap 28.
From then on, after some more clever strategy and some excellent driving, 'nuTTTz' and 'Monster' caught and passed 'Windfire1010' to take the lead with 'nuTTTz' crossing the line ahead of 'Monster' to take one of the most bone-shaking victories in a long while.
Congratulations to 'nuTTTz' on the victory and all of the drivers that took part in this race and the series so far!by Published on 03-22-2012 06:36 PM
The two series that 'SSRacing69' won outright in spectacular fashion.
In the past two weeks a dominant force has been present at the TPRA and no, it's not 'Monster-Energy71'. Instead, 'SSRacing69' has won two championship titles in great succession.
SS took the Grand Touring GT1 title yesterday and last week took the Mazda Roadster Touring Car (TC) title to add to his growing list of series titles. Both titles were more or less a given. Yes, other drivers were in mathematical contention for the title in both series but SS would've had to fail to start or fail to finish in order for him to not to take the titles.
SS' name is almost always at the top of the standings and he's undoubtedly recognised in the same breath as names such as 'Monster-Energy71' and 'Gar529' While SS may not always dominate in qualifying and not speed off into the distance at the start of races, he has consistency by the bucket-load and skill by the truck-load and is one of the all-time greats at the TPRA. His patience, know-how and ability to follow-through with great results means he continues to take championship titles and these last two will certainly not be his last.
In the GT1 series, things were somewhat monochrome with only 'PeyePete' in contention for the title at the last race but ended up finishing 121 points behind SS. 908 points were to Pete's name, while SS managed to get into four-figures with 1029 points. Third in the standings was newcomer 'DCPLR434' with an impressive 771 points. SS won the final race in France at the famous Circuit de la Sarthe, taking his title in style.
TPRA News caught up with SS after the race - "That was an interesting last race for a Series! I had a great time with the race and the whole [Grand Touring GT1] Series. We had three different manufacturers win races (the other two would have needed a little help with the regulations). All sorts of tyre combinations were used, as were pit strategies. I'm looking forward to Season 2 with both the Grand Touring Series and the Touring Car Series; both look to be a hit! Thanks for the great racing, gents!"
While he took more points in the Mazda Roadster TC series, SS had to do more to clinch his title. While winning and finishing high up the order was important, actually just finishing the race was more important - as 'calvins48' showed. As someone great once said, "In order to finish first, one must first finish." Calvin wasn't on to finish in first place but was high up the order and the points would've given him second in the title and would've made the final race a lot closer. 'robiker' was the other driver in contention and his consistency, skill and reliability enabled him to finish second in the championship, with Calvin third. Calvin succumbed to a fatal puncture at Special Stage: Route 5 back in February and most recently yesterday had to end his race and championship fight early with a blown engine. His engine was struggling in practice but the Baker Built Racing engineers could not get the parts in time and he was forced to race with an engine that he predicted would die - and it subsequently did.
'Monster_Energy71' won yesterday's race, at Suzuka - "What a fun series! I wish I didn't miss those two races [Special Stage: Route 5 and Trial Mountain Circuit] but nonetheless it was awesome. Congrats to SS[Racing69] for the title. [He was] very fast, very consistent. Bad luck to Calvin last night, it was going to be a good battle for second [place] in the championship, but his engine had other plans. [I'm] looking forward to the next race."
The man of the moment, 'SSRacing69' gave us a short comment before celebrating with his team - "Thanks [to] everyone! It's great to get another championship! This was a fun series with some great competitors! I had a blast racing with you guys!"
Congratulations to 'SSRacing69' and his team Baker Built Racing!
Also, well done to 'PeyePete' and 'calvins48' also members of Baker Built Racing, 'DCPLR434' and 'robiker'.
Good job to all the brilliant racers that took part in both series!by Published on 03-15-2012 09:06 AM
Daytona Road Course - where 'GWNR_Coldion10' will make his return to racing.
After a a long period of absence from racing, Great White North Racing founder, 'GWNR_Coldion10' has decided to return to racing.
The Candian-born driver makes his return at the Daytona Road Course on March 17. The race is part of the Grand Touring LM series and is a 2.4 hour endurance race. An ambitious move from 'GWNR_Coldion10'.
"I haven't figured out what car I'm going to drive yet, but I can say for sure that I am going to compete." He said.
"The banks of Daytona are like a second home to me, so when I heard PKR [Peace Keeper Racing] was running a touring car event there, I was more than eager to sign-up".
The young driver has yet to find himself a team mate and has considered running solo, "I dont mind running alone, but it's nice when someone's got your back and can help you when you need it."
'GWNR_Coldion10' has been absent from racing for almost two months due to lack of funding. His racing drought ended when he recently landed a sponsorship deal with Canadian coffee and doughnut franchise 'Tim Hortons'.
GWNR_Coldion10' says he will be back to racing on a full-time basis soon.by Published on 03-05-2012 05:32 PM
The famous "Esses".
New information has been revealed indicating that the famous Mount Panorama Circuit (commonly known as Bathurst) in Australia will end up in a Gran Turismo game.
During this year’s Bathurst 12-Hour Endurance event, Polyphony Digital were seen at the circuit taking photographs and driving around in a camera car. PD had reportedly gained a license to use the circuit and were hard at work getting information on the circuit to "scan" it into the game. Evidence of PD's involvement with Bathurst can be traced back to '06 when Kaz Yamaucbi commented that "Bathurst is our road map".
The circuit is highly regarded by racing fans, drivers and Gran Turismo fans alike - Bathurst is in fact the fourth-most requested circuit on GTPlanet's Feedback Forum. The circuit itself is famous for its tricky "esses" section that includes "The Dipper" It's like a never-ending version of the infamous corkscrew corner at Mazda Laguna Seca Raceway in the United States. The "esses" section is lined with concrete walls, throws the cars around the Forrest's Elbow hairpin and then spits the cars out onto the ever-dazzling Conrod Straight. Bathurst is a staple on the calendar of the fast and furious Australian V8 Supercars Series.
The circuit would certainly be a welcome edition in to GT5 as new DLC (Downloadable Content), just like Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps was back in October in GT5's first DLC pack. But is Bathurst actually intended for GT6? Want to give your opinion? Vote in the poll and discuss this new revelation with other forum members!by Published on 02-15-2012 01:21 PM
Announced today on the official Gran Turismno website, a new feature called "Photo Stream" will enable all Gran Turismo 5 players to share and view each other's images taken in Photo Mode on the web. SEN IDs will remain annoymous because anybody will be able to view anyone's photographs.
Here's the details from gran-turismo.com:
Gran Turismo 5 Photo Mode shot courtesy of 'STVM_RoninTuna'.With the coming Gran Turismo 5 update planned for March 2012, we will be starting a new service on gran-turismo.com worldwide, called "Gran Turismo 5 Photo Stream".
In GT5 Photo Stream, photographs taken in the photo mode of Gran Turismo 5 and set to "Share" will be shown in a list on a webpage, and be made possible to view by anyone.
The photographs will continue to change periodically, the online ID's of the photographer will NOT be shown or made public, and there is no evaluation system or the like for the photographs. This is a service which simply introduces what kinds of photographs are being taken in Gran Turismo 5 by players around the world.
Please be aware that any photographs set to "Share" after the start date of this service will be released publically on the web by GT5 Photo Stream.
We hope you'll look forward to the start of this new service.
* Photographs that had been set to "Share with Friends" before the start date of this service will not be shown in GT5 Photo Stream.
* Due to limitations of time and the number of photograph displayable, not all photographs set to "Share" may be shown in GT5 Photo Stream.by Published on 02-14-2012 06:17 AM Number of Views: 108
One of the many symbols of Valentine's Day - the love heart.
Yes, you're supposed to shower your spouse with love every day of the year but on February 14th, you're supposed to do it even more. Apparently.
Girls? Prepare to get red gifts and red flowers. Guys? Prepare to buy red gifts and red flowers.
Also in the news today is the announcent by Kaz on Twitter of the next update to GT5 - 2.05. It'll most likely mend all of the bugs that 2.04 created and may even introduce some more bugs, such is the way with updates. Props and respect to the team at Polyphony Digital for their continuining commitments to us and for all of the hard work they do for us.
Lots of love,
TPRA News. ❤by Published on 02-04-2012 09:35 AM
Whether it's on your mobile phone, in physical form or simply a piece of paper kept in your pocket, mark your diary for Tuesday, February 7th because the next update to Gran Turismo 5 is being released!
The last update we recieved (2.03) was of course last month, releasing alongside the third set of Downloadable Content (DLC) for GT5 - Car Pack 3 and the Speed Test Pack.
No word the contents of the update, whether it'll be a large update or just a few small bugs squashed remains to be seen. Kazunori Yamauchi will probably Tweet about it in the coming says, so keep your browser bookmarked with TPRA News to get all of the gossip on the new update!
Thanks to 'mobilmasher' for the early tip!
GT5 Photo Mode image courtesy of 'Blackyk'.by Published on 01-22-2012 12:03 PM
The pit stop phase on lap 10 of the final stint.
Five teams entered but only one emerged victorious. Precision Motorsports (PMS) took home the gold after themselves and four other teams took their bodies and minds to the absolute limit. They took on 12 hours of endurance racing at the Daytona Road Course with many fans in attendance rooting for their favourite teams and drivers. It was the first TPRA Enduro of 2012 and what an Enduro it was.
The teams had spent weeks whittling down 21 potential cars to just one. Every team decided on the '06 Race Modified Chevrolet Corvette except for Peace Keeper Racing Team Bravery (PKRTB) as they opted for the '07 Ferrari F430 Scuderia. It was arguably the best looking car out there, racing in a beautiful choice of colour - Competizione Red.
Precision Motorsports (PMS) won the first two stints and the last two stints. The only two teams that prevented them from victory in a stint was Baker Built Racing (BBR) in the third stint and Team Unity in the fourth stint. PMS never lost the lead and stayed at the very top of the standings in overall time until they took victory with 'Choate51' winning the final stint. This was PMS' first enduro and when they revealed their impressive driver roster they were considered the favourites for the win. They delivered with an abundance of awesomeness and dominated almost every race.
In fact in some of the stints, the distance between the guys at the front and the guys at the back was enormous. In an early show of brilliance, the third stint was dominated by BBR's 'redsoxboy80' as he lapped the entire field leaving second place man, 'tunernaut' for PMS the only un-lapped driver in that stint.
The fourth stint started off with a bang as BBR's 'Oldtimer01' was left hung out to dry in the early corners. The other drivers made an aggresive start and 'Oldtimer01' was left with no room and ended up on the grass. He smartly decided to change his strategy and went for longer stints in-between pit stops and saved a pit stop over the other drivers. It was not to be though as he finished last in the stint.
For me as a reporter, the sixth and final stint was one of the one most exciting.
Drivers were becoming fatigued - they'd either been driving all day or had been sitting in the garage with anticipation all day. Cars were also becoming fatigued, or at least their engines were. Both 'THE_KART96' for Peace Keeper Racing Founders (PKRF) and 'AlfaVeloce32' for Precision Motorsports (PMS) lost engine power on lap 24. Luckily 'AlfaVeloce32' was driving the second car on PMS, their first car was being driven by 'Choate51' who went on to win the stint.
Team Unity also had a bad last stint. The very talented 'SpecMiata-JSW' had little experience with this car and circuit and also with strategy. The GT Academy finalist ran out of fuel on lap 40 but managed to crawl back to the pits to fill up on fuel. He then ran out again on lap 45 as he didn't know how much he needed to finish the race. This time he over-filled with fuel and was too heavy. He decided to run to the end and changed to the medium compound tyre but by this point, his race was pretty much ruined. This reiterates the point that a driver may have the skill, but if they're under-prepared then they could suffer.
Towards the end it got even more exciting. 'larrys4227' for The Killer B's lost all power to his engine as his team threw their arms up in frustration back in the garage. Why were they so frustrated? His engine blew one lap before the end, and he was also catching a struggling 'SpecMiata-JSW'.
A great stint-long battle between Former Team Wat (FTW)'s 'group44' and BBR's 'badaboya1' finished off the enduro as 'group44' beat 'badaboya1' by a wincing three-hundredths-of-a-second.
The race was cut short after a sudden, intense rain storm caught the drivers off-guard. While nobody fell off the circuit, the event was shorted by around 2 hours and PMS was declared the winner.
The entire race was broadcast live over the Internet courtesy of BBR's 'Maineiac_Moose' who gave up his seat in the race to give the world some way to watch this great event. The feed ended up receiving over 300 views total and at it's peak, viewership was over 20 people at one time.
Precision Motorsports (PMS) had a winning overall time of 10 hours, 35 minutes and 2 seconds. Baker Built Racing (BBR) finished second with an overall time of 10 hours, 38 minutes and 39 seconds; some 3 minutes behind PMS. Rounding out the top three was Team Unity with an overall time of 10 hours, 41 minutes and 33 seconds.
Full results for all teams can be found here.
Congratulations to Precision Motorsports for taking the well-deserved victory. They not only had the skills but also prepared properly - this ultimately turned into a winning combination.
Special thanks goes out to 'PKR_DUNTOV3030' for putting this event together. He worked supremely hard and even had the energy to run the last stint for his team, Peace Keeper Racing Founders. Also, special thanks to 'Maineiac_Moose' for the live feed - a truly terrific feature.
Thanks to all participating drivers and to all those who helped make this event happen. Well done all!
TPRA Enduros will return...by Published on 01-21-2012 11:00 AM
The Tuner's Pit is running its first Enduro of 2012, featuring a re-make of the famous Rolex 24 Hours at Daytona Road Course.
Here are the teams:
Entered Teams/Cars
1) Precision Motor Sports (PMS) - 1 #63 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 (C6) '06 RM Pink
- Monster_Energy71 (Captain)
- Choate51
- Tunernaut
2) Baker Built Racing (BBR) -1 #51 Black
- redsoxboy80
- SSRacing69
- rmk700
3) Baker Built Racing (BBR) -2 #5 Black
- calvins48 (Captain)
- imfasterkb
- badaboya1
- Oldtimer01
- nba336
- mobilmasher
4) KILLER Bs RACING (KBR) #99 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 (C6) '06 RM Bright Green Metallic
- Larrys4227 (Captain)
- desmalta1
- Puckhead77
- The_Revengel
5) Precision Motor Sports (PMS) - 2 #64 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 (C6) '06 RM Lavender
- Blackyk
- Alfaveloce32
- Tangled_up
6) Peace Keeper Racing (PKR) Founders #96 Corvette Z06 (C6) RM '06 Electric Orange
- THE_KART96
- mmacek96
- MiamiPhill
7) Peace Keeper Racing (PKR) Team Bravery #77 Ferrari 430 Scuderia '07 Competizione Red
- PKR_DUNTOV3030 (Captain)
- PKR_MoparSRT
- PKR_oldboy1943
- PKR_WheelerTurner
8) Team Unity #33 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 (C6) '06 RM CAPRI BLAU
- hey6541
- Ricks95
- SpecMiata_JSW
9) Former Team Wat (FTW) #42 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 (C6) '06 RM Titanium Silver
- Rooster722
- group44
A special feature for this event is a live video feed, provided by Maineiac_Moose.
Video streaming by Ustream
We hope you enjoy watching the race!by Published on 01-17-2012 12:52 AM
Special Stage Route X (SSRX).
The latest software update to Gran Turismo 5, 2.03 is now making itself available to gamers worldwide. It is currently only live in North America but will go live for other gamers around the world later today and tomorrow in preparation of the newest batch of Downloadable Content (DLC) for the game.
But what does 2.03 exactly bring to the table?
-- 12 new My Home theme colors and 12 new wallpapers for [GT Mode] have been added to the game. Please find these from the [My Home Settings]-[My Home Design] menu on the left side of the screen.
-- Tyre wear speed prediction has been added to the pit stop decisions in B-Spec, to prevent tires from wearing out completely during long races.
-- Regenerative braking (which recovers energy by converting kinetic energy into electricity) in electric cars have been made stronger to extend driving distance.
-- Electric cars will now also creep forward (as in standard automatic cars) when the brake is released without pressing the accelerator.
-- Regarding the Chaparral 2J race car’s performance points, the increased performance factor due to the downforce produced by the fan is now calculated.
-- An issue has been corrected where the car would pit-in unintentionally during the last lap of a B-spec race.
However, there's always some fixes that aren't officially released or mentioned by Polyphony Digital, so the hunt begins! Start finding those hidden fixes, people!
But there's more! New images and information has been released regarding the latest DLC coming to GT5 - 'Car Pack 3' and the 'Speed Test Pack'.
Aston Martin V12 Vantage ’10 | 217,350Cr. | 509bhp | 1680kg | 521PP
Jaguar XJR-9 LM Race Car ’88 | 4,750,00Cr. | 749bhp | 894kg | 709PP
Lamborghini Aventador LP 700-4 ’11 | 400,000Cr. | 690bhp | 1575kg | 583PP
Mini Cooper S Countryman ’11 | 34,500Cr. | 181bhp | 1310kg | 390PP
Nissan Leaf G ’11 | 40,600Cr. | 107bhp | 1520kg | 333PP
Volkswagen 1200 ’66 | 60,000Cr.| 33bhp | 1160kg | 216PP
New shots of Special Stage Route X (SSRX) and it's accompanying Data Recorder feature have also been released. The new circuit and this new mode make up the second part of GT5's latest DLC - the Speed Test Pack.
Special Stage Route X (SSRX) in the day.
Special Stage Route X (SSRX) at night.
A filled-out Data Recorder sheet, using the Red Bull X2011 Prototype '11.
All of this new DLC will be available on the PlayStation Store from Tuesday, January 17th for North American gamers. Other areas will get the DLC in the coming days.by Published on 01-16-2012 01:17 PM
Yes, in less than 24 hours, North American GT5 gamers will be able to get their oil-ridden hands on the most recent Downloadable Content (DLC) for Gran Turismo 5! European gamers will be able to enjoy the DLC from this Wednesday. Why the delay? The North American PlayStation Store gets updated on Tuesdays and the European PlayStation Store gets updated on on Wednesdays.
Car Pack 3
Please note: All vehicle pictures are real-life images. We understand that it's hard to tell if they're in-game shots or real-life shots so this disclaimer was needed.
Aston Martin V12 Vantage '10
It does what it says on the tin. The clue's in the title. Take one look at the car and it just looks like it's going to be loud, mean and fast. That V12 engine delivers 510bhp and is mounted in the front of a car that only weighs 1,680kg, thus allowing the car to accelerate from 0-60mph in just over 4 seconds. Once it gets it past that, the needle on the dial will go all the way around to 190.
Jaguar XJR-9 LM Race Car '88
It was Standard, it's now Premium. You'll remember the XJR-9 from it's incarnation into the Gran Turismo series in Gran Turismo 4. Yes, it currently exists in GT5, but only as a Standard car. This means no high-beams, no working wipers, no fully-fledged interior and only some jagged lines and and a blacked-out interior to represent it in the game. But from tomorrow we'll be able to enjoy the iconic car's full prowess as it careers down the Mulsanne Straight at La Sarthe using the full extent of it's 7.0-litre V12. The car that stopped Porsche's success in the 24 Hours of Le Mans will indeed make players stop in their tracks as they see the Jaguar XJR-9 sitting in their Garage.
Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4 '11
A car that goes for almost $400,000 in real-life can be yours in the game for a much more reasonable fee. The Aventador replaces one of the most recognizable super cars of the 21st Century - the Murcielago. The V12 engine that had been used since the Miura has been replaced for the Aventador but it's by no means lost it's talent. It's still a V12 and it's a 6.5-litre bad boy that shoves out 690bhp, 510lb-ft of torque and shoots the Aventador all the way to 217mph. 0-60mph is dealt with in less than 3 seconds. The Aventador is not only fast in a straight line but does something that a V12 Lamborghini has never done before - corner responsibly. Yes, you can still throw it around but thanks to an F1-style push-rod suspension, the Aventador is perfectly balanced at all times. Just what the doctor ordered for GT5 then.
Mini Countryman S (R60) '11
From a 690bhp Italian bull to a 184bhp German SUV, the Countryman S may seem inferior but let me tell you, it certainly isn't. Since children aren't included in Gran Turismo 5 (maybe the next DLC?) it would be silly to use the car to ferry them around in the game so why not take advantage of the Countryman S' 4-wheel drive system and head to Toscana? The first ever crossover SUV from Mini comes with a 6-speed transmission as standard, a long wheelbase for great stability and more interior room. Okay, who am I kidding? The Mini Countryman S is designed to be on the legal roads and in an occasional flat field for when the family goes camping. It has a 5-star crash rating from Euro NCAP for maximum protection and safety when Dad drives it into a ditch on a family outing or you "accidently" throw it into the Armco barrier in GT5.
Nissan Leaf G '11
Okay, so now we go down even further in the power pecking order. We're now all the way down here with 110bhp in electric form and zero emissions. The numbers don't really get any bigger for all you petrol-heads out there. However, this car isn't for petrol-heads and doesn't even use any petrol to run it. The Leaf or 'LEAF' (Leading, Environmentally friendly, Affordable, Family car) is the first all-electric car from Nissan and is massively overpriced. $35,200 to save the world. Impressively though, the car produces no tailpipe pollution and as previously mentioned - absolutely no emissions. It's not a hybrid like the Toyota Prius, it needs to be plugged in and charged to keep it going, much like the Tesla Roadser sports car, but on more of a city car scale. So does the car belong in the game? A driving game featuring a car that is more about saving the planet than actually driving? Polyphony Digital and Nissan have a major collaboration and the car has actually won numerous Car of the Year awards from various publications, the Nissan Leaf may indeed pave the way for the future of cars. While this reporter thinks the car is totally impracticable and pointless, it's plain to see why this landmark of motoring needs to be in a video game like Gran Turismo 5.
Volkswagen 1200 '66
Officially the Type 1 but better known as the 'Beetle' or the 'Bug', the Volkswagen 1200 is arguably the most recognisable car in the entire world, maybe only eclipsed by the original Mini. The 1200 is the longest-running and most-manufactured automobile of a single design platform anywhere in the world and certainly deserves a place in the virtual car museum that is Gran Turismo 5. Do we really have to talk about power and what the engine can do? The car that revolutionised the global car industry is famous for it's simplicity in design both externally and internally; it served as a benchmark for other compact cars that followed.. "Volkswagen" translates from German to English as "People's Car" and the 1200 is just that. A car that was aimed at everyone and succeeded in it's goal. The 1200 started in 1938 and it's production eventually ended in 2003 - 65 years of brilliance. This particular version coming to GT5 is from 1966. Power was increased to 50hp for the 1966 model year and the 1200 was by then a firm favourite with all kinds of citizens. Surfers, families, drag racers, teenagers hanging out with their friends, the list goes on. Everyone loved the 1200 and The People's Car finally finds it's place in Gran Turismo 5 for the people to drive once more.
Speed Test Pack
Special Stage Route X
You've seen the cars but where are you going to drive them? High Speed Ring? Suzuka Circuit? Think again. Also coming as part of tomorrow's DLC and part of the Speed Test Pack is an all-new circuit named 'Special Stage Route X' (SSRX). It's gigantic at 30km in length, features a 12km-long straight and four massively banked turns. Some may remember the Test Course from past Gran Turismo games and it's absense in GT5, but rather than simply bringing Test Course back, Polyphony Digital are handing us a brand new circuit based on it's idea. Architectural comparisons have been made to the famous Tokyo Bayshore Route while comparisons of SSRX's lengthy straight have been made to Volkswagen's testing facility at Ehra-Lessien, which has a 9km-long straight. Stand in the middle of the straight and it is impossible for one to see either end, due to the curvature of the Earth. But what can you actually do with the circuit? Well, the possibilities are indeed endless. NASCAR, Drag Racing, the list goes on.
Data Recording
So you have a huge test circuit and nothing to record the information with? Wrong. The Speed Test Pack also delivers a new mode to Gran Turismo 5 that enables players to record a whole host of aspects about their car. So you can take your brand-new Lamborghini Aventador (or any other car in the game) and see how long it takes to complete a quarter mile (400m), how long it takes to complete a full mile (1,000m), how quickly it can reach 60mph, how quickly it can reach 100mph, it's maximum speed and the maximum G-Force the car can achieve. This amazing new tool will prove invaluable for testing the true performance of the cars in your Garage.
Car Pack 3 will set you back a modest $5.99 (€5.99/£4.79) and the modesty continues with a charge of just $3.99 (€3.99/£3.19) for the Speed Test Pack. A package that enables players to buy both packs for a discount is not currently available, nor is a PlayStation Plus discount.
Also arriving tomorrow (worldwide) is update 2.03. The following fixes are to be included:
-- New themes for My Home in GT Mode.
-- An option for tire wearing in Pit Strategy (B-spec).
-- Simulates regenerative braking on electric cars.
-- Chaparral 2J Race Car ’70: Fan down force option.
-- Fixed unintended pit stop error in the final lap of a B-spec race.
-- 12 new colors and 12 new wall papers for My Home theme.
-- Electric cars run slowly without applying acceleration.
-- Regenerative braking affects the cruising distance.by Published on 01-14-2012 11:59 AM
Red Bull X2010.
New footage of GT5's ne DLC circuit, 'Special Stage Route x' has been uploaded to YouTube.
It's not clear how or where this was undertaken but the circuit certainly looks awesome!
TPRA News is proud to be first with this thrilling news!
Thanks to 'windfire1010' for the tip!by Published on 01-11-2012 11:57 AM
Look for these on the PlayStation Store next week.
Sony Asia have officially announced “GRAN TURISMO®5” DLC ‘Car Pack 3’ and “GRAN TURISMO®5” DLC “Speed Test Pack”. You can discover the full details here.
This comes after the details of this DLC were leaked by a user at GTPlanet's Forum today.
The prices have now been announced, albeit in of Hong Kong Dollar. Car Pack 3 will be available for HK$47, which translates to US$6.05, so expect a rounding down to US$5.99 on the PlayStation Store. The Speed Test Pack will be available for HK$31, which translates exactly to US$3.99.
For the European users, Car Pack 3 should be €4.99 (after rounding up) and the Speed Test Pack should be €2.99 (after rounding down).
For the users from the United Kingdom, Car Pack 3 should be £3.99 (after rounding up) and the Speed Test pack should be £2.50 (after rounding down).
Be aware - these prices are guestimates from converting the Hong Kong Dollar prices and the final prices that appear officially on the PlayStation Store may be different.
Update 2.03 and the DLC are scheduled to be released Worldwide exactly a week from today on January 18th. You will be to find the DLC in the PlayStation Store. Also expect some in-game maintenance the day before this all releases. It will probably keep the majority of users offline for a short while.
Discussion is already well under way in our forums regarding this new DLC and update 2.03. Make sure you share your thoughts with other members!
TPRA News is proud to be the first with this exciting news!
Thanks to 'windfire1010' for the tip!by Published on 01-11-2012 05:35 AM
Lamborghini's replacement for the Murcielago - the Aventador.
A rather intriguing post appeared over at GTPlanet's Forum yesterday. New GTPlanet user, 'Space Empire' posted the following regarding possible details of the next update to GT5 - 2.03 and further DLC. 'Space Empire' does not cite a source so this could all just be "photoshopped"; if it is indeed a fake, then it's clear that somebody has some great graphics skills and a lot of time on their hands.
The post starts of by telling of the details of the next DLC pack entitled "The Speed Test Pack". Ffirst the track, "Special Stage Route X Oval" and the cars, "Car Pack 3":
-- Nissan – Leaf G 2011
-- Aston Martin – V12 Vantage 2010
-- Volkswagen – Volkswagen 1200 1966
-- Jaguar – XJR-9 LM Racecar 1988
-- Lamborghini – Aventador LP700-4 2011
-- Mini – Mini Cooper S Country man (R60) 2011
As many fans had speculated, "Special Stage Route X Oval" is indeed the track seen in the Acura NSX Conept Video released earlier this week. A "Test Course" track was featured in past Gran Turismo games and enabled players to drag race their cars, discover their cars top speed, it's accelration, braking ability and more. The track was absent in GT5 but it looks like we could be getting an updated one in the next batch of DLC.
Details of what update 2.03 could bring us are as follows:
-- New themes for My Home in GT Mode.
-- An option for tire wearing in Pit Strategy (B-spec).
-- Simulates regenerative braking on electric cars.
-- Chaparral 2J Race Car ’70: Fan down force option.
-- Fixed unintended pit stop error in the final lap of a B-spec race.
-- 12 new colors and 12 new wall papers for My Home theme.
-- Electric cars run slowly without applying acceleration.
-- Regenerative braking affects the cruising distance.
If this information is concrete then we could be looking at Polyphomy Digital listening intently to their fans once again. We asked for the return of "Test Course" and we could be getting it. We asked for faster cars as part of new DLC and we could be getting them. Let's wait and see what Kaz and PD have to say about this.
Thanks to 'windfire1010' for the tip!by Published on 01-11-2012 05:31 AM
TPRA announces the return of Enduro racing!
When: January 21, 2012 from 9:00AM EST – 9:00PM EST
Where: Daytona Road Course
A proper event post with all pertinent details will be forthcoming. In the interim, here are the general race details for your information:
- Event is being held one week before the Grand AM Rolex 24 hour event at Daytona
Road Course and is similar to said event, but not exact.
- Event will be a 12 hour endurance race.
- Maximum number of race cars entered will be 12.
- Each car entry must have a minimum of two drivers and may have a maximum of six
drivers.
- Each driver must drive a minimum of one stint. There is no maximum number of
stints per driver.
- Each stint will consist of 60 laps.
- There will be a 15 minute gap between stints.
- The intent is for this event to not be complicated. No tire restrictions, no tuning
restrictions, etc. The allowed vehicles will be PP limited, that is all.
Feel free to go ahead and post your intent to participate in this thread. You can list your drivers, etc.
The approved car list will be included in the official event post ASAP.
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The Sunday Sessions GTCC edition 5/20/2012
Thread Starter: MoparSRTRace Time - Sunday - All day* * No Qualifying Series-GTCC- Sunday Session/Test Day* Current Season - Spring 2011 Licensing- Open to any "Registered" driver. Cars - See...
MoparSRT Today, 10:49 AM