The Gran Turismo series has featured many real-world tracks over the years. Sadly, however, not all of them complete the transition between games, which could be down to expired licensing agreements, developer pragmatism or other complicated reasons.
Below, we’ve picked out 10 of the best real-world tracks we’d love to see return to GT, whether that’s in Gran Turismo 7 or its inevitable sequel (whenever that will appear!).
Make sure to tell us your favourite real-world track from GT’s storied history in the comments below!
Pikes Peak International Hillclimb – Gran Turismo 2
Gran Turismo has a bit of an odd relationship with Pikes Peak. Located in Colorado in the U.S., the Pikes Peak International Hillclimb attracts competitors from around the globe, all vying to set the fastest point-to-point time up the 12.42-mile course.
The hillclimb first appeared in Gran Turismo 2 way back in 1999, but in a slightly different configuration to the real-world stage, and was likely many players’ first experience of the incredible Suzuki Escudo Pikes Peak, as driven by Japanese cult hero Nobuhiro ‘Monster’ Tajima.
Although the real Pikes Peak has been a full asphalt stage since 2011, back in ‘99 it was completely covered in gravel (barring a short section at the start), which GT2 simulates in an abridged, 2.62-mile format.
Featuring both uphill and downhill variations, Pikes Peak has not appeared in any other GT games since, although data miners reportedly found code referring to the hillclimb in GT , with a driving guide being produced by Red Bull and renowned Pikes Peak driver Rhys Millen. This strongly indicates the course was due for a reappearance, but for whatever reason, it was dropped.
What makes Pikes Peak’s ongoing absence in the GT series more confusing is that Polyphony Digital sponsors the event to this day, with the Japanese giant gaining exclusive video game rights from 2017.
This fact was confirmed by Codemasters’ Paul Coleman, whose studio secured a Pikes Peak licence for 2015’s DiRT Rally but was unable to use the venue for DiRT Rally 2.0 thereafter.
The question is, then, if PD has a Pikes Peak licence, why doesn’t it use it?!
Côte d’Azur (Circuit de Monaco) – GT3: A-Spec, GT4, GT PSP, GT5, GT6
Let’s be honest, Côte d’Azur is the classic Circuit de Monaco, venue for Formula 1’s prestigious Monaco Grand Prix.
However, because the track is made up of public roads, PD apparently circumvented any licensing issues, which is fortunate for GT’s legion of F1 fans (interestingly, Studio 397 followed the same path with its rFactor 2 version of the Monegasque track back in 2019).
The track is unmistakably Monaco, though, with a couple of caveats. The first is that GT’s version (it appeared in GT3: A-Spec, GT4, GT PSP, GT5 and GT6) is much, much wider than the real circuit. The second difference is the addition of strategically placed barriers to prevent corner-cutting (for example, at Sainte Dévote and the swimming pool chicane.
It’s likely that with F1’s increasing popularity in recent years, PD wishes to err on the side of caution in terms of licensing, which is fair enough considering the financial implications. Modelling such a busy environment for the PlayStation 4 and 5 would also have been time-consuming, with thousands of buildings and textures to create.
Still, how good would it have been to thrash GT 7’s F3500-A or F1500T-A around the principality in true Ayrton Senna-style?
Silverstone – GT6
Remarkably, Silverstone has only appeared once in GT history, with its Grand Prix, National and International layouts all featuring in Gran Turismo 6. The game was even officially unveiled at the circuit during a special 15th anniversary celebration for the series.
This is surprising given the airfield course’s prominence in the long-running GT Academy TV show, where GT players were put through a series of relevant (and bizarre) tests to determine who was worthy of becoming a full-time professional racing driver (with PD and Sony footing the bill, of course).
The show’s global reach was huge, with separate contests in Europe, the U.S., Germany, Russia, Asia and the Middle East/Oceania. It even made 2011 European winner Jann Mardenborough a household name, with his inspirational story depicted in the Gran Turismo movie.
Released in 2013, GT was preceded by a demo entitled GT Academy 2013, in which players could compete to qualify for a spot on the TV show. Silverstone was front and centre of this, with original winner Lucas Ordóñez guiding players around their initial lap of the Northamptonshire circuit.
With the demise of GT Academy, and the apparent difficulty of securing a licence to the track (witness its delisting from rFactor 2 or Project Motor Racing’s fictional version for proof), it seems unlikely that Silverstone will return in future.
Indianapolis Motor Speedway – GT5, GT6
PD went all in on NASCAR for GT5, incorporating the Jeff Gordon NASCAR School into its Special Events roster.
This took players through a series of stock car challenges guided by the frightening-looking avatar of four-time Cup Series champion Gordon. This included officially licensed Chevrolet Impalas, Ford Fusions, and Toyota Camrys in the liveries of AJ Allmendinger, Denny Hamlin, Jimmie Johnson, Dale Earnhardt Jr., and Kyle Busch, among many others (paint schemes were based on the 2010 and 2011 Cup rosters).
A separate NASCAR championship was also unlockable during career mode, although it lacked the 40-strong fields of the real-world series and convincing V8 exhaust notes (a common bugbear of earlier GT games).
However, a big part of GT5’s NASCAR experience was the Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s legendary oval, home of IndyCar’s Indy 500 and a dedicated Cup race, the Brickyard 400. It and Daytona’s Tri-Oval featured throughout the driving school, bringing an authentic slice of stock car racing to GT fans.
The Road Course layout is also in GT5 and GT6, although it’s the older version of the track as used by Formula 1 until 2007. A modern take on the circuit would therefore require up-to-date laser scanning, given several significant changes to its topography over the years.
Considering GT7 generally lacks oval tracks, Indianapolis, and, indeed, NASCAR’s return, would be welcomed by fans. Whether it’s possible to grab those licenses is another matter entirely, however.
Infineon Raceway (Sonoma) – GT4, GT PSP
Only appearing in GT4 and GT PSP, Infineon Raceway is fondly remembered by many GT fans.
Known as Sears Point before the track struck a commercial naming-rights deal with German semiconductor manufacturer Infineon, the circuit continues to host NASCAR races to this day. Confusingly, though, it’s now called Sonoma Raceway.
Despite the name changes, Sonoma is famed for its technical layout, challenging elevation changes and a pit straight that isn’t very straight. The main thing, however, is that it’s a joy to drive, whether you choose the Stock Car or longer Sports Car variant.
Filled with extreme cambers and fast turns, the Californian venue is a proper driver’s track with little margin for error, kind of like Willow Springs but with much less run-off, and it deserves a return to GT.
It also has a drag strip, which would add a neat mechanic to the series.
Twin Ring Motegi – GT4, GT PSP, GT5, GT6
The exclusion of Twin Ring Motegi in GT7 is perhaps the most baffling case on this list. Seeing that the track is in Japan and has appeared in four GT titles so far, it’s almost absurd that the venue isn’t in the game.
Given that the facility is owned by Honda, which has close ties to PD and Sony through their combined AFEELA EV road car project, the decision is even more baffling.
Renamed ‘Mobility Resort Motegi’ in 2022, an earthquake rendered the track’s Super Speedway course (famous for being the venue of Danica Patrick’s only IndyCar win in 2008) unusable, but other events still take place on its Road and East and West Short Courses.
Its various configurations perhaps lack the character of classic Japanese venues, such as Suzuka and Tsukuba, but in GT terms, Motegi is surely low-hanging fruit for PD.
It could well be on its way to the series in future, if Super GT driver Takayuki Aoki is to be believed…
Top Gear Test Track (Dunsfold Aerodrome) – GT5
The Top Gear Test Track’s appearance in GT5 was something of a coup for PD. The show fronted by Messrs Clarkson, Hammond and May was a global phenomenon, so the opportunity to drive the famous course – in virtual form, at least – was lapped up by fans (pardon the pun).
Set around the runways and service roads of Dunsfold Aerodrome, the track was home to the show’s infamous power tests, where the presenters would regularly put supercars through their paces… or deliberately crash into brick walls in £100 jalopies.
Some say it was the best track… in the world.
‘The Star in a Reasonably Priced Car’ segment truly resonated with fans, too, with a range of celebrities tasked with lapping the course as quickly as possible, all under the tutelage of Top Gear’s ‘tame racing driver’, The Stig.
For motorsport aficionados, Formula 1 drivers had a separate lap time board to aim for, with the likes of Lewis Hamilton, Sebastien Vettel and Jenson Button all thrashing the life out of the original Suzuki Liana.
Although the track had a few tricky sections, like the Hammerhead and Chicago, high-speed corners like the Follow-Through required commitment in both the real and virtual worlds. And who didn’t want to emulate Michael Gambon or Tom Cruise on the run to the chequered flag?
The TGTT failed to appear in GT6 owing to a separate license agreement with Forza Motorsport’s custodians, Microsoft, but by then the Clarkson, Hammond and May era of Top Gear was running out of time.
The lukewarm response to subsequent presenter lineups, and the show’s unfortunate hiatus after Freddie Flintoff’s serious accident in 2022, means that this venue is unlikely to appear in GT again.
And on that bombshell, it’s all a bit of a terrible disappointment.
Goodwood Hillclimb – GT6
“But Goodwood is already in GT7,” I hear you cry.
Yes, the Goodwood Motor Circuit is in the game, home of the historic Goodwood Revival meeting, but its Hillclimb layout isn’t. Not since GT6, that is.
The Hillclimb course is the venue for the Goodwood Festival of Speed event, which takes place annually in the parklands surrounding Goodwood House. This commonly features race and road cars from the past, present, and future driving up the famous ribbon of asphalt, cheered on by an enthusiastic crowd.
There’s a separate competitive element to the event, too, with a select group of professional drivers pushing their cars to the limits in order to be crowned Timed Shootout champion.
The Festival of Speed is an unlockable section in GT6’s single-player mode, giving players the chance to drive a series of rare and interesting cars up the fabled hillclimb, which featured PD’s typical attention to detail. No doubt players would love to see the hillclimb return in future, with online leaderboard battles a potential source of longevity.
It’s a shame, then, that despite GT’s close links with Goodwood and its promotional presence in the paddock, the hillclimb’s untapped video game potential remains.
Well, except for its appearance in Rennsport, but that’s a whole different story…
Circuit de Valencia – GT PSP
The Circuit de Valencia (or Circuit de la Comunitat Valenciana Ricardo Tormo, to give it its full title) is an odd one: it’s the only track on this list to feature solely in the PSP version of GT.
Also appearing in PD’s motorcycling offshoot, Tourist Trophy, owing to the venue’s inextricable links with two-wheel motorsport, Valencia is perhaps not as fondly remembered as other tracks on this list, thanks to its divisive layout.
Files relating to the PSP version were later found in GT5, though they were only accessible via datamining, indicating that there were plans to include the Spanish circuit in future editions of the game.
Inevitably, fewer players experienced the track firsthand due to the PSP’s smaller audience, making Valencia a bit of an enigma in GT terms.
Ascari Race Resort – GT6
The Ascari Race Resort is a private track located in Spain. Known as Circuito Ascari Ronda, the venue is an exclusive motorsport resort designed to help its wealthy members extract the most from their car collections away from the prying eyes of the media and general public.
Also used by manufacturers for test and media days, Ascari was set up by Klaas Zwaart, an entrepreneur and amateur racing driver, who had become frustrated at the lack of suitable facilities for rich car enthusiasts who wish to enjoy all the fripperies of a luxury lifestyle.
This means that Ascari has professional instructors, tight security, space for vehicle storage, helipads, a restaurant and plush accommodation all on-site, and was also the location for GT6’s launch party. It even hosted the Top Gear team back in 2007, with The Stig indulging himself in the resort’s facilities.
Not only is it a driver’s dream, but it’s also a rather entertaining circuit, too, with many of its corners based on the best sections of other circuits, including one section mimicking Spa-Francorchamps’ legendary Eau Rouge.
Typically, the track is also beautifully represented in-game, with the 3.37-mile course rendered in exacting detail and featuring epic views of the Andalusian mountains.
It’s probably not the greatest for wheel-to-wheel racing, however, owing to its tight and twisty nature, but as a driving experience, the Ascari Race Resort is almost unmatched.
Honourable mentions
Other real-world track oddities from the GT series include an ‘80s version of Brands Hatch GP, which was included in GT6, plus ‘80s and ‘90s versions of Fuji Speedway, with the former appearing in GT and the latter in GT4 and GT PSP. A version of Monaco was also believed to have been included in GT2’s game code.
These older, more sinewy layouts would be popular GT additions in future, that’s for sure, but so would a whole host of street circuits and fictional courses from past iterations of the game…
But we’ll save these for future articles!