In the fall of 2014, a series of international motorsports events were held in Japan; the F1GP and WTCC at the Suzuka circuit, the WEC at the Fuji speedway, and the Moto GP at Twin Ring Motegi. And in Gran Turismo, a large update is planned soon to update the Suzuka Circuit to its 2014 specifications.

Main changes:

– New replay angles

– Newly resurfaced West course

– Relocation of crashpads and guardrails to match the 2009 renovation

– Addition of circuit objects “Racing Theater” “Traffic Education Center”

– Revision of the final chicane

In addition to weather changes, time transition is also now enabled. I think GT machines racing under the dusk sky is reminiscent of a scene straight out of Japan’s Super GT Suzuka 1000km.

Maybe you can get even more race-nerdy and simulate an early morning test session, driving Suzuka at 6AM.

The name of the final chicane was changed in April 2014 to “Hitachi Automotive Systems Chicane”, a nightmare I’m sure for broadcast announcers and hosts. Hope the players who do live broadcasts for their online races will be able to say that without biting their tongue.

Unlike the poles on the Sarthe circuit in GT6, large poles with major collision penalties has been placed, so I wouldn’t force your racing line like this if I were you!

The guardrail on the inside of the Spoon Curve has also been removed, and might be a good location for some of the GT Photographers who are getting into “Off track photo shoots”. Try to find a cool photo spot that makes you think “wow where was that taken from?”

As a side story regarding the inclusion of the updated track, here’s something I heard from the landscape design team of Polyphony Digital: “The people of the Suzuka Circuit themselves listed up the differences of the track, from when we first data captured the track years ago for inclusion in Gran Turismo, and what has been changed now. They were incredibly helpful in our data capture session”. I think there’s a reason why this circuit is loved by F1 drivers around the world, and continues to be the holy ground of motorsports in Japan. Its probably the effort they put in everything they do, it’s the accumulation of the little things that makes them what they are.

Please look forward to the update!

* Screens shown under development and subject to change.