GT Academy 2012 Round 5: Nissan Skyline GT-R V・spec II Nür (GT Academy) ’02

In this test, you’ll be faced with a variety of corners that you will navigate with the Nissan Skyline GT-R V Spec II Nür.

The Skyline GT-R features an all-wheel-drive system where the engine sends power to all four wheels. All-wheel-drive cars are known for excellent acceleration off the line and superior handling stability. However, because these cars tend to be heavier than their rear-wheel-drive counterparts with increased load on the front tires, they tend to understeer more.

In order to drive these cars fast, you need to decelerate adequately in advance before the corner, and follow a racing line that takes understeer into account.

• High-Speed S Curves with Steep Elevation
• Continuous Hairpin Corners with Steep Elevation
• Spa-Francorchamps, 'Pouhon'
• Suzuka Circuit, 'Degner Curve'
• Series of Corners at Dusk, Low Visibility

http://us.gran-turismo.com/us/academy/2012/event/round5/

GT Academy 2012 Round 6: GT-R Black edition (GT Academy) ’12

This car is one of a very few supercars from Japan—the Nissan GT-R Black Edition.
Your mission is to take this car through a variety of challenging corners. You’ll find the car is very stable through corners and has phenomenal acceleration, supplied by its powerful 550HP engine. That said, its heavy nature makes it prone to understeer. To drive quickly through these corners, you’ll need to make sure you brake relatively early.

The key to achieving a good run is to make full use of the car’s acceleration provided by the engine and all-wheel-drive. Avoid going into tight corners with too much speed, and also, make sure to turn in quickly and get back on the throttle early.

• Nürburgring, 'Pflanzgarten'
• Sections with Rapid Elevation Changes
• Top Gear Test Track, 'Hammerhead'
• Downhill S Curve
• Sarthe at Night, 'Hunaudieres'

http://us.gran-turismo.com/us/academy/2012/event/round6/

Some news about GT Academy Round 7 & 8.

"Round 7 and the all-important Round 8 (whose final time-trial challenge will determine which participants move on to their respective national finals) will be available on June 10. Round 8 is also, of course, expected to reveal Polyphony Digital’s latest rendition of the Twin Ring Motegi circuit."

I'm all FIRED up .

http://www.gtplanet.net/gt-academy-2012-rounds-5-and-6-now-available/

French Cars Featured in GT5′s Latest Time & Drift Trials

New Time and Drift Trials have just gone live in Gran Turismo 5‘s Seasonal Events, placing the spotlight on French cars. Here’s a closer look at what’s new:

Time Trial No. 37

• 450PP French Cars: Madrid City Course Time Trial
  Period of Availability: 2012/05/30 23:00 – 2012/06/13 23:00
  Gold: Cr.250,000 Silver: Cr.150,000 Bronze: Cr.100,000
• 550PP Toscana Reverse Time Trial
  Period of Availability: 2012/05/30 23:00 – 2012/06/13 23:00
  Gold: Cr.250,000 Silver: Cr.150,000 Bronze: Cr.100,000

Drift Trial No. 37

• French Cars: Tokyo Route 246 Drift Trial
  Period of Availability: 2012/05/30 23:00 – 2012/06/13 23:00
  Gold: Cr.250,000 Silver: Cr.150,000 Bronze: Cr.100,000
• High Speed Ring Drift Trial
  Period of Availability: 2012/05/30 23:00 – 2012/06/13 23:00
  Gold: Cr.250,000 Silver: Cr.150,000 Bronze: Cr.100,000

http://www.gtplanet.net/french-cars-featured-in-gt5s-new-time-drift-trials/

Update Notice v2.07 (2MB)

Following the Gran Turismo network maintenance this morning (01.00 – 03.00 GMT/UTC), a small game update has been released.

Tagged as v2.07, the update weighs in at just 2,193kB and, as expected from an update of this kind of size, consists of a bug fix:

An issue was corrected where a pit stop was not possible in the Special Stage Route X Oval course (as included in the Speed Test Pack DLC).

Although there may be other, unannounced tweaks, users should expect nothing more than this correction, characteristic of Polyphony Digital’s continued support of their title. Thanks to all on our forums who alerted us to this.

http://www.gtplanet.net/gran-turismo-update-2-07-released/

GT5′s FR Challenge Seasonal Event Brings Five New Races

A large new set of A-Spec races have now been included in GT5‘s Seasonal Events, featuring front-engine, rear-wheel-drive cars with no more than 500PP.

Note that the game’s new Performance Difference Bonus, introduced in update 2.06, applies to these events, so you will receive greater reward for winning a race with an underpowered car. Here’s a closer look at the races:

• Cape Ring Inner / 7 Laps
  1st: Cr.151,100 2nd: Cr.83,105 3rd: Cr.60,440
• High Speed Ring / 5 Laps
  1st: Cr.177,000 2nd: Cr.97,350 3rd: Cr.70,800
• Autumn Ring / 5 Laps
  1st: Cr.135,600 2nd: Cr.74,580 3rd: Cr.54,240
• Tokyo Route 246 / 5 Laps
  1st: Cr.201,700 2nd: Cr.110,935 3rd: Cr.80,680
• Aso (Pavement) 104A / 7 Laps
  1st: Cr.179,000 2nd: Cr.98,450 3rd: Cr.71,600

The game’s Online Collector’s Dealership has also been updated with a wide selection of Chevrolets; you can see the complete list of new inventory right here. As always, head over to our GT5 Seasonal Events forum for more analysis and discussion. Thanks to tazmanuk for the tip!

http://www.gtplanet.net/gt5s-fr-challenge-seasonal-event-brings-five-new-races/

GT Academy 2012 Round 7: Nissan GT-R Black edition Tuned Car (GT Academy) ’12

You'll now be taking on more technical sections using the Nissan GT-R Black Edition, a car that has gained significantly improved performance by shedding 250kg off of its total weight.

The secret to driving this car fast, is to set your racing lines while taking into account the amount of understeer that is bound to occur. In sections where you need to steer back and forth, the car is prone to slide outwards in the corners. If you prepare for the amount of slide and start steering early into a corner, you'll be able to keep to your racing line at a greater speed. Accelerator control is also important here. If you focus and use half throttle as necessary rather than just full throttle or throttle off, you'll get the most out of the car.

• Nürburgring, 'Adenau - Forest'
• Blind Series of Corners on the London City Course
• Continuous Blind Corners at 'Côte d'Azur'
• Sarthe Circuit, 'Porsche Curve'
• Nürburgring, Battle in the Rain

http://us.gran-turismo.com/us/academy/2012/event/round7/

GT Academy 2012 Round 8: 370Z Tuned Car (GT Academy) ’08

To progress to the "GT Academy 2012" National Final event, you must register BEFORE 6/24/2012 on gran-turismo.com, the official website.

In this final round, your car is a tuned version of the Nissan 370Z.

With 50 more horsepower, 280kg lighter and a large rear wing, the performance of this car has been drastically improved from the stock model. However if its cornering limits are exceeded the car's movement will tend to be upset more severely, making it somewhat difficult to recover from.

Precise throttle control is the most important point when driving this car. When accelerating out of tight corners that require quick acceleration, you'll need to apply the throttle gradually so that the rear wheels do not lose grip. While you are just getting used to the car, focus on maintaining its stability.

• Mid-Speed Corner, Speed Control
• Blind Corners at Night
• Continuous Corners, Maintaining Stability
• Spa-Francorchamps, 'Eau Rouge' - 'Les Combes'
• Twin Ring Motegi East Short Course Time Trial

http://us.gran-turismo.com/us/academy/2012/event/round8/

Gran Turismo 5 - Twin Ring Motegi Gameplay

http://www.gtplanet.net/twin-ring-motegi-now-available-in-gt-academy-2012-final-round-begins-now/

New Gran Turismo 5 DLC: Twin Ring Motegi, Scion FR-S

The official Italian Gran Turismo website has just published new details about Gran Turismo 5‘s upcoming downloadable content.

As expected, Twin Ring Motegi will be coming to the game, including four different configurations: the Road Course, Super Speedway, East Course, and West Course. It will be available at a price of €5.00 (prices in other regions have not yet been confirmed).

The Scion FR-S, a variant on the Toyota 86, will also become available in the game at no cost. Stay tuned for more official information regarding release dates and international pricing soon. Thanks to all of you who sent this in so quickly!

http://www.gtplanet.net/new-gran-turismo-5-dlc-twin-ring-motegi-scion-fr-s/

New Gran Turismo 5 DLC Today: Twin Ring Motegi Pack and Scion FR-S 12’