Over 10,000 athletes will compete in various sports and challenges at the 2024 Summer Olympics. Imagine how tough it must be to emerge victorious in your favorite discipline!
Esports have been on the rise for a few years now. The global pandemic may have also helped speed things up, as online racing was sometimes the only thing going on. I tried to join a local league playing Assetto Corsa, but using a keyboard to race competitively was difficult. The league was also a little boring, as you could only use a single type of car (a BMW E30) on a track.
Well, at least that was the case in the early days. These days, I've seen a lot of GT7 players complain about the poor sportsmanship of some drivers in online races. But you don't have to worry about that when you try the game's Online Time Trials. It's just you racing against the clock, using a certain car on a certain track chosen by Polyphony Digital.
I’ve competed in 20 of these races over the past few months, but have only managed one Gold medal. Add four Silvers (four million credits) and you’re left with 14 Bronze Record Rewards. I’m still waiting on the outcome of three more races and will probably have to settle for the smaller prize again. I recently completed the Weekly Challenges and was eager to test my skills on the fictional High-Speed Ring in Japan. Before I try out the Porsche 917, it was time for a few practice sessions.
1997 Toyota MR-2 GT-S
Photo: autoevolution
Once again, I started the day by visiting Legend Cars, but I can't afford anything I like (the Maserati Merak isn't what I'd call appealing yet). The 1997 Toyota MR-2 GT-S had just popped up on the used car lot and I had to buy it for 53,600 credits.
It immediately reminded me of Keiichi Tsuchiya's Drift Bible, as there's a segment explaining how to make this MR (mid-engine, rear-wheel drive) car drift. I wasn't expecting to set any records on the 2.7-mile (4,345 m) high-speed layout, but I was planning on having some fun driving this car. It looks pretty decent, even in stock form.
With 241bhp on tap, I reached a top speed of just over 149mph (240km/h), and I was always aware of the potential for it to hit you with harsh oversteer. It will go sideways if you’re too enthusiastic with your throttle inputs, but it’s not as difficult to control as expected. I opted for a two-lap stint and stopped the clock at 1:31.563 on my second attempt.
Giulia GTAm 2020
Photo: autoevolution
I've had a thing for the Alfa Romeo Giulia GTAm ever since I saw Kimi Raikkonen take a stab at it a few years ago. Montreal Green is the right choice for this lively Italian sedan, and it cost me 220,000 credits.
The 2.9-liter twin-turbo V6 under the hood can deliver a maximum of 532 hp (390 kW) and 442.6 lb-ft (600.1 Nm). So it's no wonder it reached a top speed of 174 mph (280 km/h) on the High-Speed Ring! I was a little worried that its weight might be an issue (3,483 lb/1,580 kg), but it proved to be phenomenal in every test: braking, turning and accelerating.
The only upgrade I would make would be an exhaust system, but I might play with it more in the game. It reminded me that the Alfa Romeo 4C felt like a small Ferrari 488 when I first drove it, and it can lap this track in under 80 seconds! (1:20.767 on my second attempt).
2020 Maserati MC20
Photo: autoevolution
We can admit that the Alfa Romeo is a formidable machine, but it doesn't have the features required to enter supercar territory yet. Going one step higher, I had to take a look at the 2020 Maserati MC20, a car that I have yet to see on public roads.
It costs 300,000 credits on Brand Central and offers more power and torque, while weighing less than the Giulia GTAm. I noticed the difference right away, as the speedometer jumped to 183 mph (295 km/h).
Cornering at those speeds is no walk in the park, so this car could use better tires and a few more upgrades for more stability on the track. “Tailhappy” is a good way to describe it, but that might not be true when using the steering wheel. Despite that, I was almost a second and a half faster in the MC20. And I knew it was about to get even more dramatic when I moved on to the Porsche 917 Living Legend.
High speed time trial
Photo: autoevolution
This time trial began on August 8, 2024 and will end on August 22, 2024. Less than 60 hours after it began, the world record stands at 1:00.249. Three hundred and forty-two players have broken the 61-second mark, while over 71,000 competitors have signed up to take on the challenge. Some of the slowest kids in the world have taken 80 seconds to complete a full lap, going about the same speed as me in the Alfa Romeo.
But the 917 Living Legend uses a massive 5.0-liter turbocharged flat-8 engine with a maximum output of 976 hp (976 kW) and 789.8 lb-ft (1,070.8 Nm). Even more impressive is the fact that the car weighs 2,690 lb (1,220 kg). I knew it could reach a top speed of 235 mph (378 km/h), but I didn't expect to go that fast on this relatively short layout.
Before trying the 917, I tried the 962C at full throttle and did a fast lap of 1:05.986 on my second attempt. And I was eager to see how far I could push it using my controller. After a few laps, I concluded that it was one of the fastest “roller coasters” I had ever been on. It was so fun and exciting that I stopped after only 10 laps.
My fastest of the first session was 1:03.669, which already qualified me for the Bronze Record Reward. It all happens so fast you can’t even look at the speedometer, but I later found out I was hitting 220 mph (355 km/h). I remember driving on NASCAR ovals, so I took a higher line in several corners.
Photo: autoevolution
Then I also remembered that the short gear is a blessing in disguise, and I found myself lapping the track in 1:02.882 during my second session. I was in the top 16,000 riders in the world when I recorded that time. But, of course, I wanted more.
Tidgney’s YouTube tutorial revealed what I’d already considered: you want to get as high as possible toward the wall to maximize your cornering speed. Getting there with the controller seems like a mission impossible, so there was only one thing left to do: break out the Logitech G29 and the PS VR2 setup.
I had to admit defeat after 26 laps! I tried repeatedly, but my fastest was still under 63 seconds. My theoretical best time was about 0.2 seconds faster than what I got with the controller, but it's my last resort in my quest for gold. Getting that last corner right is tough, because hitting the wall immediately invalidates your time.
I found a way to increase my top speed to 222 mph (358 km/h), but my fastest lap was 1:02.537. That put me in the top 30,000 drivers in the world, but that won't last. I hope I can still get the Silver Record Reward when it's over. How did you enjoy this week's Online Time Trial? Let me know what your fastest lap was!
