In 2018, a new form of motorsport emerged where competitors worldwide showcased their honed skills on Gran Turismo. This marked the inception of a global championship, sanctioned Gran Turismo. By 2022, the series marked its fifth anniversary with the introduction of the Gran Turismo World Series (GTWS), a new race series designed to commemorate the launch of Gran Turismo.

The Gran Turismo World Series is a championship open to players around the world through in the Sport mode of Gran Turismo 7. Players compete in races in accordance with official series regulations, testing their skills against each other. Players who show great speed and sportsmanship in these races are then invited to compete in the World Series live events to determine who will make it to the World Finals, which showcases the world’s very best drivers.

The Gran Turismo World Series consists of two championships, a Nations Cup where players compete for their country or territory, and a Manufacturers Cup where they represent their favorite automobile manufacturers.