A Global Race to Crown the Fastest Gran Turismo Driver

The Gran Turismo World Series is a global competition designed to determine the best Gran Turismo drivers. Elite racers from around the world converge each season to answer a single question: Who is the fastest, and who has the endurance to become champion?

In 2026, the series enters its ninth year.

This year’s online qualifiers were held worldwide from January14 to February 28, narrowing the field to a select group of top-ranked drivers. Those finalists will advance to four live events staged at international venues.

From a global community of millions, only one will claim the title. To get there, drivers must navigate a series of grueling battles against the world’s best, where precision, consistency and composure under pressure ultimately decide the champion.

Connecting the origins of automobile racing in Paris in 1894 to more than a century of evolution, the Gran Turismo World Series reflects motorsport’s next frontier.
https://www.gran-turismo.com/world/gt7/championships/2026/

Two championships

Manufacturers Cup

Manufacturers Cup: Porsche Eyes Back-to-Back Titles in a Shifting Field

The Manufacturers Cup in the Gran Turismo World Series pits the world’s leading automotive brands against one another in a season-long test of speed, depth and teamwork. From 27 participating marques, only 12, including official partners Toyota and Mazda, have advanced to the live events.

As in previous seasons, Rounds 1 through 3 will feature regional champions from the online qualifiers competing as individuals. The World Finals will then shift to a team format, with drivers from each region combining to represent their manufacturer on the global stage.

In 2026, the competitive landscape has evolved. Five of the 12 teams arrive with new drivers making their series debut, while a mix of rising talent and returning veterans reshapes the grid. With so many variables in play, the season shapes up as one of the most unpredictable yet. Defending champions Porsche enter with a formidable lineup, aiming to secure a second consecutive title.

Nations Cup

Nations Cup: Spain Targets Another Title as the World Takes Aim

Twelve of the world’s best will compete for national pride in the Nations Cup at the Gran Turismo World Series, where drivers represent their countries and territories on the global stage.

The field includes nine competitors who advanced through regional online qualifiers—four from Europe/Middle East/Africa, one from North America, two from Central & South America, one from Asia and one from Oceania—along with three seeded entries based on last year’s results: Jose Serrano of Spain, Takuma Miyazono of Japan and Pol Urra of Spain.

In 2026, the focus centers on whether anyone can challenge Serrano as he defends his Nations Cup title. Of the 12-driver field, Spain’s Samuel Moreno Baeza is the lone newcomer, aiming to disrupt an established order. With Spain fielding multiple contenders, the question remains: Can anyone break its grip on the top step of the podium?

The Cars

At the GTWS, two types of cars will be used. Both meet the rules of Gran Turismo 7.

Gr.3 Cars (Group 3 Cars)

Cars in this category are purpose-built race machines derived from production road cars, and they’ll take center stage in the final race of the Manufacturers Cup. Known as Gr.3 cars, they typically feature rear-wheel-drive layouts and tip the scales between 2,646 and 2,866 pounds. Paired with engines producing between 500 and 600 horsepower, these cars offer an impressive power-to-weight ratio that far surpasses their street-legal counterparts. Enhanced with aggressive aerodynamic components—most notably large rear wings that generate substantial downforce—Gr.3 cars are engineered for high-speed precision. The added grip allows them to corner with far greater agility and stability than standard road cars, delivering a true race-bred driving experience.

X2019 Competition

The X2019 Competition, featured in the Grand Final of the Nations Cup, is a single-seater, futuristic race machine born from a visionary collaboration between Red Bull Racing and Gran Turismo. Originally conceived as part of the fan car project, the X2019 has evolved into a high-performance icon. Weighing in at just 650 kg and producing more than 800 horsepower, this rear-wheel-drive machine delivers blistering speed and razor-sharp responsiveness. But with that power comes a challenge—only the most skilled and composed drivers can hope to harness its full potential

Tracks

The races in the Gran Turismo World Series will unfold across two distinct types of circuits. First are the real-world tracks—legendary venues like Suzuka and Spa-Francorchamps—familiar territory for motorsport fans and revered for their technical demands and rich history. Complementing them are the original circuits unique to Gran Turismo 7. These fictional tracks, set in imaginative environments and offering multiple layout variations, are purpose-built for virtual racing. Unlike their real-world counterparts, they feature wider sections of track, designed to encourage closer battles and more dramatic overtaking—ideal for showcasing the strategic depth and wheel-to-wheel action that define the series.

Race Tactics: Things to look for

Winning isn't just about being the fastest. It's also about strategy and selecting the right time during the race to pass your opponents. In this section, we explore the various overtaking techniques drivers may use throughout a race.

Overtaking on the track

Slipstream overtakes
One of the most thrilling aspects of car racing, and the most popular method of overtaking, is "slipstreaming" or "drafting." This technique involves getting close to the car in front to benefit from a reduction in air drag and gain speed. It is also known as "towing." Keep an eye out for it, especially on long straights where it is frequently used to gain a competitive edge.

Out-braking your opponent
Out-braking a rival car into a corner represents a true display of a driver’s skills and bravery. This technique involves braking later than the opponent, allowing the driver to enter the corner ahead. It is particularly effective on corners that require hard braking from high speeds. However, if the braking timing is even slightly off, the car may not decelerate enough in time, resulting in a failure to make the turn. Thus, executing this move successfully requires immense courage and excellent braking technique.

Overtaking at the corner exit
Passing an opponent at the exit of a corner demands precision and timing. The driver adjusts their line through the turn, prioritizing a faster exit by getting back on the throttle as early as possible. The goal is to carry greater speed onto the following straight and pull ahead before the next braking zone. This maneuver is particularly effective on corners that lead into long straights and is commonly referred to as cross-lining, as it often results in the racing lines of the two cars intersecting.

Overtaking through pitstop strategies

Overtaking opponents using pit stop strategies is a key tactic effective in long races. Drivers must carefully consider the most optimal pitstop timing to ensure they return to the track ahead of their opponents. This involves comparing and considering the race pace and the gap between themselves and the other cars. Drivers might push ahead, conserve their tires, or balance fuel consumption and power to make pitstops at the optimal time.

In real races, this decision is typically made by the race team, but in the GTWS, it’s a judgment call that drivers must make themselves. Also, pit stop strategies can vary from driver to driver.

In the early stages of a race, drivers may choose to conserve their tires by driving carefully and delaying any stops until the latter stages of the race, then use their softer tires to catch up quickly, which can result in a very dramatic finish. Conversely, some drivers may increase their pace from the beginning to create a gap, allowing ample time for pitting and then skillfully blocking their opponents in the latter stages to secure a win. Pitstop strategies and race moments like these have captivated audiences in numerous past GTWS competitions.

The timing and execution of pitstops can decide a race, so be sure to keep an eye out for these strategies during the race.

Control your tires, control the race

At the GTWS, race cars can use five different tire compounds. Three of these are for dry weather conditions—soft, medium, and hard—while the other two are for wet conditions—intermediate and heavy wet. Among the dry tires, the soft-compound tires offer the most grip, followed by medium and then hard, making them the fastest option. However, the softer the tire, the quicker it will degrade, leading to a drop in performance over time.

Dry Tires
Soft (S): Fast but degrade quickly
Medium (M): Good balance of speed and durability
Hard (H): Durable but slow

That being said, the rate at which tires degrade is not the same for everyone. Tire tread wear varies depending on the characteristics of the car and the driving style of the driver. Drivers who drive smoothly and avoid placing unnecessary stress on their tires will experience less wear, allowing their tires to last longer. Tire management can significantly impact the outcome of a race, particularly in the latter stages, so be sure to watch which tires a driver chooses and how they manage them throughout the race.

Wet Tires
Intermediate (IM): For light rain
Heavy Wet (W): For heavy rain

Fuel efficiency or speed?

In long races, a driver must consider fuel management as much as, if not more than, tire management.

Gran Turismo 7 features a function known as the Fuel Map. With the Fuel Map, drivers can adjust the fuel concentration delivered to the engine during a race through six different power settings. Setting this meter to "Power Level 1" provides the maximum power, while adjusting the number towards "Lean" (higher numbers) reduces engine output in exchange for improved fuel efficiency.

Drivers can also employ real-life driving techniques to enhance fuel efficiency, such as short shifting to avoid high engine rpm, lifting off the throttle to let the car coast, and drafting other cars to reduce air resistance. Particularly in races with long straights, drivers face the challenging decision of choosing between full power and strategic fuel conservation. Keep an eye out and see if you can spot these strategies in play during a race.

Faster than real races? Tire wear and fuel consumption rates

A unique element of the GTWS is tire wear and fuel consumption rates. These signify the speed at which tires degrade and how quickly fuel will be burned in a race. For example, a race set to "5x" and "2x" would mean that the tires will wear five times faster and fuel will be consumed at twice the rate as in real life.

In most cases, the wear/consumption rates are set to be faster than in real life, meaning that drivers must be highly skilled to cope with the continuously changing tire conditions while also keeping a keen eye on their Fuel Map during a race.

Race penalty system

Although the GTWS is conducted in a virtual environment, the rules are very real, and drivers must show respect for one another on the track. To ensure fairness and maintain competitive integrity, our global live events employ race stewards who meticulously oversee the races and make judgements.

Infractions such as deliberately knocking an opponent off the track or persistently blocking another driver are deemed unsportsmanlike conduct and will result in immediate penalties. Collisions are reviewed using replay footage and are addressed after thorough consideration. Infractions are typically enforced as time penalties, with a designated section on the track in each race where cars will automatically slow down to serve the penalty. An icon will be displayed above the penalized car, turning it invisible until the penalty is cleared to ensure that passing drivers are neither blocked nor hindered.

This blend of human oversight (race stewards) and virtual systems facilitates thrilling, next-level races that surpass any seen in traditional motorsport events.