=============================================================================== * * * GRAN TURISMO 4 * * * * * * FORMULA GT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP FAQ * * * =============================================================================== By: Alex Young (Psyco Monkey) Email: alexyoung27@msn.com Last Update: 10/07/2005 Version: 1.2 For: PAL/NTSC Versions =============================================================================== * * * 0. Contents * * * =============================================================================== 0. Contents 1. History of FAQ 2. Legal information 3. Introduction 4. How to use this FAQ 5. Getting the Polyphony Formula Gran Turismo 6. Formula GT World Championship I. Tokyo R246 II. Twin Ring Motegi SS III. New York IV. High Speed Ring V. Grand Valley VI. Circuit de la Sarthe I VII. Cote d'Azur VIII. Seoul IX. Infineon Raceway X. Laguna Seca XI. Twin Ring Motegi Road XII. Nurburgring XIII. El Capitan XIV. Fuji Speedway 2005 XV. Suzuka 7. Frequently Asked Questions 8. Contributing to my guide 9. Special Thanks / Credits 10. Contact Information =============================================================================== * * * 1. History of FAQ * * * =============================================================================== 18/06/2005: Start FAQ 22/06/2005: Add Last Bits 25/06/2005: Not quite finished but submit Version 0.8 27/06/2005: FAQ published 01/07/2005: Recieve e-mail from James Pickering giving handy advice on the Nurb 01/07/2005: Message posted on GT4 Message Board by mindlessoath deserves worthy mention in v1.2 06/07/2005: Add above contributions to FAQ 06/07/2005: Request certain A-Spec times not added in v0.8 06:07:2005: ZechsXWynd helps with Nurburgring times 10/07/2005: Add 'Contributing to my guide' section 10/07/2005: Pete Whitmarsh gives good strategy for Sarthe 10/07/2005: Submit v1.2 =============================================================================== * * * 2. Legal information * * * =============================================================================== This FAQ and everything included in this file may not be reproduced under any circumstances except for personal, private use. It may not be placed on any other web site or otherwise distributed publicly. Use of this guide on any other web site or as a part of any public display is strictly prohibited, and a violation of copyright. If this FAQ is found on any site other than GameFAQs (URL: www.gamefaqs.com) contact me immediately! Do not e-mail me asking to use this FAQ on your/a website or to publish it because the answer will be NO! This FAQ was written for GameFAQs (URL: www.gamefaqs.com) only. All trademarks and copyrights contained in this document are owned by their respective trademark and copyright holders. This document is Copyright (c) 2005 Alexander Young =============================================================================== * * * 3. Introduction * * * =============================================================================== Hello and welcome to my Gran Turismo 4 Formula GT World Championship FAQ. In this FAQ I have listed all the races in this Championship along with detailed stats, figures and tips on how to beat this mamoth endurance Extreme Event. There are a lot of questions on this Championship on the message boards so I thought I should write a simple FAQ on it. I hope you find this FAQ useful. If there are any mistakes please e-mail them to me and I will correct them. In addition, if you have any other strategys, please email me them and I will put them in the guide on the next update. Thank you. =============================================================================== * * * 4. How to use this FAQ * * * =============================================================================== Laps: How many laps the race is Pit Stops: How many pit stops you should do if following this guide Number of laps per pit stop: The ammount of laps you do per pit stop Average A-Spec time between Pit Stop: The average time between pit stops in A-Spec Average B-Spec time between Pit Stop: The average time between pit stops in B-Spec x3 Average A-Spec Lap: The average lap time you should do in A-Spec Average B-Spec Lap: The average time a lap will take in B-Spec x3 A-Spec Completion Time: How long it takes to complete the race in A-Spec B-Spec Completion Time: How long it takes to complete the race in B-Spec x3 B-Spec Speed: What speed you should have it on Overtake: Whether or not you should have Overtake on or off Other Advice: Any other advice I feel relevant 00:00:00:000 HH:MM:SS:HTS H= Hours M= Minutes S= Seconds HTS= Hundreds of Tenths of a Second Before you take on this huge Championship, I'd like to say that B-Spec times etc all depend on your B-Spec drivers ability. When I completed this Championship, I had 6100 B-Spec points therfore I would not attempt this Championship with any less. =============================================================================== * * * 5. Getting the Polyphony Formula Gran Turismo * * * =============================================================================== I should hope you have all done 25% of the game and unlocked the Endurance Races as the car you'll need for the championsip is only available through the 24 Hour Nurburgring Endurance Race. ******************************************************************************* \ / / mindlessoath says: \ \ / / "i say a good tip for these people is to tell them to raise their bspec \ \ skills and they will have NO probelms at all. the F1 is not the end all car / / to win all, its easiest way out." \ \ / ******************************************************************************* Laps: 24 hours worth of laps (avg about 200-205) Pit Stops: 51 Number of laps per pit stop: 4 Average A-Spec time between Pit Stop: 00:26:20:000 Average B-Spec time between Pit Stop: 00:09:10:000 Average A-Spec Lap: 00:06:30:000 Average B-Spec Lap: 00:06:19:000 Thanks to ZechsXWynd A-Spec Completion Time: 24:02:32:000 B-Spec Completion Time: 08:33:00:000 B-Spec Speed: 1 Slow Pace Overtake: On Other Advice: The car I would suggest using to win the Nurb 24 is the Mercedes Benz AMG CLK-GTR Race Car . It's a bit of an overkill but it gets the job done as easy as possible for you. Keep it on slow pace to make the number of laps between pit stops shorter. YOu should have Super Hard Tyres on the back and Hard Tyres on the front. If you B-Spec it you can just come back every 5 minutes or so to put it on Speed x3 or if your not worried about how long it takes but just want it done then you can leave it on over night etc. A-Specers will unlock a little extra if they do it on A-Spec, bragging rights :) All I advise is drink coffee, stop to pee and eat. Finally when you've earnt your little F1 Dream, make sure you've unlocked the Extreme Events otherwise you won't be doing any championship! =============================================================================== * * * 6. Formula GT World Championship * * * =============================================================================== Regulations: Drivetrain - N/A Tires - Any Cars - Any License - iA =============================== * I. Tokyo R246 * =============================== Laps: 60 Pit Stops: 7 Number of laps per pit stop: 8 Average A-Spec time between Pit Stop: Average B-Spec time between Pit Stop: 00:04:10:000 Average A-Spec Lap: Average B-Spec Lap: 00:00:27:500 A-Spec Completion Time: B-Spec Completion Time: 00:27:34:000 B-Spec Speed: 5 Push Hard Overtake: On Other Advice: This is a relativley easy start to this huge Championship. For B-Spec, just keep it on Push Hard and Overtake and you will win it easy. You need not even be there to keep an eye on it. A majority of the gap you will gain will be from Pit Stops. You should pit one lap early to the other 5 racers (all of which pit at the same time) and this is when Bob (my B-Spec drivers name) starts making the gap wider. For A-Spec, all of your laps should be a few seconds quicker than the other drivers so just don't spin out and you'll be fine. =============================== * II. Twin Ring Motegi SS * =============================== Laps: 127 Pit Stops: 11 Number of laps per pit stop: 11 Average A-Spec time between Pit Stop: Average B-Spec time between Pit Stop: 00:02:40:00 Average A-Spec Lap: Average B-Spec Lap: 00:00:12:300 A-Spec Completion Time: 01:04:06:000 B-Spec Completion Time: 00:26:11:000 B-Spec Speed: 5 Push Hard Overtake: On Other Advice: First things first, don't go straight into the race starting 6th (especially if your B-Specing it) go to practise, do a few good laps and start 1st, the few 100ths of a second you gain from starting first are very important. This is quite a hard one as in most races you gain time over the opponent on turns etc however, there are no turns on this course so the time you gain, thank your pit team for. You should all pit in at the same time and it's your pit team that help you by changing tyres a second or so faster than the other racers do. These few seconds soon build up and you should be fine after a few pits or so... unless Bob decides to go suicidle on you but we won't think about that... A-Spec drivers get it a little easier. You should gain a few more seconds per lap on A-Spec than Bob does on B-Spec meaning you get an easier time and do not have to depend on your pit team. =============================== * III. New York * =============================== Laps: 74 Pit Stops: 7 Number of laps per pit stop: 10 Average A-Spec time between Pit Stop: 00:14:44:000 Average B-Spec time between Pit Stop: 00:04:53:000 Average A-Spec Lap: 00:00: Average B-Spec Lap: 00:00:29:500 A-Spec Completion Time: 01:42:00:000 B-Spec Completion Time: 00:36:24:000 B-Spec Speed: 4 Increase Speed Overtake: On Other Advice: For A-Spec, simply watch the breaking distances, lots of 90 degree turns at high speeds so just don't go crashing into walls. For B-Spec, start the race on 5 Push Hard until the first pit then put it down to Increase Speed. This gives you an extra lap before pitting in and makes your lap times faster by a few seconds as your driver is not doing 200mph and driving into walls thus wasting valuable seconds =============================== * IV. High Speed Ring * =============================== Laps: 77 Pit Stops: 8 Number of laps per pit stop: 9 Average A-Spec time between Pit Stop: 00:08:00:000 Average B-Spec time between Pit Stop: 00:03:35:000 Average A-Spec Lap: 00:00:52:000 Average B-Spec Lap: 00:00:18:500 A-Spec Completion Time: 01:18:16:000 B-Spec Completion Time: 00:30:40:000 B-Spec Speed: 5 Push Hard Overtake: On Other Advice: For some reason A-Spec drivers will normally do a lap 4 or so seconds faster than B-Spec Bob and opponents in the race so just don't go off the road and you'll be fine. B-Specers need not worry, Bob should do this one quite easy. Early on in the race, you may need to change the speed to 4 on the bends as he can lose it a bit but after a while you should be fine leaving him on 5. =============================== * V. Grand Valley * =============================== Laps: 62 Pit Stops: 8 Number of laps per pit stop: 7 Average A-Spec time between Pit Stop: 00:11:00:000 Average B-Spec time between Pit Stop: 00:04:15:000 Average A-Spec Lap: 00:01:30:00 Average B-Spec Lap: 00:00:30:00 A-Spec Completion Time: 01:40:58:000 B-Spec Completion Time: 00:37:24:500 B-Spec Speed: 4 Overtake: On Other Advice: Easy race for both A-Spec and B-Spec drivers. Bob'll always do a lap 2 or 3 seconds faster than the other racers and what with your trusty pit team, you have nothing to worry about. A-Spec drivers should do a lap 4 or 5 seconds faster than other drivers, so again, nothing to worry about. Nice easy race. =============================== * VI. Circuit de la Sarthe I * =============================== Laps: 23 Pit Stops: 5 (Maybe 6 for B-Spec) Number of laps per pit stop: 4 (Maybe 3 for B-Spec) Average A-Spec time between Pit Stop: 00:13:16:000 Average B-Spec time between Pit Stop: 00:04:30:000 Average A-Spec Lap: 00:03:14:000 Average B-Spec Lap: 00:01:04:500 A-Spec Completion Time: 01:20:24:000 B-Spec Completion Time: 00:27:20:000 B-Spec Speed: 3 Medium /4 Increase Overtake: On Other Advice: Well, put it this way, if you have anything under 7000 B-Spec points, be prepared to A-Spec this. Bob decides to drive into everthing possible and take every corner at 200mph. At other times he becomes suicidle or simply decides to fall asleep at the wheel. If your driver on the other hand is trained up, then by all means B-Spec it but I think this is the hardest track in the game for old Bob so on most occassions it'd be best to A-Spec it. A-spec advice is cheat. Yup I said cheat. Skip the chicanes by taking the sand route through. Easily a 9 second gainer per lap what with good cornering etc. You don't have to do this but I felt it nessasary as by lap 9 I was 2 minutes behind due to Bob's complacency. I needed all the seconds I could get! ******************************************************************************* \ / / Pete Whitmarsh says: \ \ / / "One strategy that I noticed works particularly well on the Circuit de la \ \ Sarthe I race is to B-Spec it most of the way through the race, pitting in / / every 3 laps and leaving it on medium pace. After my final pit stop on lap \ \ 21 however, I switched over to A-spec mode. When I made the switch I was / / in 3rd place and 5 seconds behind the leader. However, by using the A-spec \ \ mode for the remaining 2 laps I was able to quite easily catch up and / / overtake the leader (by cutting obvious corners) to finish in 1st place. \ \ / ******************************************************************************* =============================== * VII. Cote d'Azur * =============================== Laps: 78 Pit Stops: 9 Number of laps per pit stop: 8 Average A-Spec time between Pit Stop: 00:11:00:000 Average B-Spec time between Pit Stop: 00:04:05:000 Average A-Spec Lap: 00:01:20:000 Average B-Spec Lap: 00:00:27:000 A-Spec Completion Time: 01:48:22:000 B-Spec Completion Time: 00:39:45:000 B-Spec Speed: 4 Increase Overtake: On Other Advice: Quite an easy one after such a difficult one before hand. Easy enough on A-Spec, just watch the long straights followed by turns. B-Spec, Bob'll do 2 or 3 seconds quicker. Have it on 4 though, not 5 as he can lose seconds through crashing. =============================== * VIII. Seoul * =============================== Laps: 113 Pit Stops: 6 Number of laps per pit stop: 16 Average A-Spec time between Pit Stop: 00:13:30:000 Average B-Spec time between Pit Stop: 00:04:50:000 Average A-Spec Lap: 00:00:46:000 Average B-Spec Lap: 00:00:16:000 A-Spec Completion Time: 01:32:17:000 B-Spec Completion Time: 00:32:56:000 B-Spec Speed: 4 Overtake: On Other Advice: Nice and simple one again, A-Spec should be fine, just watch out for those turns at high speeds. B-Spec should fine. =============================== * IX. Infineon Raceway * =============================== Laps: 76 Pit Stops: 9 Number of laps per pit stop: 7 (avg is 7 some can be done in 8) Average A-Spec time between Pit Stop: 00:09:46:000 Average B-Spec time between Pit Stop: 00:03:33:000 Average A-Spec Lap: 00:01:19:000 Average B-Spec Lap: 00:00:26:000 A-Spec Completion Time: 01:41:31:000 B-Spec Completion Time: 00:34:52:000 B-Spec Speed: 4 Overtake: On Other Advice: For some, A-Spec can be difficult as it can sometimes be hard to keep the car on the road at the high speeds and bending roads, if your good at this course though, by all means do it. B-Spec should be fine again. =============================== * X. Laguna Seca * =============================== Laps: 85 Pit Stops: 8 Number of laps per pit stop: 10/11 Average A-Spec time between Pit Stop: 00:14:36:000 Average B-Spec time between Pit Stop: 00:05:20:000 Average A-Spec Lap: 00:01:12:00 Average B-Spec Lap: 00:00:24:00 A-Spec Completion Time: 01:49:00:000 B-Spec Completion Time: 00:41:37:000 B-Spec Speed: 2/3/4 Overtake: On Other Advice: A decievingly difficult track for both A-Spec and B-Spec. For A-Spec, you must get the cornering right, you must get the accelerating, decelerating and braking times all right otherwise you could find yourself off the beaten track losing 10 seconds. For B-Spec you must keep an eye on the race at all times. All the drivers, not just Bob, tend to come off the track on the second before last turn before the pit straight. This means you can possibly lose 10 seconds and a lead before you know it. What I would recommend is doing speed 4 up until the downhill chicane then put it to 3 just before that. After the chicane put it down to 2 on the corner I mentioned above then up to 5 for the straight and 4 for the bit after the straight up till the chicane. I wouldn't recommend B-Spec for anyone who has under 6000 B-Spec pts. =============================== * XI. Twin Ring Motegi Road * =============================== Laps: 64 Pit Stops: 7 Number of laps per pit stop: 8 Average A-Spec time between Pit Stop: 00:12:11:000 Average B-Spec time between Pit Stop: 00:04:04:000 Average A-Spec Lap: 00:01:33:000 Average B-Spec Lap: 00:00:30:500 A-Spec Completion Time: 01:42:07:000 B-Spec Completion Time: 00:37:04:000 B-Spec Speed: 4 Overtake: On Other Advice: A fairly easy B-Spec race after the previous one, however it can be quite a difficult A-Spec race with the long straights and turns. It all depends if you brake in the right places or not. Nevertheless, a relativly simple race... Next up, the Nurb XD... =============================== * XII. Nurburgring * =============================== Laps: 15 Pit Stops: 7 Number of laps per pit stop: 2 Average A-Spec time between Pit Stop: 00:12:18:000 Average B-Spec time between Pit Stop: 00:04:32:000 Average A-Spec Lap: 00:06:00:000 Average B-Spec Lap: 00:05:45:000 Thanks to ZechsXWynd A-Spec Completion Time: 01:33:35:000 B-Spec Completion Time: 00:34:14:000 B-Spec Speed: 2/3/4/5 Overtake: On Other Advice: Meh....this was the race that ruined my 100% win record. First things first, I suck at the Nurb' in high speed cars, put me in a touring car or anything else and I'll be fine but when it comes to super cars and F1 cars etc I just can't keep control of 'em down the long winding straights and heavy braking turns so A-Spec was out the window for me. By all means if your a Nurb' fanatic or just a bloody good driver, take the task on. Otherwise, if your like me, opt for the B-Spec option. Now B-Spec still won't pull out the stops. If your driver is undertrained then I can't guarentee you a trophy! In my race I was quite lucky. I was 40 seconds behind sitting in 4th place. I pitted in on lap 12, like you do every two laps, then, instead of pitting in on lap 14, I pitted in again on lap 13. This meant on lap 14 when everyone was pitting in (and when I should have also been pitting in) I could hopefully move up some places, which I did. I managed to get up to just behind 2nd. On the slight hairpin turn around 5km in, (that's Aremberg for 'ring enthusiasts) 1st and 2nd went flying off the circuit so I managed to gain about a 7 second lead. Unfortunatly (due switching between 4 and 5 speeds trying to keep my lead with fast burning tyres) I came off the road down the straight but in the end managed to scrape 2nd place. This race is hard due to your tyres being nearly red about half way through the second lap and ending up losing so much time skidding off the road. You are faced with a tough desicion, race on speed 1 and lose time or race on speed 4 trying to keep up and lose time through going off the road. What I did for some races was do the first lap on speed 4 then the next lap on speed 2 or 3 depending on how far I was behind. In the end it all depends on luck in the fact sometimes you could do two laps on speed 4 with red tyres and not come off the road, other times you'll spend more time off than on. All I can say is race it on A-Spec and win yourself, train your B-Spec driver up and hope he stays on the road with Red tyres or take 2nd or 3rd place like I did. Anyway, a slightly easier next race. ******************************************************************************* \ / / James Pickering says: \ \ / / "I thought I’d just mention a way of winning the Nurburgring Race using B \ \ spec by pitting every lap. I know it sounds a bit strange but you easily / / make up the time on the other cars as they lose so much time spinning of \ \ and slowing down to conserve their tyres. / / \ \ You just need to make sure you have your suspension settings quite soft and / / your final gear ratio lengthened a bit and your b spec driver should be able\ \ to make up the time lost (about 30s every 2 laps). Or at least this worked / / on the PAL version. Also after the first lap select refuel when you (even \ \ though you don’t need to) just to see how much fuel is used per lap. Then / / don’t refuel until the tank is quite low and then only refuel enough to get \ \ round once." / / \ ******************************************************************************* =============================== * XIII. El Capitan * =============================== Laps: 64 Pit Stops: 10 Number of laps per pit stop: 6 Average A-Spec time between Pit Stop: 00:08:30:000 Average B-Spec time between Pit Stop: 00:02:48:000 Average A-Spec Lap: 00:01:25:000 Average B-Spec Lap: 00:00:28:000 A-Spec Completion Time: 01:35:14:000 B-Spec Completion Time: 00:35:30:000 B-Spec Speed: 4 Overtake: On Other Advice: After the disaster that is the Nurb', you get a break on El Capitan. This is one of my favourite A-Spec circuits, don't know why just is so A-Spec should be fine just avoid the sand. B-Spec should be fine also. =============================== * XIV. Fuji Speedway 2005 * =============================== Laps: 67 Pit Stops: 7 Number of laps per pit stop: 9 Average A-Spec time between Pit Stop: 00:12:46:000 Average B-Spec time between Pit Stop: 00:04:28:000 Average A-Spec Lap: 00:01:26:000 Average B-Spec Lap: 00:00:28:000 A-Spec Completion Time: 01:39:25:000 B-Spec Completion Time: 00:37:00:000 B-Spec Speed: 4 Overtake: On Other Advice: This can be, for some, a difficult one to A-Spec due to how tight the corners are, if you're familiar with the track though and you watch where you accelerate, you can do this easy. For B-Spec Bob'll be fine. =============================== * XV. Suzuka * =============================== Laps: 53 Pit Stops: 7 Number of laps per pit stop: 7 Average A-Spec time between Pit Stop: 00:12:25:000 Average B-Spec time between Pit Stop: 00:04:00:000 Average A-Spec Lap: 00:01:41:000 Average B-Spec Lap: 00:00:33:500 A-Spec Completion Time: 01:33:20:000 B-Spec Completion Time: 00:33:46:000 B-Spec Speed: 2/4/5 Overtake: On Other Advice: The third of the possible nightmare races (Sarthe being the first, Nurburgring the second) For B-Specers you're gonna have to babysit it all the way through as to win you will have to change speeds. Start the race at speed 4. When you get up to the first 90 degree turn slip it down to 2, with that cleared whack it up to 5 until you reach the chicane, put it down to 2 just before here then back up to 4. Repeat for 53 laps and stir thoroughly afterwards :P Otherwise if you have it on 4 or even 3 throughout the race, there are 3 possible points where your car can be in the dirt. The first time I done the race it took me a few goes to master the speed changes, you can lose up to 40 seconds if you get a bad lap. A-Specers, just slow down at the points I mentioned above and you'll be fine. Both A-Spec and B-Spec can be possibly disasterous just slow down and you'll be fine. =============================================================================== * * * 7. Frequently Asked Questions * * * =============================================================================== 1. Q. What do I win from doing this huge Extreme Event? A. You win the Mercedes Sauber C 9 Race Car '89, here is a picture of the one I won: http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y294/Psycho_Monkey/IMG0009.jpg 2. Q. What tip would you say is most important for me to win this event? A. Qualify. Simple. It gives you a great advantage starting number one on grid. A few minutes of your time will help greatly. Just qualify. 3. Q. Can I buy tyres for my F1 car as on the Nurb' they're just too soft? A. Nope, a bummer I know. See above for Nurb' tips. 4. Q. How do I unlock the Formula GT World Championship? A. You have to unlock the Extreme Event. To do this you must get Gold in all Beginner and Professional races. =============================================================================== * * * 8. Contributing to my guide * * * =============================================================================== Gamefaqs.com doesn't just exist through sponsorship, it exists through FAQS, which are contributed by users. This guide, as most are on gamefaqs.com, is similar to the website as a whole, it exists through people contributing. I would like people to contribute to my guide, whether it is correcting spellings, answering my requests or in any other way. You will be fully credited in the section below and would be helping me greatly. At this update I need people to submit a few times for me, just to varify my results etc. I need:- Average A-Spec Lap on Tokyo R246 in Polyphony Digital Formula Racing Car Average A-Spec Lap on Twin Ring Motegi SS in Polyphony Digital Formula Racing Car See the Contact Information Section below for more details. In addition, if you have any suggestions, strategys or tips or anything of that kind, feel free to email them to me. =============================================================================== * * * 9. Special Thanks / Credits * * * * * =============================================================================== Here I would like to thank some people who helped me during the game and helped make this FAQ possible. Me for doing the Championship several times and for being bothered to write this guide. James Pickering for his email and tips mindlessoath for his tips and constructive criticism ZechsXWynd for Nurburgring times Pete Whitmarsh for Sarthe Strategy GameFaqs for publishing my In-Depth FAQ CjayC for running Gamefaqs The message boards for helping me those few times I got a little stuck Lastly, Polyphony and Sony for this great game =============================================================================== * * * 10. Contact Information * * * =============================================================================== If you would like to contact me regarding corrections, questions, comments, or clarifications, please send them to: alexyoung27@msn.com Make sure you include GT4 some where in the subject bit, so I dont mistake it for junk mail If it is a question you are asking, make sure I haven't answered it some where in the FAQ If you feel like flaming me, by all means do, I love a good laugh. I will try to reply as soon as possible This document is Copyright (c) 2005 Alexander Young