It was all down to this, the final Top 24 Superstars event of Season 3 of the FIA-certified Gran Turismo Championships – the last chance to pick up crucial bonus points in the Nations Cup. With only the top three drivers from each of the European, Middle East and African nations heading to the live finals, it was do or die for many of the drivers lining up at Le Mans. The pressure was far less for Britain’s GTP_Aderrrm, over 2,000 points clear of second place and long established as the leading Brit - he was just out for glory.

With 38 corners and at over 8 miles (13 km) long, the Circuit de la Sarthe, better known as the Le Mans Circuit, presented all competitors with a complex hurdle to overcome. The futuristic prototype Group 1 cars helped to produce some blistering times early in the 15-minute Qualifying session, Hungary’s TX3_Adam18 getting to grips with car and circuit the quickest. But it was garasa-91 in the L750R Hybrid VGT who snuck into pole position with a 3:21.724, just a tenth clear of TRL_Fuvaros.

The Peugeot L750R Hybrid VGT locked out the top two positions on the grid; Nations Cup points leader GTP_Aderrrm’s Audi R18 the only non-Peugeot in the top 18. The Audi flew from the rolling start, GTP_Aderrrm stealing the lead through the first turn and immediately breaking away. Just behind, garasa-91 and TRL_Fuvaros tried to gather themselves as TRL_LIGHTNING dramatically spun as lights went out.

Le Mans is known for long straights and dramatic slipstreams, a fact the likes of JIM_Azorean_Fat took immediate advantage of to move into sixth and into the heart of the nine-driver fight for the podium. JIM_Azorean_FAT’s move was expertly timed as just behind, VP_Bellof956 and Alexony94 came together with Alexony94 coming off far worse and dropping outside the top ten. All the while GTP_Aderrrm did as he had done in the previous EMEA Top 24 Superstars races and perfectly managed his advantage at the front over garasa-91.

Soon it was TRL_Fuvaros who began to pressure GTP_Aderrrm, slipping past garasa-91 down the straight. TRL_Fuvaros’s Peugeot L750R Hybrid VGT seemed to have the advantage through the corners, GTP_Aderrrm picking up a penalty as he tried to make up time. As the mid-race pit stop approached, everyone looked certain to pit and most did, apart from GTP_Aderrrm who elected to stay out as all his rivals pitted for fuel and tyres. An 18 second lead made for a lonely lap before Britain’s GTP_Aderrrm pitted his Audi at the end of lap five.

Lengthy pit stops moved French duo Jomas_74 and RC_Atho into first and second with GTA_Tidgney in third, none of the trio having pitted at all. Behind them loomed GTP_Aderrrm with TRL_MANURODRY doing his best to close down the leading pack. The slipstream kept GTP_Aderrrm and GTA_Tidgney locked together, neither able to break away as they watched the French drivers ahead maintain their lead and shockingly continue to stay out of the pits!

Only a second split the leading three as the penultimate lap began. GTP_Aderrrm was in full control of his Audi as he dipped and weaved past the French duo, taking the lead with one and a half laps remaining. Jomas_74 and RC_Atho elected for a no-stop strategy, both moving across the track to defend from TRL_Fuvaros who had better tyres and more fuel to play with. A mistake with half a lap remaining meant TRL_Fuvaros’s second place was far from guaranteed – especially with Le Mans’ mythical straights.

Jomas_74 was able to just break the slipstream to TRL_MANURODRY in fourth, looking to keep himself out of any last-corner trouble. There was some considerable contact, but everyone avoided any major incident.

Once again, GTP_Aderrrm was simply untouchable as his Audi gamble paid off and resulted in a crushing 4.5-second lead for the Brit. Victory delivered another 9,405 points, cementing him as the highest placed driver in the EMEA Nations Cup and the leading Brit by a comfortable margin.

Behind, TRL_Fuvaros from Hungary took a lonely second place, France’s Jomas_74 able to hang on to third place but unable to mount a late challenge.

TRL_MANURODRY from Spain and pole-setter Italian garasa-91 formed the remainder of the top five and did their Nations Cup final aspirations a world of good.

The top ten was completed by RC_Atho (FRA), JIM_Azorean_Fat (POR), maatu79 (FIN), GTA_Tidgney (GBR) and Alexony94 (SPA).

With that, Season 3 of the EMEA Nations Cup comes to an exciting close and the participants in the live finals will be announced shortly. Be sure to check back to see who is representing your nation in October.