The Gran Turismo World Series returns to Tokyo for the first time since 2019 on Saturday, September 28, 2024, as the fiercely contested series approaches the World Finals, slated for December.

The season commenced in North America on July 6 with Round 1 in Montreal, Canada. Driving for Team Lexus, the experienced Igor Fraga of Brazil claimed victory in the Manufacturers Cup, giving the Japanese car brand a great start to the season. Then, it was another series stalwart, Takuma Miyazono of Japan, who secured an impressive win in the Nations Cup race, giving him the early lead in points.

Round 2 of the series moves to Europe, where the stunning Czechia capital, Prague, will host 12 Manufacturers Cup team members and 12 Nations Cup drivers for another intense day of racing on Saturday, August 10.

Round 3 will take place in Tokyo, at the state-of-the-art THEATER MILANO-Za in the Kabukicho Tower in Shinjuku. It represents the final round before the World Finals, where the drivers will be striving to earn maximum World Series Points, ensuring fierce competition.

The Manufacturers Cup, featuring the Asia-Oceania drivers, will kick off the action at 16:00 JST, followed by the 12 Nations Cup at 19:00 local time.

The Manufacturers Cup dazzles with an array of stunning cars in Gran Turismo, spotlighting a thrilling team competition. The top 12 car makers from the online Qualifiers Series, including official partners Toyota, Genesis, and Mazda, are proudly represented. In Tokyo, team members from the Asia-Oceana Region will take part, hoping to build on the points tally secured by their teammates in Rounds 1 and 2. The points will carry into the World Finals in December, where all three drivers from each manufacturer will unite to race as a team.

The results of the 2023 World Finals shocked everyone when the dark horse, Team Nissan, emerged victorious. The consistently strong Team Mercedes-AMG claimed 2nd place, with Team Genesis securing 3rd.

In Round 1 of the 2024 season, former champion Igor Fraga of Brazil claimed victory for Team Lexus. Notably, he triumphed in a virtual version of the car he races in real-life in Japan’s Super GT series. Former Nations Cup Champion Valerio Gallo of Italty delivered an outstanding performance for Team Honda, securing 2nd place and narrowly fending off Japan’s Takuma Sasaki, who drove for Porsche.

The 2024 edition of the Nations Cup introduces an exciting new format: 12 drivers selected from the online Qualifiers Series will compete in all three Gran Turismo World Series rounds, culminating in the World Finals, with the points accumulating through the season.

Round 1 in Montreal witnessed an exceptional performance by 2020 Nations Cup Champion Takuma Miyazono, who claimed the top spot on the podium with a brilliant drive that captivated the sold-out crowd. Spanish drivers, who have dominated the Nations Cup in recent years, continued to demonstrate their prowess, with Jose Serrano and Coque López finishing in 2nd and 3rd places, respectively.

Kylian Drumont of France, who started Round 1 well, but made a costly driver error, will be looking to make amends in Rounds 2 and Round 3. Japanese driver Takuma Sasaki hopes that the home crowd will help improve upon his 4th-place finish in Round 1.

Drivers from Italy, the Netherlands, USA, Brazil, and Chile will also be looking to make their mark in Tokyo, as we march toward the World Finals.

To find out more about the Gran Turismo World Series, visit the following link:
https://www.gran-turismo.com/world/gt7/events/gtws2024/.