AMSTERDAM, the Netherlands — In what may go down as the most memorable chapter in the storied history of the Gran Turismo World Series, the Nations Cup championship reached its dramatic conclusion today at the World Finals. The event unfolded in the picturesque Theater Amsterdam, nestled along the serene banks of the River IJ in the vibrant Houthavens district. A sold-out crowd packed the venue, witnessing a spectacle of precision, strategy, and competitiveness that will undoubtedly be etched into every person’s mind for years to come.

The Nations Cup brought together the top 12 drivers from the 2024 Online Qualifiers, all of whom had battled for championship points in three previous rounds. Here, at the World Finals, they faced three intense races where points were awarded to the top 10 finishers in each. Adding to the drama, the results of Race 1 set the grid for Race 2, which in turn determined the starting order for the Grand Final. The stakes in this last race couldn’t be higher, as double points were on offer, ensuring every driver remained in contention for the championship until the very last lap.

Heading into Amsterdam, France’s Kylian Drumont (R8G_Kylian19) stood atop the leaderboard with 11 points. Hot on his heels were Valerio Gallo of Italy (OP_BRacer), Takuma Miyazono of Japan (Kerokkuma_ej20), and Jose Serrano of Spain (TDG_JOSETE)—all three locked in a three-way tie for 2nd place with 10 points each.

With everything on the line, the drivers took to the grid for the first Semi-final race.

Race 1: Trial Mountain Circuit

The opening race of the day took place on the iconic Trial Mountain Circuit, a perennial favourite among Gran Turismo fans. For this 10-lap contest, the drivers strapped into production cars boasting tuned engines exceeding 1,000 ps. With no pit stops or tyre changes required, this contest was all about raw speed. Japan’s Takuma Miyazono sat on pole after a lightning-fast qualifying lap, flanked by Italy’s Valerio Gallo and defending Nations Cup champion Coque López of Spain (coquelopez14).

As the green flag waved, every car launched cleanly from the rolling start, with Miyazono’s Lamborghini Gallardo leading the pack through the first few corners. However, Gallo wasted no time asserting himself, blasting his Honda NSX Type R past the Lambo at 350 km/h (217 mph) on the back straight to seize the race lead. By the end of the first lap, a quartet of frontrunners had emerged, pulling away from the field. Behind Gallo and Miyazono was López’s Ferrari F40, which was locked in a fierce duel for P3 with compatriot Jose Serrano in a Mercedes-AMG GT Black Series.

By lap 4, Gallo was in a league of his own, steadily widening the gap. Meanwhile, France’s Kylian Drumont in a Toyota Supra A80 and Japan’s Takuma Sasaki (SZ_TakuAn22) piloting a Porsche 911 GT3 RS were making significant headway, climbing the running order. The spotlight, however, shifted to the battle for P2 as Serrano’s AMG muscled past Miyazono’s Gallardo through Turn 3 under the tunnel.

Further back, Dutchman Kaj de Bruin (R8G_Kajracer) overcame a shaky start to keep his Nissan Skyline GT-R R32 in the thick of the midfield scrap. On lap 6, Drumont made his move, overtaking López for P4, although by then, the top three cars were already more than four seconds ahead.

The race’s defining moment came as Serrano began reeling in Gallo’s NSX. By lap 6, the Spaniard was glued to the Italian’s rear bumper, attempting an audacious overtake on the front straight. Gallo, however, showcased nerves of steel and unparalleled defensive driving, repeatedly forcing Serrano to the outside line through the technical corners. Lap after lap, the two engaged in a high-stakes chess match, their cars mere inches apart.

In the end, Gallo held on, crossing the finish line first with Serrano’s AMG a close 2nd. Miyazono rounded out the podium, while his compatriot Sasaki delivered a gritty performance to claim P4 in his Porsche 911.

With his commanding performance, Gallo vaulted to the top of the championship standings with 22 points, followed by Serrano with 20. Miyazono sat in third with 18 points, trailed closely by Drumont at 17. The stage was set for an unforgettable showdown in the races to come.

Gran Turismo World Series 2024 World Finals - Nations Cup
Race 1 Results

Race 2: Autodromo Nazionale Monza

Race 2 was a hard-fought battle, as the drivers took on the 12-lap contest in the Gran Turismo F3500-A formula machine. Modelled after 1990s Formula 1 cars, these beasts boasted 784 ps V12 engines in chassis weighing just 505 kg (1,113 lb.). Adding to the drama, the mandatory use of both medium- and hard-compound tyres meant pit stops would play a pivotal role in the outcome.

From a standing start, the grid erupted into action as the red lights blinked off. Takuma Miyazono shot off the line like a rocket, surging past Jose Serrano and Valerio Gallo to snatch the lead into the first corner. But Gallo, ever the fighter, reclaimed the position through the sweeping Turn 3, Variante della Roggia. Behind them, fierce battles raged mid-pack before the field settled into formation by lap 3. Gallo led the field, with Miyazono, Coque López, hometown hero Kaj de Bruin, and Serrano close behind, all on the faster soft-compound tyres.

On lap 4, Miyazono capitalised on Gallo’s slipstream to surge past him on the front straight, reclaiming the lead. Moments later, de Bruin thrilled the Dutch fans by doing the same to López, taking over 3rd place. But chaos struck when Gallo made a rare mistake exiting Variante Ascari on the same lap, losing traction and dropping four positions in the blink of an eye. It was an uncharacteristic error by the veteran driver, and on his home track no less!

By lap 5, de Bruin showcased his exceptional pace, drafting past Miyazono on the back straight to seize the lead. Meanwhile, Kylian Drumont, running on medium tyres, was the first to pit, setting himself up for a blistering final stint on the softs. The chess game of strategy intensified as de Bruin and Miyazono traded the lead, with the Dutchman pitting at the end of lap 7 along with Miyazono. Serrano, however, stayed out, gambling on a bold strategy that saw him pit for medium tyres a lap later. He rejoined the race in the lead with only three laps to go, his calculated risk paying off brilliantly!

The closing laps were a showcase of grit and strategy. Drumont, now armed with fresh soft-compound Michelins, was on a tear, slicing through the field. He passed de Bruin through Curva del Serraglio, then dispatched Miyazono on the front straight, setting his sights on the race leader, Serrano. The Spaniard, running on mediums, found himself under relentless pressure as Drumont’s superior grip and pace closed the gap.

The final lap was nothing short of breathtaking, as Drumont drew level with Serrano on several occasions but couldn’t find the line to make the decisive pass. Serrano defended with all his might, forcing Drumont wide through every corner. Heading into the final turn, Drumont made one last attempt, but Serrano held firm, crossing the line for a brilliant victory!

Drumont settled for a well-deserved 2nd place, followed by Miyazono in 3rd, de Bruin in 4th, and Chilean Angel Inostroza (Veloce_Loyrot) rounding out the top five.

With the win, Serrano surged to the top of the championship standings with 32 points. Drumont and Gallo were tied for second with 27 points apiece, while Miyazono trailed closely at 26. As the championship contenders prepared for the Grand Final, the stage was set for an epic showdown to decide the 2024 Nations Cup champion.

Gran Turismo World Series 2024 World Finals - Nations Cup
Race 2 Results

Grand Final: Nürburgring 24h Layout

The Series finale was set to take place on the legendary Nürburgring, in the gruelling 24-hour layout, which merges the iconic Nordschleife with the modern Grand Prix circuit. As with every Grand Final this year, the contestants strapped themselves into the Red Bull X2019 Competition machine—the ultimate virtual race car designed without limits. Every driver was required to run all three compounds of tyres—soft, medium, and hard—forcing them to carefully time their tyre changes to maximise their chances of winning. Also, the necessity of refuelling stops, where every second counted, made pit stop strategy even more crucial.

The energy at the sold-out Theater Amsterdam was electric. Fans roared as the X2019s, each draped in the national colours of its driver, launched off the starting line like missiles. Jose Serrano of Spain made his intentions clear from the outset. He was the only driver in the top eight to begin on the grippy soft tyres, with a plan to open up a large gap early. It didn’t take long for high action to unfold, when The Flying Dutchman, Kaj de Bruin, darted past Japan’s Takuma Miyazono at the first hairpin to snatch 3rd place. Meanwhile, Robert Heck (OP_RobbyHeck), representing the U.S., showcased his aggressive approach, moving up the running order to 5th place, taking full advantage of his soft-compound Michelins.

As the drivers attacked the treacherous 25.38-kilometre (15.77-mile) circuit, they guided their superfast machines through its 170 corners with precision. Serrano’s daring strategy appeared to be paying off, for he had built a commanding 5.7-second lead by the end of the first lap, setting an astonishing time of 6 minutes 24 seconds—nearly 240 km/h (150 mph) on average—obliterating the real-life lap record of 8 minutes.

Spaniard Coque López was the first to pit, swapping his sluggish hard-compound tyres for the softs, knowing he’d only enjoy their peak performance for two laps before wear set in. Serrano made his move at the end of lap 2, pitting for fuel and switching to the mediums, leaving the slower hard-compounds for the final stint—yet another calculated risk for the Spaniard. Italy’s Valerio Gallo took a different approach, saving his softs for a late-race charge, betting everything on a blistering final stint.

By lap 3, the front-runners—Drumont, de Bruin, and Miyazono—filed into the pits, each following their own unique strategy. Drumont and de Bruin opted for soft tyres to maximise speed in the next stint, while Miyazono gambled with hard-compounds, preserving his fastest Michelins for a late-race blast to the finish. True to plan, Drumont and de Bruin flew past Miyazono not long after exiting the pits, but the Japanese ace wasn’t fazed. He simply clung to their tail, determined to stay within striking distance and exploit any mistakes.

With several different strategies at play, the outcome of the race was now impossible to predict!

As the contest reached its midpoint, Serrano faced his first real challenge. While defending his position, a driver error caused him to nudge Heck off the racing line, earning him a one-second penalty. This allowed the gap between Serrano and Drumont—who was closing in relentlessly—to shrink to just 2.1 seconds.

Meanwhile, Gallo was mounting an unrelenting charge on his medium-compound tyres, climbing into 5th place and closing the distance to 4th place Miyazono to just six seconds. The Japanese and Italian drivers were the only ones in the top five still holding their trump card—the fast soft-compound tyres—waiting for them at the end of the race to unleash their speed. Then came another twist to the drama: Serrano, while pushing the limits, incurred yet another penalty, this time for exceeding track limits, surrendering the lead to Drumont.

With the final laps approaching, the leading contenders dove into the pits for fresh tyres and a last refill of fuel. De Bruin, having conserved fuel throughout the race, took on several litres less than his rivals, allowing him to shave more than three seconds off his pit time. This catapulted him back onto the track in P1.

The order for the final sprint to the chequered flag was now set: De Bruin (hard compound), Drumont (hard compound), Serrano (hard compound), followed by Miyazono and Gallo, both on softs and 9.7 seconds behind. An epic finish was inevitable!

As the race resumed, Miyazono and Gallo began their assault, carving into the leaders’ advantage like wolves on the prowl. As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting the Nürburgring into darkness, sparks flew from the leading cars’ skid blocks like fireworks, indicating to Miyazono and Gallo that the leaders were just within reach. By the halfway mark of the penultimate lap, the gap between 4th and 5th was down to five seconds… then four seconds. And, Gallo, showing incredible pace, was closing in on Miyazono, reducing the space between them to less than two seconds.

Hardly a sound came from the crowd, their collective breath held as their gaze was fixated on the monitors, their bodies perched on the edge of their seats, captivated by the unfolding drama.

Soon after lap 6, Miyazono finally caught Serrano, passing him through the Turn 2 hairpin, while Gallo found himself bottled up behind the Spanish driver in the technical midsection of the track. Serrano, in a desperate bid to secure P3 and the series championship, mounted an all-out defence, thwarting Gallo’s every attempt to pass.

This allowed Miyazono to shift his focus to the leaders ahead. He wasted no time seizing his first victim, taking the inside line through the Turn 3 chicane, overtaking the Frenchman with relative ease.

A quarter lap later, de Bruin, clinging to a slender four-second lead, saw Miyazono’s headlights growing larger and brighter in his mirrors. Meanwhile, Gallo, still trapped behind Serrano, could only watch as his chance for a podium began to slip away.

With the X2019’s headlights piercing the shadows, the final lap became a frantic chase. As the leaders hit the back straight, Miyazono sailed past de Bruin to claim the overall race lead. With the championship now firmly in his grasp, the real battle turned to the fight for 2nd and 3rd place.

Then, the unimaginable happened. De Bruin, having pushed his fuel-saving strategy to the brink, ran out of gas, his car suddenly decelerating on the straight! Drumont, caught off guard, clipped the Dutchman but managed to keep control of his car. Gallo, however, wasn’t as fortunate. His vehicle careened into the wall, while Serrano miraculously threaded the needle to avoid disaster.

Up ahead, Takuma Miyazono crossed the finish line, delivering a flawless performance in one of the most intense races of the season and claiming his second Nations Cup title! Kylian Drumont secured a hard-fought 2nd place, while Kaj de Bruin, resilient under pressure, held on for 3rd. It was a crushing outcome for 4th place finisher Valerio Gallo, whose pace on the track this day was perhaps faster than anyone.

Understandably, there were tears of joy and tears of heartbreak among the drivers, with more than a few eyes in the audience glistening with emotion. It was a fitting end to an unforgettable season, one that showcased a masterclass in strategy, skill, and the unpredictable magic of racing!

When all the dust had settled, Takuma Miyazono emerged victorious with 50 points in the 2024 Nations Cup championship, followed closely by Kylian Drumont with 47. Jose Serrano secured 3rd place with 42 points, narrowly edging out Valerio Gallo, who finished with 41. Kaj de Bruin rounded out the top five with a commendable 33 points.

The 2024 Nations Cup champion Takuma Miyazono said after the race: “I was more nervous at the end of this race than when I won in Sydney four years ago. I performed well in the preliminary rounds, and in the Grand Final, I felt confident in my car setup and tyre strategy. Choosing medium-compound tyres early and switching to hards paid off. When I saw Kylian and Kaj opt for softs mid-race, I knew I had a chance to win.”

Gran Turismo World Series 2024 World Finals - Nations Cup
Grand Final Results