🚦CARNAGE! BATTLES! VICTORY! Gran Turismo South Africa leaves Sainte-Croix in Uproar! 🚦

The Gran Turismo South Africa is fully underway, and with the completion of Race 2 over the past week, spectators and fans alike, are left questioning, WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN NEXT?

In a stunning display of speed, skill, and sheer determination, the Gran Turismo 7 South Africa Drivers descended upon the legendary Circuit de Sainte Croix. These fearless competitors tamed what is indisputably the wildest beast in the current iteration of Gran Turismo 7: the notorious 90s F1-inspired Gran Turismo F3500 race cars.

Glistening in the sunlight, these racing marvels commanded both awe and terror as they roared through the 2-minute lap around the unforgiving A-layout of Circuit de Sainte Croix. With every twist, turn, and perilous straight, the drivers fought tooth and nail to keep their mechanical thoroughbreds on the track, lest they become intimately acquainted with the track's treacherous edges.

The clash between man and machine reached fever pitch as the drivers pushed the boundaries of their skill and their nerve. Those who mastered the tempestuous F3500s emerged victorious, leaving the circuit with the spoils of glory and triumph. Meanwhile, others found themselves humbled, their ambitions thwarted by the relentless track, forced to re-evaluate their strategies as the 12-race season forged ahead.

It was a day of high drama and scintillating action, where the distinction between legends and those who must try again was forged on the hallowed asphalt of Sainte Croix.

Nonetheless, an epic day of racing, which saw Serious_SAM_ZA take top honours in Pool 1 after a masterclass strategy, ensured he gained the advantage over his competitors to get the win.

During the race, viewable on GTSA Youtube Channel , a hard charging SMP3Pro was seen on a last stint charge through the field with many pinning him down as the favourite to win.
Emerging in the last stage of the race with only a +/- 6 second gap to the leader and one car between him and Serious_Sam, Race Engineer gave the driver all clear to go hunting.
Unfortunately, the additional power was slightly to overwhelming, in an already powerful vehicle, and saw the charge come to an end as he nursed the vehicle over the finish line, in P4.

We've also been afford the opportunity this week, to have received a Highlights package of all Pool races, which are viewable below.

Let us know what you think, as the GTSA community

- *Pool 1*: [Race Highlights](https://2ly.link/24leP)

- *Pool 2*: [Race Highlights](https://2ly.link/24leQ)

- *Pool 3*: [Race Highlights](https://2ly.link/24leS)

- *Pool 4*: [Race Highlights](https://2ly.link/24leT)

- *Pool 5*: [Race Highlights](https://2ly.link/24leU)

- *Pool 6/7*: [Race Highlights](https://2ly.link/24leV)

The Latest POINT STANDINGS and POOLS for Race 3 are AVAILABLE HERE!

There is no rivalries anymore. Everything is fine. Race 3 this Thursday

As was seen in Discord channels earlier in the week, drivers were seen questioning some of the reports results on race etiquette.

With some favourable and unfavourable rulings on Race etiquette, coming out of the Stewards office in the past week, drivers find themselves being put on the right course for the roads ahead.

GTSA Rules Handbook

GTSA Penalty Guidelines

In addition to the offtrack news! A rumoured Seismic Event has been doing the rounds in the past week that has finally come to light.

On Friday 28th February 2025, GTSA Admin Steven Berry held a Press Conference, in which was announced that the 3rd Race, scheduled to have taken place at the Tokyo Expressway East Outer Layout, is unfortunately CANCELLED!

The Mega City experienced a series of Earthquakes ranging between 1.0 - 3.5 on the Berry Scale, forcing the event to have been cancelled.
Fortunately, the Japanese government has offered the Suzuka Circuit, with the approval of Honda Racing, for Round 3 to continue.

The blip in the calendar has put all teams and drivers Logistics Departments in a round the clock frenzy, getting the teams, engineers, drivers and cars to the new venue at short notice.

RACE CALENDAR

In other news! (YES THERE'S MORE)

Gran Turismo 7 Had a Recent Update, which saw some interesting cars released along with system update patches and updated game patches

Gran Turismo 7 Update

A new Gran Turismo 7 Hot Lap event is available on ACGL website which will run for a full week.
Drivers simply need to Sign Up to ACGL, Sign up to the GT 7 Event and set their best Daily Race Lap Time in the game under Qualifying mode, and post their lap onto the ACGL Website, for more information view the ACGL GT7 HOTLAP SHOWDOWN

For those who require a bit extra assistance CLICK HERE

A Motorsport South Africa Festival has also been announced to take place on the 9th of March 2025
Drivers interested in the eSports competition will have the oppotuniry to compete in various titles, winners of which will have the opportunity to take part in the FIA Motorsport Games being held later this year in Europe.

For those wishing for further information, visit the MSA SIM RACING eSPORTS DISCORD

And FINALLY!
For the residents of the Cape Town and Western Cape members, there is a Meet and Greet event scheduled for drivers, should the wish to attend, at this weekends Extreme Festival at Killarney Race track

Come through, and settle your disputes with your favourite and least favourite drivers, in person!

As the season unfolds, more and more thrills and spills will come to light, and we will be here for it!

Don't forget to catch all the Racing Action on the Gran Turismo SA Youtube Channel

Keep Up to date by visiting the Gran Turismo SA Website and following the inside scoop on the drivers via our GTSA Discord

 

Blogpost by Murray Stalker