Some say “all you need is love.” While love is important, it’s not just about people or animals. We can also love experiences or even objects. For many, racing is that passion.
Recently, I shared my plans to attend the Nurburgring 24-Hour Race with Team Falken Motorsports, featuring their two Porsche 911 GT3 R cars. After that, I relaxed by playing Gran Turismo 7, a favorite racing game.
I found out that the Mercedes-AMG Motorsport Virtual Championship Season One went live last Friday. This event spans multiple platforms. Players can race a 2020 Mercedes-AMG GT3 at Monza using Assetto Corsa Competizione, IRACING, Rennsport, or Gran Turismo 7.
I chose Gran Turismo 7 since it was faster to load on my new PC. If you perform well, you can win prizes such as a Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team Track Side Experience, a Mercedes-AMG Motorsport GT Track Experience, a gaming bundle, or even a high-end laptop. Details are linked at the end of this story.
Here’s a look at my practice session.
The “Red Pig” car was available at the Legend Cars dealer for 700,000 credits. I don’t often use Mercedes-Benz cars in Gran Turismo 7, but I recognized this one from the real-world Gumball 3000 rally. It has a 6.8-liter V8 engine with 422 horsepower, but it’s heavy and only has a 4-speed gearbox.
I kept the car’s original design. It reached a top speed of 149 mph (240 kph) at Monza before the chicane. However, it felt outdated. The front end was too heavy in tight corners. My best lap time was 2:17.581. At first, I thought it was slow. But it was actually 30 seconds faster than my time with the Toyota C-HR S.
Next, I decided to try other Mercedes-Benz cars I hadn’t collected yet. The 2017 GT R was priced at 184,000 credits. It was much faster than the “Red Pig.”
With 41 pages of custom designs, I chose not to make it look like a racecar. I added Race Soft tires to get a feel for it. The car hit 174 mph (280 kph) on the main straight and handled turn one easily. It still felt heavy but was better than the Red Pig. My first lap time was 1:55.071. I wondered if it could beat the GT3 car under the Balance of Performance (BoP) rules.
Then I tried the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Gr.4, costing 350,000 credits. I picked a Falken livery to preview my upcoming real-world race weekend.
This car felt more exciting because the chassis was race-ready. It produces 419 horsepower but lacks the top speed needed for Monza’s Temple of Speed. My lap time was 2:01.783. I believe I can improve, but my goal was to complete just one lap per car today. I’ll keep this car for future Gr.4 events.
Earlier today, I checked the Time Trial target. The Gold Record Reward requires a lap under 1:49.618. Completing a lap under 1:57.068 earns a Bronze Record Reward and 250,000 credits.
The fastest recorded lap is 1:46.387 by user V.Gallo. That’s incredibly fast, and I wonder how much practice I would need to match it.
The BoP rules reduce the Mercedes-AMG’s power from 614 bhp to 460 bhp and increase its weight from 1,285 kg to 1,335 kg.
I managed five laps, improving from 1:55.776 to 1:51.760. This puts me slower than about 40,000 players but faster than 31,000 others.
Despite the power loss, driving the car at Monza is thrilling. I plan to try again soon with a Logitech G29 steering wheel. I also tested the unrestricted car version and clocked a 1:46.625 on my first lap.
In a few days, I’ll get to try the whole event at the Nurburgring.
For full details on the Championship, rules, and prizes, visit the official Mercedes-AMG Motorsport website.
