GT7 Takes Us Back to 1952 with the Mercedes-Benz 300 SL at Big Willow

And yet, after sitting in my bucket seat for almost 10 hours, I also found myself eager for virtual racing. I knew the latest Online Time Trial for Gran Turismo was live, but I hadn't checked it yet. When I powered up my PS5 console today, I faced the harsh reality of my previous in-game testing. I had spent all my money fiddling with the Fiat 500 F and the 1971 Ford Mustang Mach 1.

At least the latter proved quite a capable machine, even without any boost. Seeing that my bank account only had around 16,000 credits in it was a daunting perspective. And I had completely forgotten about my upcoming Time Trial reward. It seems my fast lap at Spa wasn't half bad. 2:22.085 I was in the Top 21,000 players in the world when I wrote the story almost two weeks ago.

I ended up taking P 50,321 out of a total of 170,000 competitors and the Silver Record Reward worth one million credits. That's enough virtual currency for a line-up of three cool cars. But I didn't expect I'd be able to get anything from Legend Cars.

Testing New Cars

When I spotted the 1970 Plymouth Superbird, I knew I had to add it to my collection. At 402,000 credits, it wasn't cheap, but it was not nearly as expensive as the Sauber Mercedes C9 or the Ford GT40 '66. Rocking a 426 ci (7.0-liter) HEMI V8 engine means you've got access to 425 bhp, which must have felt mindblowing half a century ago.

But this is still an old vehicle: it's RWD, it weighs 3870 lbs (1755 kg), and it uses a sluggish 4-speed gearbox. I picked Willow Springs International Raceway for my test session, as I knew this would be the perfect time to practice for the Online Time Trial. I didn't think challenging Big Willow in a car this size would be easy, but I was excited to try anyway. Using the controller just complicates things further, as you can't be as precise with your inputs.

The Superbird is a big brute, and I could barely hit 124 mph (200 kph). It struck me with plenty of body roll and excessive wheelspin. I wouldn't call it an ideal time attack car, at least not by modern standards. I still had fun with it, even though it took me 1:45.982 to run the full 2.45-mile (3,951-meter) long layout. I thought I'd go all-American on this one, but I went for something with more potential from the Used Car Lot. I'd buy the 2002 Dodge Viper GTS in a heartbeat if I had the chance, and it felt like the best option for this test.

I paid 105,600 credits for it, leading to a much better credit-to-horsepower ratio than the classic Muscle Car. The 8.0-liter V10 sounds great, even with no upgrades. While you'd think the Viper is a car that always tries to kill you, it's much more stable than the Superbird. After just two laps, my record was ten seconds faster by comparison: 1:34.556.

While browsing Brand Central, I spotted Garage RCR and their tricked-out Honda Civic EG. K-Swap the world has been a trend for many years, even when this vehicle showed up at the 2017 SEMA Show. Thanks to a turbocharger, performance levels are now up to almost 400 hp, which is pretty spectacular for a vehicle that weighs 2235 lbs (1014 kg).

I hit 143 mph (230 kph) on the main straight and was quickly surprised at how capable the brake setup was. The setup is perfect for this sort of event, and I almost didn't notice any understeer. On my first lap, I stopped the clock at 1:32.766. I felt ready for the big step.

Big Willow Time Trial

Going into this test, I didn't have much experience with Willow Springs Raceway. I've seen plenty of videos from this venue but have rarely tested here. The latest Online Time Trial in Gran Turismo 7 takes us back to 1952 (one year before the track even opened), as you'll drive the Mercedes-Benz 300 SL (W194). It's one of the most expensive cars in the game, and for good reason.

You shouldn't underestimate this Le Mans winner. Even with 178 bhp on tap, it's still pretty fast around the corners. I felt plenty of oversteer using the controller, but it was fun countersteering my way out of it on several occasions. Lap after lap, I discovered you don't need to brake for some corners. Going through The Sweeper flat out in fourth almost felt suicidal at first, but it's all good as long as you feed the car gentle inputs.

I tried using the same tactic through Rabbit's Ear, but I ultimately felt that third gear makes much more sense if you don't want to wash out. On my sixth lap, I stopped the watch at 1:41.993. That's not good enough for bronze (you'll need a 1:41.956 for that), not to mention the Silver or Gold Record Rewards. I switched to the VR2/Logitech G29 setup for increased precision.

Once "inside" the car, it all looks very cozy in there. I had never noticed the strange gearshift position before, and seeing the lap belts made me smile. All the "is this a drift car in disguise" feelings faded once I could use the steering wheel, and the old Mercedes was more planted this time. On my first attempt, I already ran a fast lap of 1:39.183.

Hitting 202 kph on my next session helped me improve to 1:38.622. Several competitors are now in the 1:32 region, which almost sounds impossible. But that proves I still have much work to do to surpass being an "average" driver. Thankfully, you can always watch a tutorial if you want two million more credits for your bank account. Good luck using the knowledge to your benefit!