2023 marks the return of Gran Turismo’s World Series esports tournament.

The Gran Turismo World Series Esports Competitions Return with Significant Changes

Get ready to step into the world of sim racing, as the popular platform has announced its two main World Series Esports competitions – the Nations Cup and Manufacturers Cup will be back this year. However, there are significant changes that will make it more exciting than ever before.

Last season’s grand finale in Monaco was a huge success, but now it’s time for something new. Anyone who owns a PlayStation 4 or PlayStation 5 and a copy of Gran Turismo 7 can participate by entering in-game qualification rounds. The top players will have the chance to go head-to-head against established World Series drivers at an August Showdown event held on August 11-12 in Amsterdam.

Apart from this, there is no information available about where the final competition would take place for this year’s championships.

New Format for Nations Cup

This year’s championship introduces some major changes to keep things fresh and engaging. One significant change is that Nations Cup format will no longer determine only the quickest country; instead, it’ll be transformed into a team-based event. The solo competition that previously determined each nation’s fastest GT driver is changing from one-on-one bouts to trio line-up format for each team member representing their home country.

Manufacturers Cup Introduces Trio Line-Up Format Too!

In contrast, Manufacturer cup retains its overall three-driver per squad rule yet brings another surprise element: A trio line-up feature introduced earlier in Nation cups also being used here. Teams comprising reigning finalists paired up with emerging players from open qualifications sessions form regional teams participating at Showdowns events across Amsterdam next month. This follows seven qualifying rounds online until July1st preceding local showdown fixtures starting within GT Sport games.

Toyota Gazoo Racing GT Cup

Adding to the excitement is the final round of Toyota Gazoo Racing GT Cup featuring qualifying rounds already underway. The competition will also take place in December, along with World Series Championship events.

Last year’s winners were Igor Fraga for Toyota and Coque López from Spain who won Nations Cup while Subaru bagged the Manufacturer’s cup title. It’s important to note that Gran Turismo World Series is separate from the upcoming Olympic Motor Sport competition, even though both use Gran Turismo 7 game, which has been developed by Polyphony Digital in collaboration with IOC and FIA.