The opening round of the "Gran Turismo World Series 2025" (hereinafter, GTWS2025) was held in London on Saturday, June 7, 2025.
This event brought together top drivers from around the world, representing the e-motorsports community, to compete in the highest-level battles.
Furthermore, a surprise announcement was made regarding the addition of a new sports car.
"Gran Turismo World Series 2025" Held in London for the First Time
The GTWS is an official world championship organized by Sony Interactive Entertainment and Polyphony Digital. The 2025 season will be held in four cities around the world:
- London: Saturday, June 7, 2025
- Berlin: Saturday, September 20, 2025
- Los Angeles: Saturday, November 8, 2025
- Fukuoka: Saturday, December 20, and Sunday, December 21, 2025
This is the first time the GTWS has been held in London.
At this event, the first London host for the series, two types of races were held: the "Manufacturers Cup," where automobile manufacturers compete, and the "Nations Cup," where national and regional representatives vie for victory.
Drivers selected from around the world gathered, consisting of elite players who won the online qualifiers and seeded players from the previous year's top finishers.
Collaboration with Xiaomi's Sports Car "SU7 Ultra" Announced
At the beginning of the event, a partnership with Xiaomi, a smart device manufacturer that now also produces EVs, was announced.
Currently, Xiaomi sells three EV models, and among them, the sports car type "Xiaomi SU7 Ultra" will appear in Gran Turismo 7 in the future.
It is scheduled to be added in a future update, but the timing is still unknown.
Once available, players will be able to purchase the "SU7 Ultra" using their in-game credits.
Kazunori Yamauchi, founder and representative of Polyphony Digital, stated that "Xiaomi and our approach to development have a lot in common," and expressed his enthusiasm not only for the introduction of the "SU7 Ultra" but also for collaboration with Xiaomi on Vision Gran Turismo, and even for the introduction of other Xiaomi cars, such as the luxury SUV "YU7."
Xiaomi launched its first EV in China in March 2024 and is considering expanding into the global market by 2027.
To briefly introduce the "SU7 Ultra," its output from three motors is up to 1,548 horsepower, accelerating from 0-100km/h in just 1.97 seconds, and reaching a top speed of 350km/h.
It is equipped with a CATL 93.7kWh battery, giving it a CLTC range of approximately 391 miles (about 630km).
It incorporates numerous cutting-edge technologies, including carbon-ceramic brakes, active aero, and advanced driver-assistance systems.
Just recently, it set a world-record lap time (EV) of 7 minutes and 4.957 seconds at the Nürburgring in Germany.
The moment the record was achieved can also be seen on YouTube.
GTWS2025 London and Race Format
The Manufacturers Cup saw representatives from the Asia and Oceania regions competing on behalf of their respective manufacturers, with 12 brands including Toyota, Mazda, BMW, and Lexus competing.
Each team had three members, and the race was expected to showcase unique regional strategies and driving styles, characteristic of Gran Turismo.
Notably, all 12 participating drivers in this event were Japanese.
The Nations Cup featured past champions such as reigning champion Takuma Miyazono, Kylian Drumont, and Jose Serrano.
Challengers included strong European contender Thomas Labouteley, South American racer Angel Inostroza, and Canadian rising star Samuel Cardinal.
High-level battles transcending generations and regions unfolded.
Live Streaming Worldwide
The Television Centre, the venue, is a landmark in West London and easily accessible, located right in front of a London Underground station.
Tickets for in-person viewing sold out on the same day, and enthusiastic fans and media gathered at the venue.
The event was live-streamed in multiple languages, including Japanese, on YouTube and other platforms, with live commentary on the intense battles.
Fans worldwide watched the exciting competition in real-time.
Manufacturers Cup: Subaru's Miyazono Showcases His Skill as 2024 Nations Cup Champion
The Manufacturers Cup was highly exciting, being a battle between Japanese drivers.
From the start of the race, BMW (Seiya Suzuki) took pole position and led.
Subaru (Takuma Miyazono) started in second place and pursued.
In the middle stages, Miyazono skillfully managed his tires and consistently posted stable lap times, closing the gap with BMW through pit strategy.
Towards the end, both engaged in an intense battle, with Takuma Miyazono overtaking BMW in the final stint to take the lead.
The close fight continued until just before the finish line, but Takuma Miyazono held his lead and won.
BMW finished in a close second place, just 0.3 seconds behind, and Mazda (Ryota Kokubun) finished third.
Nations Cup: Spanish Team's Coordination and Strategy Excel, Other Nations Struggle to Catch Up
The Nations Cup this year saw the introduction of a seeded entry system, resulting in an even higher level of competition than usual.
From qualifying, the Spanish duo of Jose Serrano and Pol Urra dominated the race, leading from the start of the final.
Both were also members of the winning Nations Cup team in 2023, and their coordination allowed them to pull away from other cars.
In the early chaos, multiple cars collided, causing upsets such as Brazil's Adriano Carrazza dropping significantly in position.
Both Spanish drivers utilized slipstreams and battery power to extend their lead over the trailing cars.
They maintained a stable pace and continued to contend for the top position.
Towards the end, Pol Urra briefly took the lead, but Jose Serrano regained it on the final lap.
The battle remained close through the final chicane, but Jose Serrano held his lead and won.
Valerio Gallo of Italy finished in third place.
A Race That Shows the Future of e-Motorsports
The Gran Turismo World Series continues to present the future of e-motorsports, going beyond just a gaming tournament.
The London event served as a symbol of this, and great expectations are placed on the upcoming battles in Berlin, Los Angeles, and Fukuoka.
Gran Turismo's evolution, transcending the boundaries of esports and real motorsport, will continue to thrill fans worldwide in 2025.
▼Photo & Written by Yasuhiro Yamane
Blog: http://www.hkyamane.com/
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