Gran Turismo 6 Goodwood Hill Climb course unveiled

Most people who love Gran Turismo love cars and so most of you, especially those in the UK, will be familiar with the Goodwood Festival of Speed. Founded 20 years ago by the Earl of March on his family’s beautiful Goodwood estate in West Sussex, England (www.goodwood.com), it attracts over 185,000 people.

At the centre of it all is the now-famous Hill Climb course that each year sees top F1 drivers, celebrities and invited guests driving up at break-neck speed in a huge variety of cars. From classic exotica and modern race cars to the latest supercars, innovations or everyday family cars – they all head ‘up the Hill’ in front of a very knowledgeable and enthusiastic crowd.

Yamauchi-san feels a great affection for the Goodwood Festival of Speed. Its setting, in front of the beautiful old home of British aristocrats, is pretty quirky and very special, but it is really the variety and range of all things automotive on display that appeals. The atmosphere – providing the British weather behaves – is amazing.

For that reason, Polyphony Digital has partnered with the 2013 Goodwood Festival of Speed (11th to 14th July) and has announced that the Goodwood Hill Climb course will feature in GT6 when it is released later this year.

Polyphony has also developed a special new GT6 demo featuring the Hill Climb and a variety of cars. Attendees at Goodwood will have the opportunity to play the demo and race ‘up the Hill’ on GT pods dotted around the Festival. In case you are going, you’ll find them at the Goodwood Road Racing Club, The Family Area and Goodwood Hotel; on the Nissan and Alfa Romeo stands; on the Mercedes-Benz, Ford and Nissan Moving Motor Show displays. There is also a chance for the drivers and media to have a go in the drivers’ club and media centre.

The target they’ll be aiming for is Nick Heidfeld’s 1999 41.6s course record, set in a Formula 1 car. After 1999 they decided to no longer record the time of the F1 cars and the motorcycles up the hill as it was getting a little too competitive!

As it stands, the demo will only be available on-site at Goodwood, and there are no plans for a wider release for the moment. But anyone wanting a flavour of GT6 can still download and play the fantastic GT6 demo that includes this year’s GT Academy qualification. It has proved very popular and is well worth having a go – especially if you fancy becoming a real racing driver.

On the subject of GT Academy and Goodwood, for UK residents attending the Festival of Speed there is a ‘wildcard’ competition on Nissan’s Moving Motor Show display. The fastest time each day on the Hill Climb demo will make it straight into the UK National Final. Other similar events are taking place across Europe so do check your local Nissan and PlayStation sites and, of course, www.facebook.com/GTAcademy for more details.

Have fun if you are going to Goodwood, and good luck if you are entering GT Academy – either via the online demo or at one of the Live Events.