Laguna Seca: Turns 6-11

I am really sorry I haven't written you for too many days, but I was really wrapped up in online Car gaming at www.cargame.org.uk and www.sportigi.com. Please forgive me. Last time, we covered the half distance in Laguna Seca. We passed Andretti Hairpin, Turns 2, 3, 4 and 5. After Turn 5 comes another 6 difficult turns. Let's see more.

Again a small straight and a high-peed corner, 3^rd in a row. Enter Turn 6 hard on the gas and continue as quickly as possible for the Rahal straight. Turn 7 is more than Rahal straight resume, but be aware of Turn 8. Turn 8 is one of the challenging turns around the world and needs skill, focus and special handling. Turn 8 or "Corkscrew" consists of two small turns, 8A and 8B. "Corkscrew" is a left right "S" curve with low visibility. Brake hard just before you enter the "S". You have to keep the vehicle straight between 8A and 8B.

After Corkscrew another difficult turn in front, Turn 9. Turn in late and then use full throttle on the exit. Turn 10 is another quick turn. Full throttle here before the apex. Don't be afraid of the high speed, there is plenty of room on the left at the exit. Finally, the Turn 11 a right turn. Brake hard and accelerate as soon as possible in the long Start/Finish straight.

Gran Turismo team made a great replica of Laguna Seca. This is a "must" for anyone who desires the thrill of driving fast. Even if the driving there is on a digital world, Laguna turns me on. Learn the turns really well because you will compete in it numerous times, trying to complete the game. Good luck.

Your friend,

Thanos

PS: You can send your stories at ascoencorp@gmail.com.

Temple of speed!

I spent some days off recently playing my favourite car games. They are great. Oops, I am here to write about Gran Turismo. Today I will write for another historical circuit, Laguna Seca. Laguna Seca has eleven turns, including the famous "Corkscrew" at Turns 8A and 8B. Let's take a closer look.

You pass the finishing line and the lap starts. A few meters after you will reach a blind, full throttle corner. Try to pass curb as "gentler" as possible to be in the right form for Turn 2. Turn 2, or "The Andretti Hairpin" is a really demanding left hairpin. Brake hard and remember: stay always outside until you nearly reach halfway around the corner. It is really necessary to enter Turn 1 right. It is critical for your lap time.

After Turn 2, you have low speed. Accelerate and enter Turn 3 hitting the carb. After Turn 3 a small straight is in front of you. Full throttle here, break for less than a second and enter the quick Turn 4. Another small straight ahead and continue to push the gas hard. Turn 5 is another fast corner, but attention here is needed. You have to pass really fast while you keep the car under control. Brake here a bit earlier and accelerate at the exit.

I will be back soon with the remaining turns of Laguna. Good luck.

Your friend,

Thanos

PS: You can send your stories at ascoencorp@gmail.com.

Suzuka: Turns 9-18

I am really sorry I haven't written you for three days, but I was really obsessed with online Car games at www.cargame.org.uk and www.sportigi.com. Earlier this week, I started a small turn by turn guide about famous Suzuka. I wrote for the first nine turns and how to survive in this really difficult environment. After Turn 9 comes Turn 10. Let's see more.

Turn 10 is the easiest turn of the round. Turn 10 is more a small straight than a turn. But don't push it. Hairpin (Turn 11) is really difficult, but it may reward you with many seconds. Prefer to spin inside in order not to lose the control of the car. Turn 12 level is the same as 10^th one, as it is a long corner.

From now on, the difficulties start. After the long corner, you have to brake and steer left, then you should accelerate again and finally brake and steer left again. A real driving nightmare! That was the Spoon curve. A big straight again and Turn 15 is a long corner like 10^th and 12^th Turns.

We head to the famous Casino Triangle, well-known as 130R. I insist, this is the hardest part of the whole game! It consists of three turns. After the straight, a hard brake as late as possibly is a must. Steer right and then accelerate for the quick, but dangerous 17 and 18 Turns. You finished this lap by heading to the Start/Finish line. Good luck.

Your friend,

Thanos

PS: You can send your stories at ascoencorp@gmail.com.

Suzuka: Steering Paradise!

In my eyes, the most historical circuits are Nurburgring, Laguna Seca and Suzuka. Grand Turismo team added all three circuits. The upcoming posts will be dedicated to these tracks, showing each turn by turn, telling small secrets to improve your times.

I will start with the most demanding one, Suzuka. Suzuka is one of the oldest and most historical tracks on Earth. This unique circuit is 5.807 km long and consists of 17 turns.

The pit straight is the fastest point of the lap. Full throttle acceleration here. Brake as late as possible. Turn 1 is now past and you drive towards 2. Take Turn 1 as fastest as possible and try to fix your line for Turn 2. Next come the three Esses. It is a flow. You have to use both brakes and throttle gently.

A mistake can be fatal and make you lose some important seconds and maybe some positions. Turn 6 is a much tighter corner, so be aware of this point. If you are more conservative keep the car locked, keeping it tight. You can also use a wider racing line, but you may face problem in Turn 7. Turn 7 is a really never-ending turn, while in Turn 8 you have to brake a little or ride softly the curbs. Don't try to go straight because it's more than sure that you will have difficulties in Turn 9, the difficult, right turn. In Turn 9 brake and take throttle at the apex. There is always a bit of oversteer here, don't worry.

In the next post I will write about the remaining Turns of Suzuka. Good luck.You can send your stories at ascoencorp@gmail.com.

Your friend,

Thanos

PS:Steal a glance my new gaming obsession

What a funny way to lose!

Hi all. Last time, I promised to narrate you a personal story. A real funny story.

All started a summer morning back in 2009. I woke up really early in the morning. At 8:30. I have returned home really late and I have slept very few hous, but I wasn't in need of some extra sleep. 2009 was the year I spent the most time playing video games. To be more accurate, 2009 was the year I simply played all day Grand Turismo. Especially, when summer came.

This morning I came to a tough decision. To try and win an 24-hours endurance race. Yes, You read correctly. 24 straight hours race! Without B-Spec help!

That was the ultimate challenge. I chose Nurburgring 24 hours race. I chose my formula car and got in. When I started, it was 9:13 o'clock. My calculations indicated that with lunch and rest breaks I would finish the race 11-12 o'clock next morning.

I started the race and from the beggining, I was first and soon I gained some serious time advantage. By the time 4 hours had already passed, I started to be ahead of my rivals by a whole lap. A whole Nurburgring lap. I lunched , I made my breaks, blah, blah..

Not to mention more info, I will launch directly when the race came in the 15^th hour. It was 3 o'clock at night. I was leading by 4 and half laps, when the first fatigue signs appeared. My eyes have turned red. But, I was really determined. At 8 o'clock, the race was in the 19^th hour and my body gave up. I closed my eyes and I felt asleep. I was 6 laps ahead of the 2^nd, in other words more or less an hour ahead. As a result, my car stopped moving. I woke up 2 hours after, losing my 1 hour advantage and being behind for about an hour. 3 Hours remained till the end and I tried to turn around the situation. I did my best, but I have lost too much time. What a stupid way to lose a race.

Despite the fact I lost 24 hours of my life, I will always remember this day and I laugh always. This is the reason, I play video game. Not for winning, but for being happy.

Stay tuned. In the following posts, I will write about some difficult circuits, guiding you to success. I am looking forward to listening from you. Have fun. See you really soon.

Your friend,

Thanos

PS: You can send your stories at ascoencorp@gmail.com.

A fresh blow in blogging!

I am Koufis Athanasios, you can call me Thanos. Nice to meet you all. I am really glad to introduce "Grand Turismo Lovers" blog to the online world of internet. As a reader, I would ask the writer "Hey you, why did you create this blog?". This is an integral question. Hmm. It is really needed to answer this folks?

I want to talk about a really beloved video game. A game, which created back in 1997 and got an average 95 out 100 in all critics it received. I am talking about Grand Turismo.

I saw a huge gap in the internet. A fabulous game like Grand Turismo has to little people actually talking about it. Have you ever noticed this? I wondered "Why?". That's the reason I will start this blog. I want to show people why I adore this underrated game.

I intend to write everything about each racing circuit and the key points of every single tournament. I will share some personal stories playing Grand Turismo, comparisons between car performance and their values and some of the stories you send to me.

A blogger is nothing without his/her audience. I wish this blog will work as a friend circle. I want to share ideas with you, listen to your unique stories, in other words to have fun all together.

Stay tuned. Next time, I will share a really funny Grand Turismo story with you. I am looking forward to listening from you. Have fun. See you really soon.

Your friend,

Thanos

PS: You can send your stories at ascoencorp@gmail.com.