FIA clears speculation regarding relationship with Gran Turismo

FIA clears speculation regarding relationship with Gran Turismo

2019 Gran Turismo Esports Finals

The governing body of motor racing, the FIA, has previously been formally linked to the PlayStation-only video game franchise, with the Gran Turismo World Series running from 2018 through 2021.

This includes ongoing online contests as well as a few prestigious Esports championships that took place all over the world and culminated in a World Series Final.

However, after the release of the most recent Gran Turismo 7 game earlier this year, things have changed.

FS Video

The governing body name mysteriously vanished from the current championship, and it won’t be present in the newest World Series race next weekend at Red Bull’s Hangar 7 in Austria.

The upcoming Motorsport Games, which will take place in and around the Paul Ricard circuit from October 26 to 30, will feature an Esport component, and the decision to use the Assetto Corsa Competizione platform added fuel to the fire that the FIA had decided to take a different path on the gaming front.

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FIA and Gran Turismo relationship far from being over

Gran Turismo 7
Gran Turismo 7

The FIA has made it plain that the partnership with Gran Turismo is far from done in remarks made at a launch event for the Motorsport Games at the French Grand Prix on Saturday.

According to Frederic Bertrand, the FIA’s director of Formula E and Innovative Sport Activities Department, in an exclusive interview with Motorsport.com, the organisation had decided to postpone things until the GT7 platform was more stable after consulting with Gran Turismo president Kazunori Yamauchi.

When asked about the status of the FIA’s collaboration with Gran Turismo, Bertrand responded, “It’s not ended,” as Motorsport quoted. 

Bertrand stated that the FIA intended to send personnel to Salzburg next weekend’s event to assess the development of GT7 with a view to renewing the cooperation in the early months of 2023 if the game appears to be in a good enough form at this time.

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