New GT7 Time Trials Will Have You Feeling Like Anakin Skywalker

My life revolves around cars, even though I have a few hobbies like astronomy and music that might suggest otherwise. Since taking on Gran Turismo 7's online challenges, I have found it easier to log in and drive in the virtual world than ever before. It's all much more challenging than I had anticipated, as you're always going up against 100,000 or more people in these time trials.

I was ecstatic to see that I had scored my first Silver Reward after driving the Jaguar XJ13 '66 at Interlagos. With a fast lap of 1:36.223, I finished P 37,504th overall and scored one million credits for my GT7 bank account. I noticed Legends Cars had an update, so I clicked on it to see what's new. And I couldn't help buying the Porsche 962C '88 for 1.5 million credits.

I might have opted for the Mazda 787B or the Sauber C9, but those were considerably more expensive. I must say that the 962C sounds a lot more exciting in Assetto Corsa, but it is what it is. After a 2:19 lap around Spa Francorchamps, I focused on the main topic. Currently, you can compete in two different online time trials. And just so has it that both require you to drive electric cars.

The AFEELA Prototype 2024 and the Škoda Vision Gran Turismo were part of the recent GT7 update. I didn't feel enthusiastic about either of them, but that didn't stop me from trying them out.

Autodromo Lago Maggiore

The battle for Autodromo Lago Maggiore is the newest challenge in Gran Turismo 7, which debuted on May 2 and will be available for two weeks. Although this fictional venue has multiple layouts, you'll be racing on the full course. That means you'll have to drive through 3.6 miles (5,809 meters) as quickly as possible. I remember driving here with an Alfa Romeo 4C when I first installed the game last year. VR can be tricky, as you can get motion sick after experiencing the elevation changes and the banking.

I didn't think I'd have fun in the AFEELA Prototype 2024 (which you can get for free if you're curious to see how it drives on other tracks, too). I wouldn't be surprised if Sony decided to start mass-producing cars shortly, and the AFEELA doesn't feel so bad once you're inside. I was impressed by the panoramic roof and the interior details, and it even has a steering yoke like you'll see with that other EV manufacturer.

With 483 bhp on tap, this isn't a sports car, and you can feel how heavy it is when you're braking for the first corner. After driving the 962C, the AFEELA is more akin to a tank than a road-going vehicle, but it makes perfect sense as they're worlds apart. I topped out at 146 mph (235 kph) going downhill, but I wasn't keen on trying to go any faster than that. I needed two laps to figure out the handling and eventually came up with a 2:25.182 by my fifth lap.

Sony's car feels a bit slow going uphill, but it will still hit 95 mph (153 kph) if you carry enough speed through the previous corner. I played with inertia drifting at one point, as it's somewhat feasible if you hate understeer. But sliding around will slow you down, and you don't want that. After 25 miles (40 km of driving), I was down in P 6,994th, but for how long? You get used to driving style after a while, and with more practice, I managed to shave an extra three seconds from my initial time.

I doubt I'll still be in the Top 6,000 drivers by the end of next week, and I'm not that eager to keep trying to improve, either. One thing I wanted to try before switching cars was having a go at Tsukuba in the AFEELA. I stopped the clock in under 65 seconds, which is still faster than some of the Hot Hatches I tested there previously. But it wasn't as fun as the Renault Sport Mégane R.S. Trophy '11.

And some naysayers might even tell you that it sounds like a vacuum cleaner (I guess most ICE fans will think the same). Sure, you can look at things from the other perspective: if Sony pulls through with the concept, you'll be one of the first people to experience it before it goes on to drive on public roads. And that's pretty cool, not to mention brilliant marketing on behalf of the Japanese company.

Watkins Glen International Long Course

If driving at Lago Maggiore was a big challenge for me, competing at Watkins Glen International Long Course was about to be even tougher. I have heard about it before but haven't had any practice on it whatsoever. We're talking about a 3.37 miles (5,423-meter) long course with 15 corners. I've seen many people frowning upon Polyphony Digital's decision to include the Skoda Vision Gran Turismo in the game. After all, so many more amazing cars are missing here, and I'm sure each of us has his dream list.

I didn't know what to expect from it besides plenty of speed. The all-electric AWD single-seater only weighs 2,866 lbs (1,300 kg), slightly less than my Octavia 2 daily driver. But it has a maximum output of 1,071 bhp and 752,3 lb-ft (1,020 Nm) of torque, which makes it exponentially faster and more insane. When I started the online time trial, I remembered my days playing Star Wars Episode I: Racer. Wouldn't it be great if someone brought the title back with VR Support?

The Skoda VGT sounds like a pod racer, and you feel like you're sitting inside one, too. It accelerates like few other cars in the game can, although it will top out at around 194 mph (312 kph). You'll have to pay one million credits for it, which I don't think I'll ever feel inclined to. Once you sit it, you'll notice that the dashboard is your rear-view camera and is a pretty snug fit. Upon my first day of playing, someone had already set the record at 1:33.885.

Good luck trying to be faster than 120,000 people worldwide. I'll tell you this: if Skoda builds a car this fast during my lifetime, I will genuinely be impressed with it! It moves like it's on rails, with almost no sign of losing traction, even under heavy throttle inputs. You experience occasional understeer, and I've tried to correct it with left-foot braking to some degree of success. On my seventh lap, I was down to 1:40.608.

But reaching this car's limit is difficult, and track knowledge is crucial. I haven't compared head-to-head against the McLaren Ultimate Vision Gran Turismo, but it could be faster overall. It's not as exciting; it feels more like a sci-fi invention than real life. My fast sectors are all over the place, recorded on different laps, which isn't ideal. I enjoy going flat out through the first few corners, although it can prove tricky from time to time.

I've found that applying a bit of left-foot braking can stabilize the car if you insist on having your right foot pinned to the floor. Being P 82,785th overall was not satisfying, so I decided to go at it again. Five laps later, I shaved two seconds from my initial record and was in the Top 52,000 drivers worldwide.

I need to find a way to keep it smooth through all four sectors, as that would help save an extra second overall. And that would be vital if I want to win the Silver Reward again. I must adjust my brain to this car's seemingly infinite grip level. I decided again to let it sit in my mind for a few more days before one final attempt. As I signed in today, I noticed almost 15,000 people have recorded faster lap times than me since my first attempt.

I didn't feel eager to get back at it again, as there was just something missing about this car. Still, I went at it for 30 more minutes, trying to use more left-foot braking while accelerating through the corners. I tried to alternate the lines to a more stop-and-go approach and finally improved by just a bit to 1:38.333. That barely allows me to score Silver in this challenge, but I'll see the outcome in a few days. What was your fastest lap time in this challenge?