8 Gran Turismo 6 Tracks I Absolutely Hate

I’ve mentioned from time to time that I like to get my virtual car kicks on both Gran Turismo and Forza 4. I feel the GT franchise has gone downhill since the PS2 days, but ever since Polyphony Digital released its track editor for GT6 a couple of months ago, I’ve had something of a GT rebirth.

And you know what? It’s not as bad as I remember. Then again, after being dormant for half the year, I had something like 2GB-worth of updates to download, and while V8 engines still generally sound like a weed whacker getting a proctology exam, there’s at least a little more bass in the screeching. That’s okay, because the Toyota 2000GT sounds brilliant and it makes everything wonderful. Yeah, the muscle car guy likes the little Toyota. I’m complex like that.

So the last couple of months I’ve spent quite a bit of time behind the wheel in my racing cockpit, goofing mostly with custom tracks and joining online racers in contests to see who can make the biggest jumps. It reminded me, however, of several tracks that I hate. Is there something stronger than hate? Can I revile these tracks?

1. Autumn Ring Mini

This is a track that stretches back to the very first Gran Turismo on the old Playstation. Can someone explain why this track is still around and Complex String from GT3 isn’t? I love the full Autumn Ring course, but the mini version with its lack of appreciable straights and 35-second lap times is just annoying.

2. Brands Hatch

It’s not so much that I hate the course, it’s just frustratingly difficult to get perfect; especially running F1 or high-powered race cars. It’s easy to make average laps, but slightly misjudge just one of the several high-speed corners and it’s into the wall. Yeah yeah, practice makes perfect. But with so many other tracks to enjoy, I don’t even bother.

3. Circuito de Madrid reverse

This is an odd one, because I rather like this track in the standard direction. Running backwards though I might as well be driving blindfolded on tyres made of whale blubber. I either brake way too early for the tight turns, or I bounce between them like a pinball. It just doesn’t click with me for some reason.

4. Daytona road course

An American that doesn’t like Daytona? The oval is all well and good for high-speed fun, and I can only assume the real-life course is better than its digital doppelganger, because they run a 24-hour endurance race there. But in GT6 it feels too small, the turns feel too tight, and the tyres give up grip too easily.

5. Deep Forest Raceway

Of all the Gran Turismo tracks, this one has been my nemesis since the very first game. I’ve run it thousands of times with pretty much every type of car, but I’ve never really nailed it down. I either slide off through the esses early on, or I push too hard and hit the cliff side after the long left halfway through the course.

6. Eiger Nordwand W Trail

Gravel rally courses have never really felt right to me on any GT game, though I dearly miss Pikes Peak from GT2. My main gripe here is the same I have with Autumn Ring Mini - it’s just too damn short with too many sharp turns, and grip levels seem to go from full traction to no traction with nothing in between. I’ll stick with Dirt 3 or WRC for my rally action.

7. Willow Springs

Here’s another real-life track that I’m sure is better in real life, but in the digital world I find it boring and annoying. The scenery consists of, well, sand. And I swear the apex on that big sweeping right-hander before the main straight changes every time I race, because I either understeer off the left side of the corner, or drive off the right side because I’m too slow.

8. Tsukuba Circuit

Oh I can feel the internet hate from all the online drifters over this one. Here’s the thing: it’s not a bad track, in real life or in the digital world. I’ve just driven it to death. To. Freaking. Death. It’s short, and ever since the torturous four-hour MX-5 Tsukuba endurance race from GT5, I’d rather pull off my fingernails with plyers then give this circuit one more go. Thankfully, the Toyota 2000GT kept me mellow enough to nab this photo without resorting to my tool box.