Put your Gran Turismo 7 driving into high gear with this guide for the Olympic Esports Series 2023 virtual motor sport event

Like real world motor sports, racing over the asphalt in Gran Turismo 7 is a precise science. Players need to keep track of their speed, positioning, gas, and tires while flying down the track. A simple mistake can add seconds – the difference between winning and losing – to the clock.

We spoke to drivers who have competed at the highest level of Gran Turismo™ to hear how they stay sharp on the virtual racetrack. We hope you'll use these tips when you jump into qualifiers for the Olympic Esports Series (OES) Motor Sport Event, available from 27th April to 7th May 2023, with places on offer at the live, in-personal finals at Olympic Esports Week from 22-25 June 2023 in Singapore.

Gran Turismo Expert Tip 1: Slick And Smooth Behind The Wheel

There are plenty of ways to get from start to finish during an online time trial. The best way, however, is to glide down the track with as little friction as possible. You'll save fuel and your tires all while being able to maximize your speed during the right spots on the track.

"Some drivers go flat out," said French Gran Turismo driver Jomas F. Pagandet. "At the end of the race they are just crawling. In the end, you have to feel what the game demands and not the other way around."

Mistakes made on one lap will rear their ugly heads on the next one, so make sure to iron out a smooth route through the track on repeat time trial attempts. Treat your car with care and it'll reward you in return.

Gran Turismo Expert Tip 2: On And Off The Track

Players grinding at the highest level of Gran Turismo have a number of factors to keep an eye on during a race. They need to constantly check their fuel levels and tyre health as well as the position of every other driver on the track. Unlike real motor sports, they don't have engineers to help them along the way.

High level players spend more than eight hours a day on the game, fine tuning their strategy while learning every inch of the racetracks they'll see on competition day. Top players couldn't have made it more clear that you need to take breaks often in order to make the most of this practice time.

"You can easily be tempted to spend hours and hours but your brain can't compute all that information," Pagandet said. "Take a break, get some fresh air and come back later."

Gran Turismo Expert Tip 3: Develop A Pit Stop Strategy

While this won't be necessary during online time trials, it will be vital during any other competition where you go head to head with other players. Your car won't be able to make every lap without some rapid fire maintenance.

"You need to know when the best time to pit on paper," Pagandet said. "This is a skill that's almost as important as being fast and smooth."

Some racers have been able to finish three full laps without stopping for fuel and new tires, but it's incredibly difficult to get right. Learning when to pull in for a pit stop is vital as a lead can evaporate if you pull in at the wrong time.

Gran Turismo Expert Tip 4: Watch The Tape

This is especially true for time trials. While running through a track over and over again is important, you'll need to step back and look at your performance to see where you can improve. Gran Turismo 7 is a precise game. Every mistake will make it easier for other players to overtake you for the best time.

You can take efforts to improve even further and race against yourself. A ghost racer will appear after your first successful time trial, giving you an easy way to improve on mistakes made in previous runs. It's important to remember that you're racing against yourself in these qualifications. No one else matters.

Be sure to take these tips into qualifications in order to earn the best time possible. Register for the Olympic Esports Series Motor Sport Event and jump into the qualifiers via Olympics.com with a chance to win a trip to Singapore to play in the live final.