Racing Prototype



Prototype racing is one of several different disciplines of racing found in the Gran Turismo series.

About the discipline
A racing prototype is a specially-built, closed-wheel racing machine designed to race at high speeds for extremely long periods of up to 24 hours. Well put-together though they may be, the bodywork is extremely light and thin in order to reduce weight, so that even light contact can damage the car aerodynamically, and it is also quite easy to damage the suspension, steering and/or the engine, so contact, while acceptable in small amounts, should generally be avoided. Because of the fact that the rules for prototypes have always been fairly open, there can be a significant difference in the performance of one car compared to another, and all have various strengths and weaknesses which must be considered when competing in a prototype race.

Compounding this is the fact that prototype racing as seen in Gran Turismo does not encompass only one class; rather, it encompasses several classes from different time periods: the Group 6 class from the 1960s which was introduced in GT5 (note that this class is always paired with an array of GT cars from different eras due to their being unable to compete with the other prototype classes); the Group C class from the 1980s-90s, known for their extremely high power and low-drag bodies; the short-lived LMGTP class created for cars such as the Toyota GT-One, McLaren F1 GTR and Nissan R390 which had previously exploited the (at the time fairly loose) rules of the GT1 class to be allowed to race cars which were basically prototypes in that class; and finally, the contemporary LMP classes which focus more on durability. handling, and tire life than on sheer straight-line speed. The Groups C cars are a little harder to drive than their more recent competitors, but their behemoth power can make up for this if driven well. On the other hand, LMGTP and LMP cars offset their lack of power compared to the Group C cars with higher corner speeds and easier power application coming off the starting line or leaving a slow corner. (The latter three classes are lumped together for an average prototype race in Gran Turismo, sometimes with a Suzuki Escudo thrown in because of its high power and cornering speed.)

Strategy
The strategy for a prototype race varies depending on the race length; shorter races will obviously focus more on overtaking skills and per-lap speed, while longer races will center more around conserving the car, driving safely, and devising a winning pit strategy.