B-Spec Points was a feature in Gran Turismo 4 which allowed the player to track the skill growth of their B-spec driver as they gained experience through racing. As the B-spec driver earned more points, its driving skill would noticeably improve, as it would become more confident while overtaking and navigating through corners.
What Are B-Spec Points[]
There are 4 areas where the AI driver can be improved, visible on the Game Status screen in the Home Garage:
- B-Spec Skill - displays a total of the B-Spec Points awarded across all races it was used in, has a maximum value of 10,000
- Machine Skill - displays the car handling ability and error recovery of the AI driver, has a maximum value of 100
- Course Skill - displays the ability of the AI driver to properly follow the racing line on the track, has a maximum value of 100
- Battle Skill - displays the ability of the AI driver to correctly overtake opponents, and retain composure when being overtaken, has a maximum value of 100
A perfect B-Spec driver will have a total of 10,000 / 100 / 100 / 100.
How B-Spec Points Work[]
On a most basic level, the B-spec driver's skill increases as it drives multiple different 'groups' of cars against opponents that are evenly-matched. When you enter a race with B-spec, the game calculates the car's performance and places it in one of four 'groups' based on this, which we'll call A, B, C and D. Each group is divided into two 'sub-groups' (A1, A2, B1, B2 etc.), again based on the car's performance. For example, a stock Nissan Micra '03 will fall into sub-group A1, a stock Mazda Roadster 1800 RS (NB) '04 falls into A2, while a powerful car like a MINOLTA Toyota 88C-V '89 will fall into the highest sub-group of D2. You can move a car between sub-groups by applying or removing downforce, ballast/weight reductions, tyres or power upgrades. These groups are a hidden mechanic, and there's no easy way to tell which sub-group your car belongs to.
Examples of cars that fall into each group and sub-group.
Of the 10,000 overall B-spec skill points, 7,000 points are "Floating" points, and the remaining 3,000 points are "Track" points. Floating points are earned by driving the eight sub-groups (A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, C2, D1, D2) on any track, while Track points are earned by driving on specific tracks using each group (A. B, C, D). Each sub-group for Floating points, and each group-track combination for Track points, has a fixed amount of points that can be earned. For example, if the B-spec driver keeps driving cars in the same sub-group, it will eventually stop gaining Floating points for that sub-group, so it's important to make sure the driver is driving cars of varying power levels to quickly accumulate skill. Reverse layouts are considered separate tracks, but Special Condition courses, Suzuka West and Test Course do not offer any Track points.
To give an example of how points are earned: let's suppose you enter a race in B-spec at Midfield Raceway using a stock Nissan 350Z Concept LM Race Car. The 350Z falls into the D1 sub-group, so you will earn Floating points for the D1 sub-group. You will also earn Track points for Midfield for the D group. After the race, you equip a stage 4 turbo and re-do the race at Midfield once again. This upgrade is enough to push the 350Z into the D2 sub-group. You will now earn Floating points for the D2 sub-group, but will still be locked into Track points for Midfield for the D group. If you were to use the same car again, but at the Midfield Reverse layout instead, you will now be earning Track points for Midfield Reverse for the D group, while still locked into Floating points for the D2 sub-group.
Floating points are much easier to obtain in large quantities than Track points, and should be prioritised when training your B-spec driver. Some tracks are more generous with awarding Floating points than others. The preferred track for improving B-spec skill is Nürburgring Nordschleife, as you can earn 500+ Floating points after only one Family Cup here. Even though you will quickly reach the limit of Track points for Nürburgring by racing with the same group, the rate of earning Floating points makes up for it.
While 4,666.17 of the 7,000 Floating points are "Machine" points that can be earned regardless of how the B-spec driver interacts with the AI, the remaining 2,333.83 points are "Floating Battle" points that must be earned through interaction. This requires ensuring that the B-spec driver is always keeping pace and attempting to overtake the driver ahead (represented by the orange triangle above the car in the race display screen). A strategy for this is ensuring that the line-up is fairly balanced, keeping the B-spec driver at pace 1 with overtake enabled, then ensuring it spends as much of the race as possible fighting towards 1st position. If B-spec finishes the race in 1st, the game will award bonus points Machine points contribute 100% of the Machine Skill, and will also contribute a total Course Skill of 70. Floating Battle points provide a total Battle Skill of 70.
Like Floating points, Track points are divided into 2,000 "Course" points and 1,000 "Track Battle" points. The 2000 Course Points will contribute another 20 to Course Skill. The 1000 Track Battle Points contribute the final 10 to Course Skill, and 30 to Battle Skill.