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Seasonal Events were special sets of races that are released periodically by Polyphony Digital in Gran Turismo 5 and Gran Turismo 6, giving players an additional challenge. These consist of special single races (divided into Bonus Races and Special Races in GT5), Time Trials and Drift Trials. In GT6, time-trial seasonal events usually award an exclusive chrome or colour-shifting paint chip, as well as prize cars.
Seasonal Events require an online PlayStation Network connection, and are no longer available due to both games' online services having been shut down in 2014 and 2018, respectively. However, Seasonal Events-style time trials are also in Gran Turismo Sport (as of Update 1.41) in August 2019, as well in Gran Turismo 7 (as of Update 1.15) in May 2022.
Single Races[]
Gran Turismo 5[]
In GT5, single race Seasonal Events consisted of Special Races and Gran Turismo Expert Challenges (formerly Bonus Races).
Special Races[]
Special Races consist of a set of races for a specific group of cars. They were added in version 1.06 (released February 11, 2011). These events carry lower prizes than bonus races, but can be raced over and over to gain the same rewards multiple times. Examples include:
- MR Challenge (limited to MR drivetrain cars);
- Mini Challenge (limited to Minis)
- Ferrari F1 Challenge (limited to Ferrari F2007 and Ferrari F10).
Some races may carry Performance Points restriction; beginning in 2012, these events give handicap bonus for players using a car below the PP limit (the larger the gap to PP limit, the higher the handicap bonus).
Bonus Race/Gran Turismo Expert Challenge[]
The Bonus races each introduced 5 new races with strict restrictions and large rewards. The first time each race is completed, the player receives the rewards and experience of all the positions up to where they placed, but from the second race and on the player will only receive a reward and experience if they place in a better position than in the previous races.
Prior to January 2011, there were strict restrictions for the tuning of cars used, restricting maximum power, minimum weight, and highest tire compound available. The restrictions were later dropped retroactively that month.
In mid-2011, the Bonus Race was replaced by the Gran Turismo Expert Challenge. Returning with this change were the strict regulations, this time limiting the player to a specific car with limited upgrades. A PP limit was enforced to make this challenge very difficult, but the rewards were also improved. Prizes now include credits, XP and prize cars.
Gran Turismo 6[]
There are three single races (Beginner, Intermediate, and Expert) every week of ranging difficulty levels and vehicle choices, which includes PP and tire compound restrictions. These races are similar to Special Races in GT5, but they award a paint chip for first race victory.
On special occasions, there are also special races; for example two set of 10-lap survival races were held in December 2014 in Nürburgring GP/F and Suzuka Circuit, with opponents using Super GT cars, right down to real driver names.
Time Trial[]
- See also: Sport Mode (GT7)/Lap Time Challenges
The Time Trials introduced two circuit time attacks with various restrictions. Players attempt each race as many times as they wanted to achieve as high a place on the online leaderboard as possible. In Gran Turismo 5, no rewards were given for each attempt (although mileage counts towards the Beyond the Autobahn Trophy) but the leaders at the end of the event receive rewards based upon finishing positions. In Gran Turismo 6, players may receive prize cars for reaching a specific time goal, depending on the event; this is common with Vision Gran Turismo launch time trials, where the car can be obtained for free by simply setting a valid lap time. The prize car selections for time (and drift) trial events for January 2018 (several months before GT6's server shutdown) in particular was used to tease cars coming in that month's GT Sport update.
In Gran Turismo Sport version 1.41 (July 2019), Time Trials makes a return to Sport Mode, similar to Seasonal Events in PlayStation 3-era games. Two events are available biweekly, one with tuning allowed and another with fixed settings; Balance of Performance is enforced in class-specific events. There are also no rewards for reaching a specific time goal or reaching a specific position on time rankings, which is global in nature (i.e. not restricted to player's region). On February 11-25, 2021, only one Time Trial event was made available; a second time trial was added on the 26th. Time Trials are also part of the Sport Mode in Gran Turismo 7, introduced in the 1.15 update (May 2022), although only one time trial are available every two weeks. The 1.17 update in June 2022 also added rewards, based on the player's gap to the world record time (typically 3% for gold, 5% for silver, 10% for bronze).
Several time trial special events were also held in GT5, GT6, GT Sport, and GT7, some of them region-specific, such as the BMW Z4 Asian Challenge in GT6, which available only for Asian region PlayStation Network accounts, in which participants received BMW M4 Coupé Frozen Black Metallic for participation; National Sports Festival qualifiers in GT Sport and GT7, available only for Japanese accounts; and the 2023 Porsche Esports Challenge USA qualifiers in GT7, available only in North America. On the other hand, the Mazda RX-Vision GT3 Concept Time Trial event and the Lap Time Challenge promoting the Gran Turismo film is an example of a worldwide special time trial event held in GT Sport and GT7, respectively. Starting from the 2024 season, tie-in time trials to Gran Turismo World Series live events were also held.
Drift Trials[]
The Drift Trials introduced two sector mode drift circuits with only restrictions on tyre choice (in GT6, the drift trials may be restricted to certain vehicles). Players attempt each trial as many times as they wanted to achieve as high a place on the online leaderboard as possible. In Gran Turismo 5, no rewards are given for each attempt (although scores can count towards the Drift King Trophy) but the leaders at the end of the event receive rewards based upon finishing positions. In Gran Turismo 6, players may receive prize cars for reaching a specific point goal, depending on the event.