Gran Turismo 7 has over 30 racetracks to choose from. Most of these tracks have different variations, or even allow you to drive them backwards. Therefore, there is no shortage of different ways to test your driving skills. But if you really want to push your skills to the max, check out these 10 hardest tracks in Gran Turismo 7.
Although there are a range of beautifully crafted tracks that you can race without previous experience, some GT7 tracks are a nightmare to master. With uneven surfaces and unforgiving corners, one mistake can add on large time penalties or put you from first to last in seconds. Some of these tracks are incredibly difficult from start to finish, and others have just one corner that can ruin record times.
The 10 Hardest Tracks In Gran Turismo 7
1. Mount Panorama Circuit
Location: Australia
Longest Distance: 6.2km
Variations: 1
Track Type: Road
Real: Yes
Mount Panorama Circuit is a pain for experienced GT7 drivers and provides different challenges, from lights out to the final flag. Honestly, I don’t think I have encountered one player who says they enjoy racing the track.
From the initial layout, you can see two right-angle corners and a long, straight section, looking fairly easy. Well, the start is in between the two right-angle corners, meaning the first thing you face is a tight corner with the whole pack. So, if one driver in the pack doesn’t take this corner well, it can end in disaster for everyone.
You then go on to a windy uphill section where the following corners are invisible until the last second. This section is hard to manage, and the tight roads and walls mean that having your own space is crucial. You will get more space at the top of the hill, but you are then coaxed into believing you can take it fast, only to be hit with a hellish downhill section. The road is tight, and the walls come straight at you making it hard not to get a penalty in this section.
After all this, you’d think you would be thankful a long straight is coming up. But this straight features a slight kink that throws you off just when you’re comfortable going flat out. And if you don’t nail it, the race is over for you. Finally, you come all the way back to a tight right-angle corner.
As you can see, this track doesn’t let up from start to finish. Each sector has its challenges and requires familiarity and patience to get the best time. It can still be a fun track to race, but it’s definitely the most infuriating track of the GT7 roster.
2. Nürburgring
Location: Germany
Longest Distance: 25.3km
Variations: 6
Track Type: Road
Real: Yes
The infamous track known as “The Green Hell” takes the second spot on this list as it’s a grueling battle from start to finish. The track is actually deadly, with a few recorded deaths every year in real life. There are a range of different variations, but we are specifically looking at the famous 24-hour track that features the Nordschleife and Grand Prix sections together.
If you’re putting in a decent time for this track, a lap will take just under 8 minutes to complete. These 8 minutes require intense focus and great handling. The trickiest part about this track is that it can feel so tight compared to others in GT7. The narrow roads combined with small changes in direction and elevation can easily throw you off the right lines. But these exact same points make it a favorite for experienced drivers.
The track really feels like a blast back to classic racing terrains. The longer Nordschleife section was built in the 20s, which is why it differs from other tracks in the game. Managing this section is the trickiest, as you can get lulled into comfort during the straights, only to be forced back into technical driving.
The best way to handle this track is to take it easy. But if you are looking for a win, you better hold on to your seat and keep control of your car weight through the undulating corners.
3. Willow Springs International Raceway
Location: USA
Longest Distance: 3.9km
Variations: 3
Track Type: Road
Real: Yes
A track that most GT7 drivers tend to hate is the Streets of Willow Springs variation of the Will Springs International Raceway. You would think the open desert and wide roads make for a forgiving track that doesn’t punish small mistakes, but you’d be wrong.
There aren’t many tight corners. Instead, you will find multiple elevation changes that will throw your car for a loop if you’re not careful. The downhill section has some corners that, if you don’t handle them properly, send you into the desert or even airborne. The problem with these corners is that you think you can handle them at speed, but if you’re not hitting the apex correctly, the trajectory is extremely hard to get back on track without slamming on the breaks.
The climbing section comes first, and your biggest issue here will be other drivers, as they tend to get bunched up easily. You will need to note your speed and handling in the downhill section if you don’t want to come off the track.
Overall, the track doesn’t feel that rewarding when you have it down. The most infuriating thing is trying to set a good time in the trails, only to have pushed one corner too hard and slowly veer off into the dirt.
4. Fuji International Speedway
Location: Japan
Longest Distance: 4.5km
Variations: 2
Track Type: Road
Real: Yes
Fuji International Speedway is another track that looks deceptively simple but requires super technical driving to get the fastest times. Like Willow Springs, this wide track begs you to push the pedal to the metal, but if you don’t lift off and hit the breaking points just right, the apex is lost, and other cars will overtake you. Luckily, the track is so wide that there are a few ways to approach the main tricky corners.
Straight off the bat, the first corner can ruin your time if you don’t manage it well. It’s a downhill corner that unfolds as you go along. It’s easy to think you have the apex and put a little extra gas into it, only to end up off the track. The next corner requires a commitment to the turn. I actually like the long third corner, but that’s pretty much it for the whole track.
The last sector of Fuji is a nightmare, especially in the rain. You are driving uphill and have tight corners that make finding the right line super tricky. These corners are in shaped quite uniquely, which means readjusting after the first in the sequence will be extremely hard. I particularly hate the final corner; if you haven’t set up the previous corners right, then it’s likely you won’t nail this one and come out slow. This corner is followed by a straight to the finish, so coming out slow means you will likely lose a place just before the end.
5. Grand Valley Speedway
Location: USA
Longest Distance: 5km
Variations: 2
Track Type: Road
Real: No
The Grand Valley Speedway is the most infamous fictional track in Gran Turismo, and has become a staple in every GT game. The views are stunning, but you won’t have time to take them in as you’ll be trying to manage the different sectors.
Like the other tracks on this list, the hardest thing about this track is managing its corners. Some of the apexes are so hard to find, I don’t even think they exist. The initial downhill sector is also unforgiving, but it feels great to drive when you have it nailed down. The track’s middle section that begins with a hairpin is where the track just doesn’t make sense. If you have a car that feels more like a boat, then it’s almost impossible to take this section at speed.
The final uphill through the tunnel is deceivingly tricky. It feels like you can open up straight away, but you have to manage the first corner well to get the speed you need to carry you to the end.
6. Trial Mountain Circuit
Location: USA
Longest Distance: 5.4km
Variations: 1
Track Type: Road
Real: No
Another Gran Turismo-created track is the Trial Mountain Circuit. It has been in the game since the series’ inception, and still provides some brilliant (and difficult) driving in its latest iteration.
Trial Mountain features some tricky technical sections followed by nice long straights. You start the race with a few fast bends that aren’t too hard to master at top speeds, before taking you through a short tunnel section that requires you to keep the right line. The hardest bit is the corner into the long straight in the middle section, as this is paramount for setting up your top speed across the straight.
Coming out of the straight is equally as hard as you have a downhill curve that requires nothing less than full control. Luckily, the road is wide here, so the track is fairly forgiving. The final right-angle corners you face at the end, however, are the worst. Missing the apexes here and tanking your speed is all too easy, and it has ruined all too many races for me in the past.
7. Brands Hatch
Location: UK
Longest Distance: 3.9km
Variations: 2
Track Type: Road
Real: Yes
Brands Hatch is a simple track and doesn’t look like it should be anywhere on this list, especially this high up. But there is one element that makes it a pain for every GT7 fan: the first corner. It’s so easy to think you can handle this slight turn, especially as it begs you to take it at speed, but that’s the problem.
You start with a short rise up to the banked first corner. The fact that you have this bank makes you think you’ll have extra weight on this track, even for people who have driven here a number of times. But as the corner develops, it unfolds to a steep downhill, and the far edge of the track — which was previously banked — feels like it wants to throw you into the sandpit.
This corner is especially difficult when you are trying to set fast lap times. I found it annoying when playing online with friends. If you mess up this corner on the second lap where you are carrying more speed than the start, it’s bound to put you out of contention for first place.
The rest of the track is easy to manage and quite fun, so it’s surprising that one corner can make that much of a difference. But it does.
8. Suzuka Circuit
Location: Japan
Longest Distance: 5.8km
Variations: 2
Track Type: Road
Real: Yes
Following on from Brands Hatch, we have another short circuit that will have your blood boiling trying to master it: Suzuka Circuit East Course. This section is also part of the Full Course, but it is a pain to consistently get fast times on. The East Course consists of S-curves, and that’s pretty much it.
After the first corner, you face six consecutive S-curves that vary in elevation, length, angle, and width. The trickiest aspect is that they are not constant, which means you have to approach some of these curves differently from others. Also, you may get confident after nailing the first two or three, and then overdo it for the last one or two. But once you’ve missed the apex, that’s it for getting a purple sector.
The full track itself is quite fun and has a tricky hairpin and sharp chicane to keep you on edge. But these elements don’t compare to the seemingly simple S-curves at the start. Once you have them down, they feel great to drive, but I feel like I’ve never actually nailed them. At least, not consistently.
9. Tokyo Expressway
Location: Japan
Longest Distance: 7.3km
Variations: 6
Track Type: City
Real: Yes
Tokyo Expressway is one of my favorite tracks in Gran Turismo 7, but it can punish you if you aren’t careful. The longer East and South variations feature a sharp hairpin that you take at speed, but this isn’t the issue. It’s the straights that become hard to master with this track, especially on the longer East course.
The course takes place on the streets of Tokyo, and the narrow underpasses are tricky to manage at top speeds. The barriers are the real enemy on the course and if you are pushing your car to its limit, you will run the risk of hitting them both entering and exiting the corners.
Not only do you risk compromising your car in these situations, but you will also receive penalties should you cut a corner, which can dictate the outcome of the race. The rain makes this course way harder than it already is, and the fast hairpin really takes its toll on drivers who aren’t prepared.
Overall, I love all variations of the Tokyo Expressway. It feels so good to nail the fast section as you are forced to squeeze tight along the barriers to get the fastest times possible.
10. Fishermans Ranch
Location: USA
Longest Distance: 6.8km
Variations: 1
Track Type: Dirt
Real: No
Fishermans Ranch is a dirt track, and GT7 players know that Gran Turismo hasn’t done a good job at rally driving physics. The track itself feels more like a snow track than a dirt track. You are constantly slipping around, and it’s almost impossible to get on the right track for each corner’s apex.
On top of being hard to control, the track itself is pretty uninspiring and uneventful. Therefore, you don’t even want to spend time doing the circuit over and over as it feels unrewarding. You come across sharp corners at various points in the track that throw you into barriers. This, combined with the lack of control, means there are a few points that completely tank your momentum if you don’t get them right.
If you want to keep your sanity intact, skip the dirt tracks on GT7.
Published: Feb 10, 2025 11:47 am