The Gran Turismo World Series (GTWS) is one of the most exciting events in sim racing. It’s open to anyone with a PlayStation and a copy of Gran Turismo 7. If you’re even slightly curious about going competitive, the 2026 season is your next big opportunity.
What the GT World Series Is All About
The GTWS has two main championships:
- The Nations Cup, where players represent their country.
- The Manufacturers Cup, where players race on behalf of a selected car brand.
It all starts inside Gran Turismo 7’s Sport Mode. To become eligible, you need to climb into the GT1 League, the highest online ranking. If you perform well in the online races, you could move into the World Series Showdown and possibly the World Finals.
This is a global tournament, but anyone can take part. You don’t need a pro contract or expensive gear. Just driving skills and pressure handling required.
Build a Strong Foundation First
If you’re serious about training, don’t skip the basics. These are the skills that make the biggest difference once you start racing against experienced players.
Start with the license tests
These challenges teach you braking, acceleration, cornering, and racing lines. These short but incredibly useful challenges help learn control and timing.
Practice consistency
Being fast once doesn’t matter if you can’t repeat it. In competitive racing, you need to deliver clean laps every time. The Time Trial mode can help you understand your mistakes and work on fixing those gaps. Get Gran Turismo 7 on PlayStation 5 Store at the perfect possible price
Build your track knowledge
Practice multiple laps on popular GTWS tracks like Suzuka, Nürburgring GP, and Trial Mountain. The more time you spend on these tracks, the better you’ll understand braking zones, turn-ins, and exits. That helps you stay confident when racing with others.
Build a training routine that works
You don’t need to spend hours every day. A consistent, focused plan works better.
Try this:
- Use Time Trial mode three times a week to focus on a single track or car.
- Enter Sport Mode Daily Races two or three times a week to get used to traffic and real opponents.
- Once a week, simulate a full-length race with tire wear, fuel consumption, and penalties on. This builds endurance and teaches you how to manage longer events.
After each session, spend some time reviewing your replays. Look for patterns. And try to find smaller adjustments that can improve your performance without needing more hours of practice.
Select the right cars
Most GTWS races happen in Gr.3 or Gr.4 cars. These cars are race-tuned and more responsive than road cars.
Pick one car or brand and stick with it. This helps you build muscle memory. You’ll get better at understanding how it behaves across different tracks and conditions.
Don’t spend too much time on tuning. Most official events use Balance of Performance (BoP) to level out the differences between cars. Your driving skill will make more difference than setup tweaks.
Learn from others
One of the fastest ways to improve is by watching and racing with others who are better than you.
- Watch past GTWS races on YouTube or the Gran Turismo site.
- See how top players drive, manage tires, and defend.
- Join a racing group on Discord, Reddit, or in casual leagues.
- Follow players who discuss strategy, car setups, and weekly race breakdowns.
- Join unofficial races that simulate real GTWS conditions.
All these are great ways to build experience and confidence.
Gear and Setup Tips
You don’t need a full racing setup to be competitive. Most players use just the PS5 DualSense controller. So that should be enough to get you started.
That said, a racing wheel does help with precision and immersion.
Either way, make sure your setup is comfortable. Sit at the right height, have your screen at eye level, and stay away from distractions. Race sessions can last 20 to 30 minutes or more, so being comfortable helps with focus and stamina.
Preparation Timeline From July 2025 to the 2026 Season
With the next GTWS season expected to start around spring or summer 2026, you still have time to prepare. Here’s what to do to pace yourself:
July to October 2025
- Develop consistency and learn tracks.
- Begin racing with a preferred maker’s car.
- Find a racing group or community to join for practice regularly.
- Make it to at least GT2 League in Sport Mode.
November 2025 to February 2026
- Develop skills in competitive environments.
- Practice with fuel consumption, tire degradation, and penalty rules enabled.
- Participate in official seasonal events and track progress.
- Aim for the GT1 League since it is the 1st step to GTWS entry.
March 2026 to June 2026
- Maintain clean racing and proper strategy.
- Keep track of results and announcements for progression.
- Psych yourself up and physically prepare for extended race sessions.
- Join official GTWS online qualifiers.
The Gran Turismo World Series is open to everyone. It’s not just for the pros or sponsored players. If you have Gran Turismo 7, a PS5, and a desire to compete, you are ready to start.
So, start small, train consistently, and learn from every lap. You don’t need to win on day one. Just show up and get better every time.
The road to 2026 starts now.