Jose Serrano, Coque López and Pol Urra secured a back-to-back Gran Turismo World Series Nations Cup crown for Spain.
Images: Gran Turismo World Series
New for 2023, the Gran Turismo World Series Nations Cup ran with a team-based format, instead of the prior solo-driver affair.
The title-deciding evening began with three short races in mixed machinery. Home heroes Spain edged a win in the first ahead of Italy on the final lap – the partisan crowd erupting in nationalistic pride.
That put them in pole position for a five-lap race at Watkins Glen in the Honda RA272 Formula 1 car. The lead didn’t last for long, however, when Marco Busnelli punted Jose Serrano off the road.
The result was a penalty for Italy and Spain dropping down the order. Meanwhile, France fell out of contention after Kylian Drumont lost control into the first corner. The end result of this pandemonium catapulted SUPER GT driver Igor Fraga into the lead for Brazil, a position he would not concede.
Next, it wouldn’t have been an event in Barcelona without the local venue, so the virtual Circuit Barcelona-Catalunya was used for the third and final short race.
This time, the field was in Peugeot 908 HDi FAPs. Spain made impressive progress, with reigning champion Coque López passing Chile’s Harald Walsen for third early on, before catching up to the battling Brazil and Japan entrants.
Next, going three wide into the first corner, Spain dispatched Japan for second, but Brazil’s Adriano Carrazza was too far down the road. Brazil duly took a second win.
Points had been accumulated ahead of a double-pay-out finale. Brazil was ahead with 30, followed by Spain (29), Japan (26) and Italy (23).
Each of the three tyre compounds (soft, medium and hard) was mandated for use at least once per team, and crucially, for a minimum of six laps per type.
Four-time Gran Turismo World Series champion Fraga sprinted away from pole position for Brazil, joined by Spain’s López – both on soft tyres. Everyone else was on either medium or hard compound rubber, headed by Seiya Suzuki in third for Japan.
Spain would slipstream by for the lead on the third lap to a rapturous reception, Spanish fans chanting “Coque, Coque, Coque.”
First to pit, surprisingly, was Italy, Giorgio Mangano swapping for 2021 champion Valerio Gallo and mediums for softs at the end of the sixth lap. France, Malaysia, the USA, the Netherlands and New Zealand all followed soon after, but Italy managed to pole vault up onto the podium.
While tyres were a key strategic element, the event turned into a fuel-saving focused race – lessening the time stopped in the pitlane was crucial.
Spain and Brazil waited until the end of the 10th lap to pit, making the most of the softs. They then split, with Brazil on hards and Spain selecting mediums. The South American team exited five seconds ahead of Spain thanks to a shorter pitstop, with the latter putting more fuel in.
Rather predictably, Spain made light work of Brazil to claim the lead, using the differing compound to great effect.
Brazil would visit the pitlane for the final time on lap 15, and onto the medium tyres. Spain would also one lap later, with debutant winner Pol Urra now behind the wheel on hard tyres.
The Toyota Gazoo Racing GT Cup champion popped out 4.6s ahead of Italy on equal rubber and just over 10 seconds ahead of Brazil. It looked secure. Both Brazil and Japan were closing in, but not quick enough.
Japan would be best placed to challenge, first leaping into third, and then up to second past Italy on the penultimate lap. Meanwhile, Brazil’s challenge faded, but it did manage to stave off a resurgent France to finish fourth.
Urra would win the race comfortably, and in the points, Spain would take the Nations Cup for 2023 to a raucous response from an adoring crowd.
Images: Gran Turismo World Series
New for 2023, the Gran Turismo World Series Nations Cup ran with a team-based format, instead of the prior solo-driver affair.
The title-deciding evening began with three short races in mixed machinery. Home heroes Spain edged a win in the first ahead of Italy on the final lap – the partisan crowd erupting in nationalistic pride.
That put them in pole position for a five-lap race at Watkins Glen in the Honda RA272 Formula 1 car. The lead didn’t last for long, however, when Marco Busnelli punted Jose Serrano off the road.
The result was a penalty for Italy and Spain dropping down the order. Meanwhile, France fell out of contention after Kylian Drumont lost control into the first corner. The end result of this pandemonium catapulted SUPER GT driver Igor Fraga into the lead for Brazil, a position he would not concede.
Next, it wouldn’t have been an event in Barcelona without the local venue, so the virtual Circuit Barcelona-Catalunya was used for the third and final short race.
This time, the field was in Peugeot 908 HDi FAPs. Spain made impressive progress, with reigning champion Coque López passing Chile’s Harald Walsen for third early on, before catching up to the battling Brazil and Japan entrants.
Next, going three wide into the first corner, Spain dispatched Japan for second, but Brazil’s Adriano Carrazza was too far down the road. Brazil duly took a second win.
Points had been accumulated ahead of a double-pay-out finale. Brazil was ahead with 30, followed by Spain (29), Japan (26) and Italy (23).
Grand Final
Those standings set the grid for the 22-lap Red Bull X2019-utilising finale at Spa-Francorchamps.Each of the three tyre compounds (soft, medium and hard) was mandated for use at least once per team, and crucially, for a minimum of six laps per type.
Four-time Gran Turismo World Series champion Fraga sprinted away from pole position for Brazil, joined by Spain’s López – both on soft tyres. Everyone else was on either medium or hard compound rubber, headed by Seiya Suzuki in third for Japan.
Spain would slipstream by for the lead on the third lap to a rapturous reception, Spanish fans chanting “Coque, Coque, Coque.”
First to pit, surprisingly, was Italy, Giorgio Mangano swapping for 2021 champion Valerio Gallo and mediums for softs at the end of the sixth lap. France, Malaysia, the USA, the Netherlands and New Zealand all followed soon after, but Italy managed to pole vault up onto the podium.
While tyres were a key strategic element, the event turned into a fuel-saving focused race – lessening the time stopped in the pitlane was crucial.
Spain and Brazil waited until the end of the 10th lap to pit, making the most of the softs. They then split, with Brazil on hards and Spain selecting mediums. The South American team exited five seconds ahead of Spain thanks to a shorter pitstop, with the latter putting more fuel in.
Rather predictably, Spain made light work of Brazil to claim the lead, using the differing compound to great effect.
Brazil would visit the pitlane for the final time on lap 15, and onto the medium tyres. Spain would also one lap later, with debutant winner Pol Urra now behind the wheel on hard tyres.
The Toyota Gazoo Racing GT Cup champion popped out 4.6s ahead of Italy on equal rubber and just over 10 seconds ahead of Brazil. It looked secure. Both Brazil and Japan were closing in, but not quick enough.
Japan would be best placed to challenge, first leaping into third, and then up to second past Italy on the penultimate lap. Meanwhile, Brazil’s challenge faded, but it did manage to stave off a resurgent France to finish fourth.
Urra would win the race comfortably, and in the points, Spain would take the Nations Cup for 2023 to a raucous response from an adoring crowd.
2023 Gran Turismo World Series Nations Cup Result
- Spain – 53 points
- Japan – 46 points
- Brazil – 44 points
- Italy – 39 points
- Chile – 27 points
- France – 26 points
- Canada – 15 points
- Netherlands – 12 points
- New Zealand – 10 points
- Belgium – 9 points
- USA – 8 points
- Malaysia – 1 point
