GRAN TURISMO 3: GENERAL SET-UPS GUIDE By Wolf Feather/Jamie Stafford FEATHER7@IX.NETCOM.COM Initial Version Completed: August 31, 2002 FINAL VERSION Completed: September 21, 2002 ==================================== ==================================== ==================================== JOIN THE FEATHERGUIDES E-MAIL LIST: To be the first to know when my new and updated guides are released, join the FeatherGuides E-mail List. Go to http://www.coollist.com/group.cgi?l=featherguides for information about the list and to subscribe for free. ==================================== ==================================== ==================================== CONTENTS Spacing and Length Permissions Introduction Apricot Hill Raceway (II) Cote d'Azur/Monaco Deep Forest Raceway (II) Grand Valley Speedway (II) Laguna Seca Raceway Midfield Raceway (II) Rome Circuit (II) Seattle Circuit (II) Smokey Mountain (II) Special Stage Route 11 (II) Special Stage Route 5 (II) Special Stage Route 5 Wet (II) Super Speedway Swiss Alps (II) Tahiti Circuit (II) Tahiti Maze (II) Test Course Tokyo R246 (II) Trial Mountain (II) Contact ==================================== ==================================== ==================================== SPACING AND LENGTH For optimum readability, this driving guide should be viewed/printed using a monowidth font, such as Courier. Check for appropriate font setting by making sure the numbers and letters below line up: 1234567890123456789012345678901234567890123456789012 ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZabcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz ==================================== PERMISSIONS This guide may ONLY be posted on FeatherGuides, GameFAQs.com, PSXCodez.com, Cheatcc.com, Absolute-PlayStation.com, Games Domain, InsidePS2Games.com, RedCoupe, CheatPlanet.com, The Cheat Empire, a2zweblinks.com, Gameguru, cheatingplanet.com, gamesover.com, vgstrategies.com, ps2fantasy.com, hellzgate, RobsGaming.com, GT3 High Speed, and neoseeker.com. Permission is granted to download and print one copy for personal use. ==================================== ==================================== ==================================== INTRODUCTION The purpose of this guide is to provide players with a general idea of the tuning requirements for virtually any car used at a given circuit in Gran Turismo 3. Some of the tuning suggestions presented here require specific parts, which may or may not be standard equipment and which may or may not be available for a given car in the Tune Shop. Also, tires are specifically not discussed here, as tire choice (other than Dirt Tires) is dictated more by the length of a race and each player's driving style than by the configuration of a circuit. In the Gran Turismo series, a 'II' designation indicates that a race will be held in the reverse configuration for that circuit. The 'II' designation is not used for all circuits. However, car set-ups for a reverse-configuration race will generally be the same as for a regular-configuration race at the same venue. On a very important note, these suggestions can largely be discarded when using F1 cars, due to their inherent advantages in acceleration, top-end speed, and cornering ability. ==================================== ==================================== ==================================== APRICOT HILL RACEWAY (II) Apricot Hill Raceway is generally a rather fast circuit; even many of the corners can be taken at a medium or high rate of speed; however, the hairpin behind the Paddocks and the final chicane are both very slow corners (about 50MPH), which makes a high-speed set-up a bit precarious in these areas. There should not be much need to ride the rumble strips here, although it can be quite useful in the final chicane. Ride Height: Medium-low, to keep from bottoming out in the slow sections (which are located at the lowest part of valleys Stabilizers: Low, to make up for the lack of downforce Brake Balance : Medium to high Gear Ratio (Auto Setting): Medium-Wide Downforce: Relatively low ==================================== COTE D'AZUR/MONACO This is by far the most technical circuit in Gran Turismo 3. Not only is this circuit narrow, there are virtually NO straightaways here, so top-end speed is not an issue. The benefit to using longer gear ratios (closer to 'Wide') is that there will be less chance of wheelspin, which will unnecessarily accelerate tire wear; on the other hand, using shorter gear ratios (closer to 'Sport') will provide the acceleration needed to power out of corners and pass a competitor before the next corner. Expect to ride the rumble strips at several locations here, notably the chicane just beyond the exit of The Tunnel. Spring Rate: Soft Ride Height: High Shock Absorbers: Soft Stabilizers: As soft as a player's driving style and comfort level will allow Brake Balance : VERY high (20+) Gear Ratio (Auto Setting): Medium-Sport Downforce: High, to assist in cornering ==================================== DEEP FOREST RACEWAY (II) Perhaps the most scenic race venue in Gran Turismo 3, Deep Forest Raceway has only one long straightaway (Pit Straight), although lack of traffic and good reflexes can make the section from the low area up through the tunnels a good place to attain top speeds as the circuit continually fades from side to side. The place where the most clock time can potentially be lost is the first third of the circuit, with its hairpin corner at the end of Pit Straight and its tight, twisty corners running through the forest and into tunnels. Players can expect to use the rumble strips and to drop wheels off the pavement fairly regularly. Spring Rate: Soft Ride Height: Medium Shock Absorbers: Soft Stabilizers: As soft as a player's driving style and comfort level will allow Brake Balance : Medium-high Gear Ratio (Auto Setting): Medium-Wide Downforce: Medium ==================================== GRAND VALLEY SPEEDWAY (II) The longest circuit in Gran Turismo 3, Grand Valley Speedway is also fairly scenic. Due to its length and the tricky final sector (when run in the forward configuration), tire management is key here, or else too much time will be lost in trying to keep the car on the pavement. Spring Rate: Medium Ride Height: Medium-low Shock Absorbers: Medium Stabilizers: Medium Brake Balance : Medium-high Gear Ratio (Auto Setting): Medium-wide Downforce: Medium ==================================== LAGUNA SECA RACEWAY This is the home of the world-famous Corkscrew (Turns 8A and 9), the tight left-right chicane on a steep downhill slope beginning just beyond the crest of the circuit. Safely navigating the Corkscrew as well as the final corner (a tight perpendicular left-hand turn) can result in low lap times. using the rumble strips is almost certainly a must for most corners, but the rumble strips are fortunately not very tall, which means the car is not very likely to jump when rolling onto them. Spring Rate: Medium Ride Height: Medium Shock Absorbers: Medium Stabilizers: Medium-low Brake Balance : Medium-high Gear Ratio (Auto Setting): Medium-Wide Downforce: Medium-low ==================================== MIDFIELD RACEWAY (II) This circuit is in a figure-eight formation and contains many types of corners, which makes this a somewhat-technical venue despite the high speeds attainable on several of the straightaways. Rumble strips are very important here. Spring Rate: Soft Ride Height: Medium-low Shock Absorbers: Soft Stabilizers: Medium-low Brake Balance : Medium-high Gear Ratio (Auto Setting): Medium-Wide Downforce: Medium-low ==================================== ROME CIRCUIT (II) This street circuit provides many high-speed runs (some with straightaways, some with fades) and four notable slow corners. This circuit is also almost entirely flat. Spring Rate: Medium-high Ride Height: Lowest possible setting Shock Absorbers: Medium-high Stabilizers: Medium-low Brake Balance : Medium-high Gear Ratio (Auto Setting): Medium-Wide Downforce: Medium-low ==================================== SEATTLE CIRCUIT (II) This is perhaps the most scenic street circuit in Gran Turismo 3; unfortunately, the famous Space Needle is only seen far in the distance between the old buildings. This is a fairly technical circuit, especially the upper portion of the circuit (where most of a lap is spent) and the final chicane at Pit Entry. The multi-tiered uphill climb (in the forward configuration) is extremely treacherous, as the very top of the incline contains a right-hand right-angle corner with little swing-out room. Also, beware of the railroad tracks, especially when entering the chicane between the old and new stadiums. Spring Rate: Medium-low Ride Height: Medium-high Shock Absorbers: Soft Stabilizers: As low as a player's comfort level and driving style will allow Brake Balance : High Gear Ratio (Auto Setting): Medium-Wide Downforce: Medium ==================================== SMOKEY MOUNTAIN (II) This is one of the four dirt-based Rally Events circuits in Gran Turismo 3. Those who have played Gran Turismo 2 will notice that this circuit has been given pavement along the entire front stretch. This circuit can easily send cars airborne, especially at either end of the paved sections in either the forward or reverse configuration. Spring Rate: Soft Ride Height: High Shock Absorbers: Soft Stabilizers: Medium-high Brake Balance : Medium Gear Ratio (Auto Setting): Medium Downforce: Medium-high ==================================== SPECIAL STAGE ROUTE 11 (II) This nighttime street circuit has returned from the original Gran Turismo, with a few noticeable changes. This is also a highly-technical circuit, although passing is far easier than at Cote d'Azur/Monaco. Cornering ability is key here, even if it means hitting the rev limiter on the straightaways (especially on Pit Straight). Spring Rate: Medium-high Ride Height: Medium Shock Absorbers: Medium-high Stabilizers: As low as a player's comfort level and driving style will allow Brake Balance : VERY high (20+) Gear Ratio (Auto Setting): Medium-low Downforce: Medium-high ==================================== SPECIAL STAGE ROUTE 5 (II) This is another nighttime street circuit. SSR5 is not quite as fast as SSR11 (above), but good speeds can still be attained, primarily on Pit Straight. Spring Rate: Medium-high Ride Height: Medium Shock Absorbers: Medium-high Stabilizers: As low as a player's comfort level and driving style will allow Brake Balance : High Gear Ratio (Auto Setting): Medium Downforce: Medium-high ==================================== SPECIAL STAGE ROUTE 5 WET (II) This is the same as SSR5 (above), but the circuit is full of water. This creates some nice visual effects and shows the graphics prowess of the PlayStation2, but it means that hydroplaning is a very real possibility. Because of the vast amount of water on the pavement, any hard or fast changes in speed or direction severely raise the risk of losing car control - and once car control is lost, regaining control within the concrete canyons is virtually impossible until the car cones to a complete standstill. Do not plan on attaining a lot of speed here. Spring Rate: Medium Ride Height: Medium Shock Absorbers: Medium Stabilizers: Medium Brake Balance : High Gear Ratio (Auto Setting): Medium-Sport Downforce: Medium-low ==================================== SUPER SPEEDWAY This is one of the easiest circuits for finding optimal car set-ups. Spring Rate: Medium Ride Height: As low as possible Shock Absorbers: Medium-high Stabilizers: Medium-low Brake Balance : Medium-high Gear Ratio (Auto Setting): Medium-Wide Downforce: As low as possible ==================================== SWISS ALPS (II) This is another dirt-based track in Rally Events. This is a rather tricky venue, with many blind and semi-blind corners. Also, the circuit narrows for the wooden bridge on its back side, but this narrowing is VERY difficult to spot, especially in the reverse configuration as the entry to the bridge is shrouded in dark sunset shadows. Spring Rate: Soft Ride Height: High Shock Absorbers: Soft Stabilizers: Medium-high Brake Balance : Medium Gear Ratio (Auto Setting): Medium Downforce: Medium ==================================== TAHITI CIRCUIT (II) This is another dirt-based track in Rally Events. This is a fairly quick circuit in terms of speed, although the consecutive hairpins can be tricky. Spring Rate: Soft Ride Height: Medium-high Shock Absorbers: Soft Stabilizers: Medium-high Brake Balance : Medium Gear Ratio (Auto Setting): Medium Downforce: Medium-low ==================================== TAHITI MAZE (II) This is another dirt-based track in Rally Events, and is the absolute trickiest Rally Events circuit. This circuit very much feels like a maze, as there are multiple consecutive hairpins in multiple sections of the circuit. Due to the importance of cornering and the very short straightaways, do not expect to attain high speeds. Spring Rate: Soft Ride Height: Medium-high Shock Absorbers: Soft Stabilizers: Medium-low Brake Balance : Medium Gear Ratio (Auto Setting): Medium-low Downforce: Medium-high ==================================== TEST COURSE This is one of the easiest circuits for finding optimal car set-ups. There is absolutely NO reason to use the brakes here at all. Spring Rate: As hard as possible Ride Height: As low as possible Shock Absorbers: As hard as possible Stabilizers: As high as possible Brake Balance : Does not matter - the brakes are not needed at all Gear Ratio (Auto Setting): VERY close to Wide, but NOT fully-Wide (or else the engine will likely not be able to rev high enough to climb into and remain in the car's highest gears) Downforce: As low as possible ==================================== TOKYO R246 (II) Set in Tokyo surrounding the grounds of the Imperial Palace, Tokyo R246 is a fun, fast, mostly-flat, semi-technical circuit which is very reminiscent of Ridge Racer V on Pit Straight (those familiar with RRV may well wonder why Fukami Ai is not standing in the middle of Pit Straight). The back section of the circuit features fast consecutive blind and semi-blind corners, so intimate knowledge of the circuit is required to perform well here. Spring Rate: Medium-high Ride Height: Low Shock Absorbers: Medium-high Stabilizers: Medium-low Brake Balance : High Gear Ratio (Auto Setting): Medium-Wide Downforce: Medium-low ==================================== TRIAL MOUNTAIN (II) The Trial Mountain venue is largely contained within tall rock cliffs, which means that there is very little run-off room in case a player makes a mistake and leaves the pavement. This is a moderately-technical circuit, with impressive speeds attainable on Pit Straight and the back stretch (in and emerging from the tunnel). Spring Rate: Medium-high Ride Height: Medium Shock Absorbers: Medium-high Stabilizers: Medium-low Brake Balance : Medium-high Gear Ratio (Auto Setting): Medium-Wide Downforce: Medium-low ==================================== ==================================== ==================================== CONTACT INFORMATION For questions, rants, raves, comments of appreciation, etc., or to be added to my e-mail list for updates to this driving guide, please contact me at: FEATHER7@IX.NETCOM.COM; also, if you have enjoyed this guide and feel that it has been helpful to you, I would certainly appreciate a small donation via PayPal (http://www.paypal.com/) using the above e-mail address. To find the latest version of this and all my other PSX/PS2 game guides, please visit FeatherGuides (http://www.angelcities.com/members/feathersites/). The latest version will always be posted at FeatherGuides, while other Web sites may lag behind by several days in their regularly-scheduled posting updates. ==================================== ==================================== ==================================== ======================================================================= Wolf Feather Jamie Stafford ======================================================================= Just as there are many parts needed to make a human a human, there's a remarkable number of things needed to make an individual what they are. - Major Kusanagi, _Ghost in the Shell_ ======================================================================= What isn't remembered never happened. - _Serial Experiments Lain_ =======================================================================