Gran Turismo 7 features several racing classes, grouping race cars by performance level and trying to provide an equitable BoP to produce close racing. Gr.1 is the highest performance tier available in the game, barring a few outlier cars that aren’t part of official groups.
What Are Gr.1 Cars in GT7
Gr.1 in Gran Turismo is composed of Le Mans top runners from various eras and modified VGT cars that align in concept and spirit with the spirit of WEC / IMSA top category.
In GT7, you will find Group C cars, LMP1s, VGTs, and an LMH car. While these can be very different, the common ground is a lot of downforce and a lot of power, making these cars extremely quick and challenging the driver’s reflexes. If you are already used to Gr.2 cornering speeds, you shouldn’t have too much trouble adjusting to these; otherwise, figuring out how much you can actually push them will keep you busy for quite some time.
How We Made The List
Our opinion is mostly based on driving BoP’s default setups with racing hard tyres, but fitting softer compounds on these cars will not mask their differences in any significant way. Now, with Gr.1, any change in the race parameters can completely shift the meta since different cars have very different strengths and weaknesses, be that in terms of speed or endurance.
We decided to highlight a few cars of different archetypes to create a collection of Gr.1 cars we think will give you all the tools needed to be ready for any situation. With Gr.1 cars being 1 to 3+ million credits each, it is essential to spend your money wisely.
The Different Types of Gr.1 Cars
All drivetrain layouts are available in Gr.1 – yes, even front wheel drive, although we don’t really recommend the Nissan GT-R LM Nismo LMP1 if you want to win races. It is more pertinent to separate them into the 3 following main philosophies.
Top speed cars – Some of the Gr.1 cars are focused on reaching the highest top speed possible on tracks like Le Mans or Monza, at the cost of cornering and acceleration. All the old Group C cars fit into that category.
Hybrid cars – This category could be split into sub-groups, as nearly every car in this group has a different type of hybrid system, energy deployment method and battery capacity. But they all have in common insane acceleration out of low-speed corners, to the detriment of top speed, usually. That makes them the fastest-lapping cars on most tracks.
Endurance cars – The relatively modern non-hybrid LMP1 cars and some VGT Gr.1s can be pooled together in this group of cars. Some of them can have an edge in races where fuel management is an important factor.
Delta is the first-ever telemetry tool for GT7 that gives you the ability to analyse your racing lines, braking and throttle management to gain lap time like never before.
Our Top Picks
SAUBER MERCEDES C9 ‘89
| Horse Power | Weight | Drivetrain | Performance Points | Cost |
| 720hp | 893kg | MR | 881pp | 3,300,000 Cr |
Everyone should own a Group C car, if only for the Le Mans sprint races. They are all pretty well balanced together under BoP, but the Sauber is probably the most balanced out of the 4. Only the Porsche 962 is more easily tamed.
PORSCHE 919 HYBRID ‘16
| Horse Power | Weight | Drivetrain | Performance Points | Cost |
| 506hp | 875kg | 4WD | 935pp | 3,000,000 Cr |
The Porsche 919 is the best all-around Gr.1 car. It is often the fastest of all LMP1s over a lap and is just pretty good in all situations. Other hybrid LMP1s can be better in specific conditions, but the 919 is always a safe choice.
PEUGEOT 908 HDI FAP ‘10
| Horse Power | Weight | Drivetrain | Performance Points | Cost |
| 710hp | 930kg | MR | 928pp | 1,000,000 Cr |
The diesel-powered cars are incredibly efficient at fuel saving due to the great amount of low-end torque available, allowing you to short shift them with minimal time loss. The 908 has proven to be a winning choice in Nations Cup races when fuel consumption rates were high, due to the fact the drivers who picked it were able to avoid stopping.
MAZDA LM55 VGT (GR1)
| Horse Power | Weight | Drivetrain | Performance Points | Cost |
| 650hp | 880kg | 4WD | 928pp | 1,000,000 Cr |
Finally, the Mazda LM55 is a must-have in your collection. Its top speed is not too far off the Group C cars, but it’s easier to drive due to its permanent 4-wheel drive system. It does feel a bit like a dragster and doesn’t corner as fast as LMP1s, but there have been races where the LM55 ended up dominating the field.
To Summarise
Gr.1 is a very heterogeneous class and, quite frankly, not the most balanced overall. It is best to see it as multiple classes just shoehorned together and try to keep it down to a single real-life class if you’re planning to host your own events. For Sport Mode, every race is a different situation, depending on the track and race parameters, and the answer is not always obvious, so you will have to do your homework to be competitive in Gr.1.
