There’s a severe lack of kart content in Gran Turismo Sport.
Sure, the go-kart itself is relatively easy to get hold of, and the kart races are there - and tons of fun to compete in. But in truth, karting just felt much better in GT5 and GT6.
Why was kart racing more enjoyable in the older editions of the GT franchise, then? Perhaps it had something to do with the lack of any dedicated kart racing tracks in the current game.
Kart tracks in Gran Turismo Sport
Unbelievably, there are no dedicated kart tracks in GT Sport.
They're there… sort of. For example, the Spa-Francorchamps kart track is in the game (if you use some free-camera wizardry) but we’re unable to drive there. But the likes of the Autumn Ring ‘Mini’, the Silverstone Stowe Circuit and the wonderful Kart Space track are all absent.
Kart Space was a fan favourite in both GT5 and GT6. Having first appeared in GT5 as part of a downloadable Course Pack, its popularity saw it reappear in GT6 outright. But it’s nowhere to be found in GT Sport - and that’s a huge shame.
It was a unique circuit, with its sweeping bends, colourful lights and fascinating design making it one of the most fun places to race in the entire series. It was also the first indoor circuit to appear in Gran Turismo - and its quirkiness was said to be a nod to the much-loved Rainbow Road in the Mario Kart series.
Karts in Gran Turismo 7
Of course, little is known about GT7 - and absolutely nothing is known about whether or not karting will feature more in the next game.
So for now, all we can do is hope - but kart tracks simply must return for GT7. When it’s done properly, kart racing can be one of the most enjoyable aspects of the entire series, serving up close racing in a distinctive setting and at a user-friendly pace.
As you can imagine, we're really excited for Gran Turismo 7, although the release of the game will be delayed until 2022.
So for now, let's enjoy the announcement trailer from last year!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oz-O74SmTSQ&ab_channel=PlayStation
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