7 Easter eggs you can find throughout the Gran Turismo games

There are Easter eggs to find throughout the Gran Turismo franchise - if you know where to look.

So, with Easter on the way, we're here to pick out seven of our favourite hidden secrets or gags throughout the various Gran Turismo games in the series.

1. Smoke at the Apricot Hill Raceway (Gran Turismo 4)

The Apricot Hill Raceway is one of the classic Gran Turismo tracks that was present in the series between Gran Turismo 2 and Gran Turismo 5. But there was something slightly odd about it in Gran Turismo 4. 

If you drive around the circuit backwards and head around the first corner, you will notice a large cloud of smoke in the distance above a mountain range.

Why is it there? Nobody knows, but it's certainly peculiar.

2. The Loch Ness Monster at Trial Mountain (Gran Turismo 4, 5 & 6)

From strange smoke to a mythical monster. 

One of the best Gran Turismo Easter eggs is the presence of the Loch Ness Monster overlooking the lake at turn 13 of the iconic Trial Mountain track. 

The famous Scottish tourist trap isn’t alone in the water either, with two men in a small boat close by. 

3. Creepy faces at Trial Mountain (Gran Turismo 5)

Sticking with the Trial Mountain track, we have perhaps one of the biggest mysteries of the Gran Turismo series; what’s with these creepy faces that can be found in the rocks of the hill just before the Loch Ness Monster turn?

If you line up the car to look at the wall, you might be able to spot a weird-looking face carved into the side of it. What’s even weirder is that the more you look at the face, the more faces you can spot each side of it.

4. “Jenkins” the cat (Gran Turismo 5, Sport)

Perhaps one of the most well known and best loved Gran Turismo Easter eggs is Jenkins the cat!

Affectionately named “Jenkins” by fans in forums and message boards, you can find this feline at the Kyoto Photo Travel Location in Gran Turismo 5.

The story goes that it's actually based on a real-life cat called Primary. She belonged to one of the Polyphony Digital employees who got married during the game's development. So the game’s designers decided to include this 3D model of the cat in the game as a wedding present to the employee.

You can also see Primary in Gran Turismo Sport, in one of the Christmas-themed photoscapes.

5. The Sony HQ at Tokyo R246 (Gran Turismo 5)

The exciting Tokyo R246 street circuit was a stalwart of Gran Turismo games 3 through to 6.

Interestingly, you can find the Sony HQ here, located just beyond the main start-line straight.

There's also the Honda head office further along the track too, where a hidden bronze-level trophy can be achieved. Called “Take Your Honda Home”, you naturally need to take a photo of a Honda in front of the building.

6. Hidden message underneath the Nissan GTR R34 (Gran Turismo 5)

One of the most popular hidden gems of the Gran Turismo series is the message underneath the Nissan GTR R34 in Gran Turismo 5. But you have to flip the car over to find it!

Once you do flip the car, you’ll find the message "Thanks for finding this! :)" written by the developers. Pretty neat, right?

7. Nicky Hayden tribute at Laguna Seca (Gran Turismo Sport)

The next time you're racing at the Laguna Seca track in Gran Turismo Sport, keep an eye out just before the final corner for a large star-spangled number 69 on the right side of the track. 

This is a tribute to the 2006 MotoGP world champion Nicky Hayden - one of the most popular motorcycle racers of his generation - who wore the number 69 on his bike.

Gran Turismo 7

You'll have to wait a little longer for Gran Turismo 7. It was recently announced that the next game in the series has been delayed until 2022.

For now, we'll have to make do with the awesome trailer instead.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oz-O74SmTSQ&ab_channel=PlayStation