Sony Computer Entertainment America LLC has launched, this week, a special update to the game Gran Turismo 6, for the PlayStation 3. Available starting this month, the new content is a tribute to Ayrton Senna that will enable players to trace the roots of his racing career and relive some of the legend’s best moments, including his pole position laps on circuits such as Brands Hatch and Monza.
GT6 owners will be able to experience these historic moments through a free online update available starting on May 27. Upon downloading the latest update, a dedicated Ayrton Senna section will be made available on the main menu.
As in every game in the series, players who win a medal (bronze, silver or gold) in any of Senna’s legendary challenges will take the respective car to their virtual garages. Drivers will also have the option to purchase the vehicle with in-game credits from the Ayrton Senna dealership without having to complete the seasonal event.
The new in-game content releases include one of Senna’s first go-karts, built by DAP, which helped start his racing career, and the Lotus 97T that Senna drove during his second Formula 1 season in 1985 when he tallied seven poles. In addition to his cars, the in-game update includes Senna Challenges, which place gamers in the same courses driven by Senna, challenging them to beat his legendary lap times. The update includes:
· Lotus 97T
o Course: 1985 Monza layout
o Target Time: Senna’s 1:25:084 pole-position time
· Lotus 97T
o Course: 1985 Brands Hatch layout
o Target Time: Senna’s 1:07:169 pole-position time
“To racing fans around the world, the name Senna evokes a range of emotions. This speaks volumes about what Ayrton Senna represents to so many people. For me, he is a personal hero; someone who inspired me to go on the course I am on today,” said Kazunori Yamauchi, creator of Gran Turismo and President of Polyphony Digital, Inc. “I am honored to be able to introduce him to the younger generation of racing fans through Gran Turismo. I feel it is a responsibility and privilege to continue his work and legacy through the Ayrton Senna Institute and am grateful to be able to do my part in fulfilling his wish to improve the lives of the millions of children who are supported by the Institute.”
The Senna update is the continuation of the partnership announced at the Brazil Game Show in 2013 between the Gran Turismo franchise and the Ayrton Senna Institute. The partnership celebrates the life and achievements of Ayrton Senna by immortalizing his career in the world’s best-selling racing franchise, and more significantly, benefits the non-profit organization that is shaping the lives of millions of children in Brazil.
To celebrate 20 years of Senna’s legacy, Gran Turismo and the Ayrton Senna Institute launched, on May 1st, a tribute website that allows fans to follow the driver’s life through videos and a two-part presentation, including personal archive pictures that resulted in the game’s update, on May 27th. Fans can also watch a short-film called “Ayrton’s Wishes” that shows how the Institute carried through Senna’s dream of giving children and teenagers access to education in Brazil.
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