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The Gran Turismo 3: A-spec Apocalypse Zone

Apricot Hill

Carried over from GT2, and probably the most "realistic" of the tracks. Except for the real ones. Apart from the chicane, this track is a joy to drive on:

Apricot Hill I:

  1. Accelerate like crazy down the straight. Take up position on the right of the track, ready for the double-apex left up ahead.
  2. There's some confusion up on this corner as to what the best line is. I find that if you take the entry to the first part at full speed, brake heavily as you hit the apex down into third gear, clip the second apex and accelerate hard, you'll get through with little fuss. Take position on the left for the up-coming 3rd gear complex.
  3. Ideally you want to be accelerating throughout this whole section. Take a very flat line across the first, right-hander. Move across to the right and take another flat approach to the left-hander. You should be roughly left of centre upon the exit, giving you a nice angle to attack the next right. You should also be up another gear by now.
  4. The approach to the back-straight. Take a wide entry into the sweeping left, 4th gear should suffice. Only plant your foot (thumb) hard down when you see the white hospitality tent up ahead. Keep it squeezed all the way down the straight.
  5. Move across to the left and wait until the gear indicator flashes before you stomp on the brakes. Another flat entry here should see you get away with 3rd gear for the hairpin right, but don't accelerate too early, or you'll either go off the left into the kitty litter, or spin it. Nail it up the hill.
  6. The most difficult section to do fast. You'll want to take up position on the right and take a very flat entry into the left 3rd/4th gear. On exiting the corner you must be on the left, ready for the right/left chicane. This can be taken without braking further from the previous corner, if you get the line right. The line is roughly so that your right hand tyres just nudge the rumble strip on the right, but for the left corner your car is entirely on the strip. It's difficult to judge, but with practice you'll find you can make the left turn a lot earlier than makes sense.
  7. Gun it round the left hander ahead - full speed - and wazz across the line

Key Corner - The Chicane.



Apricot Hill II:

  1. Again, nail it up the hill, taking position on the left this time. As you pass beneath the bridge, get on the brakes - but not too hard. If you can turn in early enough, you won't need to worry 4th gear. Leave it too late, however, and there's a big run-off on the left waiting to greet you.
  2. The chicane. This time it's really easy - even easier for the AI, because they just plough over the gravel. For a nice, clean line, stick to the left, hit 3rd gear, turn in late for the right, early for the left and off up the hill. Make sure you make the sweeping right just afterwards - too much to the right on exiting the chicane and you'll understeer right out of track.
  3. Down the hill towards the hairpin. Not so tough this time. Keep to the right of centre, jump on the brakes until you hit 2nd, then blast up the hill. Eat some rumble strip on the right (unless you're in a tuned Elise...)
  4. Move to the left and make a minor effort towards braking. Take the sweeping right nice and easy, accelerating only when you see the blue huts up ahead. 5th gear should be no problem around here.
  5. Into the complex again. The first, left-hander is the hardest here, as you can accelerate through the rest like before. The apex is blind - you have to guess your turn-in time - but 4th gear should be enough to cope. Keep your line (right-apex-apex-right-apex-left) smooth, and this shouldn't cause too much problem.
  6. The double apex corner again. This time, the first is a nightmare, and I'm sure I still haven't got it right. My method is to brake hard on the left-hand side, down to 3rd gear, then blast across the apex and keep it nailed for the second. Too much power too soon and you're off left into some very, very sticky gravel. Blow down the straight and across the line.

Key Corner - Corner 10 (entry to the double-apex).