Spain Shines, Subaru Surges: Thrilling Opening to Gran Turismo World Series 2025 in London

The 2025 Gran Turismo World Series kicked off in spectacular style in London, with the Nations Cup and Manufacturers Cup delivering high drama, tactical brilliance, and unforgettable final-lap battles. Fans at BBC Studioworks witnessed elite sim racing at its finest as Spain dominated the Nations Cup while Subaru edged BMW in a Manufacturers Cup showdown.

Nations Cup: Serrano and Urra Deliver Spanish Masterclass

The Nations Cup opener saw a commanding Spanish performance, with Jose Serrano and Pol Urra securing a dominant one-two finish. The pair controlled the 30-lap main race from the front after an excellent showing in the qualifying sessions using Aston Martin Valkyries. The main event took place on the reverse layout of Grand Valley Highway, an unorthodox track known for its limited overtaking zones—though that didn’t stop the action.

Using the Red Bull X2019 Competition car, strategy became the name of the game. With three tyre compounds in play, drivers were only required to use two. While the pre-race expectation was that the hard tyre would be a necessary evil, a quartet of drivers—Serrano and Urra among them—managed to preserve their soft tyres long enough to bypass the slower hard compound altogether.

Italy’s Valerio Gallo and Japan’s Takuma Sasaki tried a similar gamble, but the Spaniards’ final pit stop one lap later gave them fresher tyres and a strategic edge. Meanwhile, the likes of Kylian Drumont (France) and Takuma Miyazono (Japan), who had earlier won the Manufacturers Cup, found their hard-tyre strategies fall apart late in the race.

A late-race surge from Dutch driver Kaj de Bruin electrified the crowd, as he climbed from 10th to the front before a costly mistake ended his charge. Ultimately, it came down to a Spanish duel on the final lap. Urra made a bold move five corners from the end but lost traction, allowing Serrano to retake the lead and clinch Spain’s first victory of the season.

Nations Cup – Round 1 Results:

Manufacturers Cup: Subaru’s Miyazono Beats BMW in Classic Duel

Earlier in the day, the Manufacturers Cup delivered a thrilling 20-lap race that came down to a photo finish between Subaru’s Takuma Miyazono and BMW’s Seiya Suzuki. Racing inside the BBC Studioworks—typically home to the Graham Norton Show—the all-Japanese grid faced off with strategic mastery.

Both front-row starters opted for soft tyres, while the rest of the field went with mediums. This allowed Miyazono and Suzuki to pull clear early. Miyazono, known for his strategic patience, stayed glued to Suzuki’s rear wing until Lap 18, when he launched a daring move into the hairpin. Suzuki countered immediately with the BMW's superior straight-line speed.

On the final lap, Suzuki defended aggressively, covering the inside lines, but left just enough room at the hairpin. Miyazono seized the moment, sliding the BRZ through to claim victory for Subaru.

While the top two fought their own battle, chaos unfolded behind. Porsche’s Shota Sato was sent into the wall after contact with Lexus driver Kanata Kawakami, allowing Ryota Kokubun to secure third for Mazda.

Manufacturers Cup – Round 1 Results:

The 2025 Gran Turismo World Series is off to a fiery start. With Spain and Subaru leading the standings, the stage is set for a season packed with rivalries, high-stakes drama, and masterclass racecraft. The next round can’t come soon enough.