Fans of virtual and real-world motor racing and cars can now enjoy Gran Turismo, the latest film from PlayStation Productions and Sony Pictures which debuted in South African cinemas on 11 August 2023. Michelin is the official tire partner of the film and provided all the necessary rubber which can now be seen on the big screen.
Gran Turismo is based on the unbelievable true story of a team of unlikely underdogs – a struggling working-class gamer (Archie Madekwe), a failed former racecar driver (David Harbour), and an idealistic motorsport executive (Orlando Bloom). Together, they risk it all to take on the most elite sport in the world. Gran Turismo is an inspiring, thrilling, and action-packed story that proves that nothing is impossible when you’re fueled from within.
Gran Turismo was filmed on location on real racetracks around the world – including the Slovakia Ring in Slovakia, the Dubai Autodrome, the Nürburgring, the Red Bull Ring in Austria, and the Hungaroring – and uses real Michelin tires, like the Pilot Sport 4S and Pilot Sport Cup 2 R, on all the films cars.
For those scenes that feature particularly high-performance racing cars, Michelin has not hesitated to fit what it terms ‘confidential’ tires which pack some of the same cutting-edge technologies as those that compete at Le Mans in real life.
Michelin races ahead of the pack
Michelin’s involvement with the Sony Pictures film dovetails perfectly with its partnership with the video game Gran Turismo 7, the seventh iteration in the video game franchise first released in 1997 by Polyphony Digital Inc., a subsidiary of Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.
As part of its partnership with Sony, Michelin provides Gran Turismo 7 with the world’s most advanced racing tires, the fruit not only of the company’s unique expertise in the field of mathematical tire modelling, but also of the smart data it collects in real-world international motor racing.
The actual latest-generation Hypercar and GTP prototypes for Le Mans, FIA World Endurance Championship and IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, all race on Michelin tires that were developed entirely in virtual form on the simulator. As a data-driven business, the Group has also invested in the most innovative and sophisticated simulation technologies for its work alongside its numerous automobile manufacturer partners as they develop new models of vehicles.
Last but not least, Gran Turismo provides Michelin with an opportunity to engage with a broad cross-generational audience of fans and non-fans to promote the brand and showcase the technological advancement it enjoys in the field of virtual tires.