GRAN TURISMO 3: IB LICENSE GUIDE by Jamie Stafford/Wolf Feather feather7@ix.netcom.com Version: FINAL VERSION Initial version completed: May 25, 2002 Current version completed: July 10, 2002 ==================================== ==================================== ==================================== JOIN THE FEATHERGUIDES E-MAIL LIST: To be the first to know when my new and updated guides are released, join the FeatherGuides E-mail List. Go to http://www.coollist.com/group.cgi?l=featherguides for information about the list and to subscribe for free. ==================================== ==================================== ==================================== CONTENTS Spacing Permissions Introduction License IB-1 License IB-2 License IB-3 License IB-4 License IB-5 License IB-6 License IB-7 License IB-8 Contact ==================================== ==================================== ==================================== SPACING For optimum readability, this driving guide should be viewed/printed using a monowidth font, such as Courier. Check for appropriate font setting by making sure the numbers and letters below line up: 1234567890123456789012345678901234567890123456789012 ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZabcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz ==================================== PERMISSIONS This driving guide may only be posted on: FeatherGuides, GameFAQs.com, f1gamers.com, PSXCodez.com, Cheatcc.com, Games Domain, gamesover.com, Absolute-PlayStation.com, RedCoupe, InsidePS2Games.com, CheatPlanet.com, The Cheat Empire, gamespot.com, ps2domain.net, a2zweblinks.com, Gameguru, ps2replay.com, cheatingplanet.com, neoseeker.com, RobsGaming.com, ps2fantasy.com, gamespot.com, and vgstrategies.com. Please contact me for permission to post elsewhere on the Internet. Permission is granted to download and print one copy for personal use. ==================================== ==================================== ==================================== INTRODUCTION This guide is designed to provide tips in acquiring an International B (IB) License in Gran Turismo 3; the goal, therefore, is to assist drivers in earning a Bronze Medal. The IB License is not necessarily difficult to obtain, but the test venues themselves require strong familiarity with medium-powered vehicles to ensure that proper braking points are observed. ==================================== ==================================== ==================================== LICENSE IB-1 Skill: Circle Track: 60R, Wet Road Car Used: Corvette Z06 Gold Time: 0'49.600 Silver Time: 0'50.200 Bronze Time: 0'52.800 Wet-conditions driving is actually only used within Rally Events, which requires a Rally License for entry, so the fact that wet-conditions driving is part of the IB License tests is surprising. Here, the object is to start from a standstill and complete three laps around a circular track. Due to the track configuration and the water on the road, the car will tend to slide if too much throttle or turning is used. The water will make the car want to hydroplane if too much speed is used, yet speed is key to completing this test in time. Knocking over the cones on the inside of the course results in immediate failure, so take care if making use of the rumble strip. ==================================== LICENSE IB-2 Skill: Circle Track: 100R, Wet Road Car Used: Corvette Z06 Gold Time: 1'01.600 Silver Time: 1'02.400 Bronze Time: 1'05.500 Wet-conditions driving is actually only used within Rally Events, which requires a Rally License for entry, so the fact that wet-conditions driving is part of the IB License tests is surprising. Here, the object is to start from a standstill and complete three laps around a circular track which is larger than the previous track. Due to the track configuration and the water on the road, the car will tend to slide if too much throttle or turning is used. The water will make the car want to hydroplane if too much speed is used, yet speed is key to completing this test in time. Knocking over the cones on the inside of the course results in immediate failure, so take care if making use of the rumble strip. ==================================== LICENSE IB-3 Skill: Braking & Cornering I Car Used: S2000 Type V(J) Gold Time: 0'22.450 Silver Time: 0'23.000 Bronze Time: 0'24.500 This tricky test takes place at Seattle, coming off the back straightaway (the long bridge before arriving at the old and new stadiums) and around the chicane. Braking at the right moment is key to passing this test, as is keeping tight apexes through the chicane. Also, the railroad tracks can cause the car to bounce, which can lead to a loss of control. ==================================== LICENSE IB-4 Skill: Braking & Cornering II Car Used: Corvette Z06 Gold Time: 0'19.700 Silver Time: 0'20.000 Bronze Time: 0'21.200 This test also takes place in Seattle, specifically the very beginning of the Seattle circuit. Proper braking is important here to safely clear the hairpin turn, but what is key here is car control, as the car wants to oversteer exiting the hairpin. ==================================== LICENSE IB-5 Skill: Turning Acceleration & Weight Shift Car Used: RUF 3400S Gold Time: 0'28.800 Silver Time: 0'29.300 Bronze Time: 0'30.500 This test begins just before the final tunnel at Grand Valley and involves a standing start; proper wheelspin management can save time. As this is a standing start, it is necessary to power through the tunnel at full acceleration. However, the tight decreasing-radius apexes of the chicane combined with the car's tendency to oversteer is what makes this test particularly challenging. Once clear of the chicane, keep to the left of the pavement to shave off a little more time in the final run to the end of the test zone. ==================================== LICENSE IB-6 Skill: Fast Slalom I: Assist ON Car Used: RUF RGT Gold Time: 0'23.900 Silver Time: 0'24.200 Bronze Time: 0'26.200 This is the first of two 'slalom' tests at Complex String. This is not a traditional slalom in that there are no obstacles which must be cleared, as in the license tests for Gran Turismo 2 or in slalom downhill skiing. Instead, the course keeps alternating between left and right turns. The Stability Control System is activated for this test. Use of the rumble strips at the apexes can decrease time, but the test ends in immediate failure if one of the apex cones is knocked over. Car control is important as well, combined with anticipation of the following corner to keep a pristine racing line; once the racing line is lost, it is difficult to regain it and still pass the test. ==================================== LICENSE IB-7 Skill: Fast Slalom II: Assist OFF Car Used: RUF RGT Gold Time: 0'24.000 Silver Time: 0'24.300 Bronze Time: 0'26.300 This is the second of two 'slalom' tests at Complex String. This is not a traditional slalom in that there are no obstacles which must be cleared, as in the license tests for Gran Turismo 2 or in slalom downhill skiing. Instead, the course keeps alternating between left and right turns. The Stability Control System is NOT activated for this test, which makes flawless driving and gentle tapping of the brakes much more important than in the previous test. Use of the rumble strips at the apexes can decrease time, but the test ends in immediate failure if one of the apex cones is knocked over. Car control is important as well, combined with anticipation of the following corner to keep a pristine racing line; once the racing line is lost, it is difficult to regain it and still pass the test. ==================================== LICENSE IB-8 Skill: International B License Final Exam Car Used: NSX Type S Zero(J) Gold Time: 0'31.700 Silver Time: 0'32.000 Bronze Time: 0'33.700 This test comprises nearly the entire first half of the Apricot Hill circuit. The trickiest area of the test is the second corner, a left-hand blind corner on a decreasing radius immediately following the first left-hand semi-blind corner; fortunately, the slight banking of Turn 2 will help somewhat if the car begins to slide to the outside of the corner. Because Turn 2 is tight and blind, drivers should brake early from the outside on entry and keep tight to the apex, likely braking this entire time. Once safely past Turn 2, the course makes a brief downhill run to Turn 3, where it begins an uphill climb with several high-speed corners. Slight braking may be required for these turns, but with the large expanses of sand along both sides of the pavement, dropping a wheel off the pavement and rumble strips will almost certainly mean failing the test due to taking too much time. This test can only be attempted once the previous seven tests have all been successfully passed with a Bronze Medal (or better). ==================================== ==================================== ==================================== CONTACT INFORMATION For questions, rants, raves, comments of appreciation, etc., please contact me at: FEATHER7@IX.NETCOM.COM; also, if you have enjoyed this guide and feel that it has been helpful to you, I would certainly appreciate a small donation via PayPal (http://www.paypal.com/) using the above e-mail address. To find the latest version of this and all my other PSX/PS2 game guides, please visit FeatherGuides (http://www.angelcities.com/members/feathersites/). The latest version will always be posted at FeatherGuides, while other Web sites may lag behind by several days in their regularly-scheduled posting updates. ==================================== ==================================== ==================================== ======================================================================= Wolf Feather Jamie Stafford ======================================================================= Just as there are many parts needed to make a human a human, there's a remarkable number of things needed to make an individual what they are. - Major Kusanagi, _Ghost in the Shell_ ======================================================================= What isn't remembered never happened. - _Serial Experiments Lain_ =======================================================================