For Gran Turismo enthusiasts tackling endurance races, finding the right car and strategy can dramatically change the experience from grueling to enjoyable. Recently, the CLK LM has emerged as a surprisingly user-friendly option for dominating races like Daytona, Le Mans, and beyond, proving its potential as a top contender for the “best car” for this type of challenge within the game.
Across various tracks, the CLK LM demonstrates remarkable consistency and ease of use. On circuits like Dragon Trail, victory margins can be significant, with leads of almost 40 seconds achieved by simply cruising with hard tires and utilizing fuel map settings 1 or 2. Short shifting around halfway on the tachometer ensures efficient fuel consumption, often leading to a straightforward one-stop strategy for refueling only. Lago Maggiore and Deep Tokyo Street Circuit (DTS) present similar scenarios, with the CLK LM pulling ahead comfortably, albeit slightly later in the DTS race around lap 7. Fuji Speedway becomes manageable with a single stop for intermediate tires, or for the truly confident, sticking with slicks can also work as the AI tends to pit for slicks even on the last lap, creating an advantage.
Suzuka presents a slight variable due to unpredictable weather patterns in the game events. However, with luck avoiding heavy rain, Suzuka can also be conquered without switching to wet tires, maintaining a fairly simple race. Monza could be more unpredictable, as observed instances of leading AI Viper cars pitting erratically might influence race dynamics, potentially making it easier or harder depending on these AI behaviors. Catalunya proved to be the most challenging, mainly attributed to track complexity. Despite personal struggles with this circuit, employing strategic corner cutting in the final chicane on lap 9 ensured a win, highlighting the car’s competitive edge even when driver skill is tested.
The success seen with the CLK LM isn’t isolated. Detuned older GT500 cars are likely to offer comparable performance for these races, suggesting a broader range of vehicles can be effective with the right setup. While the CLK LM hasn’t been tested yet at Daytona and Le Mans in this particular strategy, initial experiences in those races suggest that a beefed-up Gr3 car might actually be better suited than a detuned Gr2 car, based on previous winning experiences with Gr3 vehicles.
In conclusion, while the title of “Best Car In The World” is subjective and depends heavily on context, the Mercedes-Benz CLK LM stands out as an exceptionally user-friendly and effective vehicle for conquering endurance races in Gran Turismo. Its balance of speed, fuel efficiency, and manageable handling, combined with a simple racing strategy, makes it a strong recommendation for players seeking easier victories in these challenging events.
