In the past, when he was still at school, he used to recognise the cars on the roads from afar. Brands, models – he could allocate every little detail. And today it is no different. Kazunori Yamauchi is crazy about cars. What’s more: he’s a perfectionist. But above all, he is the mastermind behind the “Gran Turismo®” series. That racing simulation that is one of the most successful console games in the world. That is entirely the achievement of this modest Japanese man. With his love of detail and his uncompromising will, he has created an almost perfect reality which captivates millions of enthusiastic players.
Mercedes AMG Vision Gran Turismo
On the Thursday of the Festival of Speed, Yamauchi showed the world that the possible can still be stretched a little bit further. At the same time that the Central Feature was unveiled on the lawn in front of Goodwood House, there was an update available for “Gran Turismo® 6”: the sculpture by British artist Gerry Judah, with the W25 Silver Arrow and Lewis Hamilton’s Mercedes-Benz AMG Petronas W04 Formula 1, is now not only located in Sussex, but also exists virtually on the Playstation Goodwood hillclimb course.
Judah said that creating the sculpture for the 120-year motor racing jubilee of Mercedes-Benz was an extraordinary opportunity. “For this we have pushed the limits of what is possible with size and complexity in engineering, with a 160 tonne steel arch connecting two of their great historic cars over the top of Goodwood House. The sculpture also celebrates the dynamic between Mercedes-Benz and the Festival of Speed, which for me is a pleasure and a privilege to be involved with,” said Judah.
The fact that all the details of the steel design can be found in the game is the result of close cooperation between Yamauchi and Judah. Right back in the planning stage, the two worked closely together with the aim of digitalising the design of the sculpture in the best way possible. Every corner, every curve, even the weld seams correspond to the 25-metre-high original. The result is truly impressive, for it is far more than just an update for the Goodwood hillclimb course in a game.
Mercedes AMG Vision Gran Turismo Goodwood Festival of Speed
It is a homage to the fastest garden party in the world, and above all to Mercedes-Benz. The Japanese mastermind has for years valued the cooperation with Stuttgart, which culminated in the Mercedes-Benz AMG Vision Gran Turismo showcar for the 15th. anniversary of the racing series.
At the market launch of the newest part of the “Gran Turismo®” series, the Mercedes-Benz Advanced Design Studios in Sindelfingen and Como designed an exclusive sports car which celebrated its public debut last year at the Los Angeles Auto Show.
And it was the depth of detail of the Mercedes-Benz AMG Vision Gran Turismo that so delighted Yamauchi. The powerfully extreme proportions and also the sensually flowing shape of the body, the classic quotations of the sports car radiator grille with the central star, or the modern LED lighting: it was the combination of all of these that created the attraction for the Japanese expert. “The exterior of a car, its movements, the feel of driving it and the portrayal of the scenery around the car must be as detailed and realistic as possible. Creation begins with precise, meticulous observation.”
Via: Mercedes-Benz
