Gran Turismo Filming Locations
This year is the year of the game-to-movie adaptations! From The Super Mario Bros. Movie to The Last of Us, both gamers and movie buffs have something new and exciting to enjoy. Neill Blomkamp’s Gran Turismo movie already promises an inspiring story, captivating filming locations, and legendary actors. Many have watched iconic films such as Senna and Ford vs. Ferrari. However, this is the first time we see an incredible story of a boy gamer who became a professional racer through winning a video game competition. The trailer already looks compelling, with familiar faces as David Harbour (Jack Salter), Orlando Bloom (Danny Moore), and Archie Madekwe (Jann Mardenborough). Certainly, many are super excited about the movie’s release this summer.
Without further ado, let’s race through the thrilling Gran Turismo filming locations! Ready? Buckle up and get ready for the countdown: 3, 2, 1, Start!
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Budapest, Hungary
Remarkably, the filming of Gran Turismo took only seven weeks, with Budapest as a starting point. The production began in November of 2022, and after the crew traveled the world to capture thrilling race rings, the movie wrapped in December of 2022. With its vibrant atmosphere and versatile settings, Budapest has earned a reputation as a hub for numerous film productions that feature thrilling sequences.
Some of the most popular movies filmed here include “Red Sparrow,” “Atomic Blonde,” “Spy,” and “The November Man.” The director’s fascination with the realism and global setting of Gran Turismo inspired him to dive into a new genre. One of the biggest challenges was recreating real-world locations, such as moving the Tokyo headquarters of Nissan to Budapest.
Bathurst, Australia
According to the tweet by the stunt driver Mauro Calo, filming took place around the world. Unfortunately, Sony did not leave much information about the Gran Turismo filming locations, so we were free to guess where the exciting movie could have been filmed. One of the guesses was the Bathurst Ring in Australia. Bathurst, Australia is a historic city renowned for its exhilarating Mount Panorama race circuit. With its challenging corners and breathtaking mountain views, Bathurst became a mecca for motorsport lovers.
The reason we believe there could be some race scenes filmed here is based on the Jann Mardenborough race past. After winning the video game competition, he soon started racing in real life on race tracks, one of which was in Australia. Moreover, he competed in a Mount Panorama Circuit when he was only 20 years old! Another hidden clue was the background buildings we see in one of the photos from the film sets, which look exactly like those in Bathurst.
Dubai Autodrome, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Following the mystery train, we concluded that our next film set could be the iconic Dubai Autodrome. After winning the GT Academy competition and securing his position in the Nissan racing program, Jann entered the racing world. His first race was at the Dubai Autodrome, which led me to believe that Blomkamp would have wanted to capture such a milestone in his movie. Will this scene be in a movie, and was it filmed in Dubai? Well, soon we will all find out.
Even if this turns out to not be an actual film set, it is worth mentioning. Every sports enthusiast will appreciate this iconic motorsport facility. Spanning over 5.39 kilometers, it offers a diverse range of racing experiences, from professional races to amateur competitions. However, the highlight event is the Dubai 24-Hour endurance race, in which, you guessed it, Jann competed.
Hungaroring, Mogyoród, Hungary
The announcement of Sony Pictures on the social media platform revealed Hungaroring to be one of the first Gran Turismo shooting locations. Namely, Sony previously confirmed filming in Hungary. After seeing the picture, fans recognized the track as Hungaroring, home to the annual Formula 1 Hungarian Grand Prix.
Although Jann Mardeborough did race at Hungaroring, there is no confirmation whether we will see that race in the movie. However, filmmakers confirmed that the set was disguised for the Le Mans race that initially takes place in France. After all, this is not the first time the director changed one location to depict another. Budapest became Tokyo, and Hungaroring depicted Circuit de la Sarthe.
Red Bull Ring, Spielberg, Austria
Saved for the last is the location that stirred up the most feathers. We are talking about the iconic Red Bull Ring in Austria. First established as the Österreichring in 1969, it was later transformed into the A1-Ring. Finally, the track reopened as the Red Bull Ring in 2011 with the sponsorship of Red Bull. So, what was all the fuss about on social media, you might ask? As we previously mentioned, this movie was a bit of a secret.
So when the trailer first came out, one of the most memorable scenes was the race around the legendary sculpture of a bull where Jann competed. Fans immediately recognized this iconic circuit to be the Red Bull Ring. Hosting prestigious events like Formula One, MotoGP, and DTM, this iconic circuit attracts enthusiasts from around the globe. If you wish to see one of the races for yourself, there are multiple choices on the official website.