The TURN 2015 Season is finally upon us, and there is no better way to finally introduce it then by revealing some details for season 1 of TURN Masters, a series that is likely to attract a lot of attention due to close and action packed racing. TURN Masters is a series built on the idea that sometimes the emphasis should be on the driver, not necessarily choosing the best chassis for racing. While not all seasons will feature identical cars, they will always feature cars that are very similar in performance, in an attempt to remove the car choice itself as a major variable for competitiveness. TURN Masters will cater to both North American time zones and European time zones by offering two separate yet intertwined series: TURN Masters Americas and TURN Masters Europe.

Racing on (US)Tuesdays at 8:00 P.M. EST and (EU)Wednesdays at 8:00 P.M BST, the series will tour the world, spanning thousands of miles to travel to some of the newest circuits that Project CARS offers. Once the season has ended, a bonus World Masters Champion title round is scheduled that invites the top seven drivers from both the North American championship and the European championship to battle it out for glory.

       TURN MASTERS SEASON 1 CALENDAR

Round 1 – Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca
Round 2 – Zolder
Round 3 – Watkins Glen Short
Round 4 – Brands Hatch GP
Round 5 – Willow Springs International Raceway
Round 6 – Imola
World Masters Championship Round – Hockenheim GP

Our very first race will be held at an American classic, Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. With eleven turns and its signature corner, the “Corkscrew” at turn 8, there is no doubt that some truly epic overtakes and tight formation will highlight this race. Zolder was an easy choice for its sweeping turns and long straights to help stretch the legs on our Masters cars. “The Glen” is another historic gem of a track that still holds relevance with its high speeds and technical corners. It would be out right blasphemous not to include Brands Hatch in a series dedicated to finding the masters of the track. Its hilly terrain and cambered corners make it a great setting for what may be the most exciting round of the championship. Willow Springs also has interesting elevation changes and high average speeds, forcing the drivers to focus on maintaining momentum. This may turn out to be a favorite of many road racing drivers. Imola closes the regular season with a bit of historic flair and tight technical chicanes. An infamous test of driver skill and courage, it will certainly make a phenomenal ending to both the EU and NA seasons. The track to crown the overall World Masters Champion will be Hockenheim GP. The more modern revision of the track has a perfect blend of speed and technicality that couldn’t be passed up. All rounds in TURN Masters will use real weather, so if you are going for top honors in TURN Masters, you’ll truly have to be a master of the car.

       THE CAR

Taking the 2012 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X FQ 400 to the Masters inaugural Series, the all-wheel drive drivable version of a swiss army knife invites new beginners to have a go but lets the veterans really sink their teeth in and tap the car’s ultimate potential. A two liter engine barely contains the 403 horsepower that are immediately on tap, should you stamp the skinny go-plank. This isn’t just another Evo X with a higher price tag. The turbo has been reworked to produce a sufficient amount of usable power at just 2,200 RPM, with full boost coming in at 3,000 RPM. The whole car has been lowered, stiffened, lightened, and widened to ensure that this isn’t just a dash of tobasco upgrade from the Evo X, its the equivalent of dropping a bag of ghost peppers in the chili pot. The power delivery is very strong and progressive, making it easy to use by your average Joe. In the hands of track warriors, the smooth power delivery is a godsend for inclement weather races.

Don’t think that this isn’t a racer simply because this is a road-going car. Mitsubishi is no stranger to motorsport, and this particular model was designed and engineered in collaboration with their Ralliart division. The same guys responsible for netting Mitsubishi a WRC constructor championship and 4 consecutive WRC driver championships through legend Tommi Mäkinen. All this race pedigree and smooth power delivery combined in an all wheel drive package will be found useful, whether on the tarmac, or if drivers find themselves exploring the sand traps and fine lawns of the circuits on the calendar. Some have speculated that the FQ designation was really Mitsubishi playfully denoting precisely how quick this incarnation of the Evo X is. No matter how you look at it, this season is going to be incredibly exciting as we watch the masters extracting every last ounce out of the greatest gift Mitsubishi gave to the road.

       GETTING INVOLVED AND RACING

When the Masters Series opens for registration it will be open to all that apply. TURN Masters will allow entries with up to 3 cars, including privateer entries, but only the highest two placements will be scored for the team championship. Any drivers will of course get to keep their points, whether or not they count for the team.

We welcome you to share your comments and thoughts below or join us on the forum if you want to dive into a full discussion. This is a great time to remind you that if you don’t already follow us on Twitter (@TURN_Media), it is a great way to keep up to date with what’s going on.

Thanks a lot,

     Clay Layne
     North American Community Manager