Gran Turismo Recreates Andretti’s Legendary Hudson

by Andrew LaPorte

Racing fans fond of gaming are sure to be excited about the upcoming release of Polyphony Digital’s Gran Turismo 6 for the Playstation 3. The long-running series is well known for its realistic driving physics as well as the sheer amount of vehicles available for in-game use. This latest iteration though promises something special for fans of vintage racing – the chance to drive Mario Andretti’s 1948 Hudson Hornet, the car that started his legendary racing career.

Few names are as instantly recognizable and synonymous with Motorsport as Andretti’s. Over the last half-century, he has been active in everything from Formula 1, IndyCar, and Nascar to the 24 Hours of Le Mans. To date, he remains the only driver to win the Indianapolis 500, Daytona 500 and Formula 1 Driver’s Championship –accolades which make it no surprise that Sony and Polyphony wishes to honor him in GT6.

The First Love campaign, an interactive experience that began late last month, features a short film featuring Andretti recapping his time racing the Hudson with his brother Aldo. Currently, a team of mechanics is working diligently to re-create a real-life version of Andretti’s Hudson, using an early 1950’s Hornet as its base. Upon its completion, Andretti will be reunited with the iconic car. The film, as well as the finished car being presented to Andretti on December 16^th.