History

History of Gran Turismo
The term "Gran Turismo" is a direct Italian translation of "Grand Touring." Although it is applied to a class of automobiles today, it predates the automobile by a considerable amount of time. In England, as far back as the 17th Century, Peers of the Realm and members of the wealthy families would go on long trips to travel the European continent. The journey was called the "Gran Tour," and it was an expected part of a young gentleman's education. The Grand Tour could last for several years, and was made by horse-drawn coach. Major Continental cities, including Paris, and historic landmarks were stops on the route. The very final destination was always Rome, the center for the European art and culture since the Renaissance. There participants would socialize with their peers and scholars, and enroll in courses of academic study to pursue a classical education.

The carriages used for the Gran Tour acquired the name "Gran Turismo" in Italian. When automobiles replaced horse-drawn carriages as the conveyance of choice for Grand Tour participants in the early Twentieth Century, a certain type became popular. It was a fast and light two-seater, but more comfortable and well-appointed than a pure sports car. The genre reached its peak after World War II, when limited-production and specially-constructed two-seaters became popular with members of royalty, wealthy sportsmen, and movie stars. Many of these cars were raced, and the production car category in European racing became know as Gran Turismo, Grand Touring, of just plain GT. Regulations required two-seat interiors, spare tires, and luggage capacity, and in the 1950s at least, GT-class racers could be and were driven to the track, raced, and driven home. Production-based racing classes are still know as "GT" classes in many racing series today.