From 25th March - 31st March 2025, I will be doing a stream for Mind as part of their Switch Off, Game On initiative.

For those that know me, I am a big gamer, racing enthusiast, petrolhead, and have experienced mental health issues myself.

Gaming helped me cope when having to endure school. Gaming helped me cope when I was studying my degree by helping me take my mind off it and de-stress. Gaming helped me cope during lockdown. Gaming as a hobby still helps me relax now.

A few mental health facts:

• 1 in 4 of us experience a mental health problem every year.

• 1 in 5 of us in the UK experience suicidal thoughts.

• 1 in 15 people attempt suicide over the course of their lifetime.

So I have decided to stream 24 hours of Gran Turismo 7 across 7 days. I have never streamed before and I am not a professional racing driver or e-sports driver so this will be a challenge. Gran Turismo is the series that got me into gaming and racing from 3 years old.

Each day will involve driving cars on Gran Turismo 7 across different decades, celebrating various motorsport anniversaries and achievements and including personal tributes. I will use a basic, but versatile, sim racing set up and will adjust it to match the relevant cars I am driving (for example, changing which side the gear stick is on, and putting on a different wheel attachment).

Each day and each car driven will involve "Top Gear/The Grand Tour" style reviews, followed by races.

The stream will be broadcast on Twitch. Link is below.

https://www.twitch.tv/harrysff1

Day 1: 25th March - The 1950s - 2 hour session. (19:00 - 21:00).

Part 1: 1950s Ferrari, Pininfarina and the Tour de France Automobile.

2024 marked the 95th anniversary that Scuderia Ferrari was founded by Enzo Ferrari. 2025 marks the 95th anniversary that design company Pininfarina was established. These two companies would form a partnership where Pininfarina would be responsible for designing Ferraris road cars and some of their race cars. 2026 marks the 75th anniversary of this technical partnership first being established.

So as a tribute, I will be driving a 1954 Ferrari 500 Mondial which raced at that years Tour de France Automobile.

Part 2: 1950s Formula One.

Mercedes first entered the Formula One world championship in 1954 with the W196. The car won its debut race at that years French Grand Prix and in the hands of Juan Manuel Fangio, won that years world championship. The car was used again in 1955, where Fangio had claimed another world championship to his name. Mercedes pulled out of Formula One after that season, giving the W196 a short-lived but successful spell.

So to celebrate 70 years since its last win, I will be driving this car at the Nurburgring and some other tracks.

Day 2: 26th March - The 1960s - 2 hour session. (19:00 - 21:00).

Part 1: 1960s Formula One.

In 1965, Honda had won their first Grand Prix in Mexico in the hands of Richie Ginther. This also marked the first victory for a Japanese manufacturer in Formula One.

To celebrate the 60th anniversary of this, I will be driving the 1965 Honda RA272 around some circuits.

Part 2: 1960s Sportscar Racing.

In 1965, Ken Miles and Lloyd Ruby took victory in the Daytona 2000km, which was the first race under new manager Carroll Shelby. They would win again at Daytona the following year before Ford finally took their first Le Mans victory in 1966, defeating Ferrari.

To mark the 60th anniversary of the initial Daytona triumph, I will be driving a Ford GT40 around Daytona and I will also drive it at Le Mans.

Part 3: 1960s Sportscar Racing.

Sticking with Ford, in 1967 they had successfully defended their Le Mans crown and defeated Ferrari again. This time, the car that won it was the Ford GT40 MkIV. To this day, it is the only time an All-American lineup had won Le Mans.

So as a tribute, I will be driving the Ford GT40 MkIV around Le Mans, Daytona and some other tracks.

Day 3: 27th March - The 1970s - 2 hour session. (19:00 - 21:00).

Part 1: 1970s Rallying.

From 1974-1976, Lancia had won 3 consecutive world manufacturers championships in the World Rally Championship with the Stratos.

The Stratos used a V6 engine developed by Ferrari, branded as a Dino V6, named after Dino Ferrari, the first-born son of Enzo.

To mark 50 years since this championship triumph, I will be driving a Lancia Stratos across a number of rally tracks in the game.

Part 2: 1970s Sportscar Racing.

Porsche is one of the most successful sportscar manufacturers, with the most Le Mans victories as of 2025. The car which gave Porsche their first overall Le Mans win as well as dominating the 1970 and 1971 World Sportscar Championships was the 917K.

So to mark 55 years since the first triumph, as well as a tribute to the car itself, I will be driving it at the Osterreichring (Red Bull Ring, where it was tested), Spa Francorchamps and the Le Mans circuit.

Part 3: 1970s Can-Am Racing.

The Can-Am series was a series that featured extremely powerful cars due to little restrictions.

In 1970, American car company Chaparral revealed the 2J. Despite the way it looks, it was one of the most technologically advanced cars ever seen at the time, utilising technical innovations that not even Formula One had pioneered. The three main innovations were a semi-automatic gearbox, movable polycarbonate ground-effect skirts, and fans which sucked air through the car to produce downforce.

To mark 55 years since this car was revealed, I will be driving it at Watkins Glen and a number of other tracks.

Day 4: 28th March - The 1980s - 5 hour session. (18:00 - 23:00).

Part 1: 1980s Ferrari.

This is a more personal tribute. The Ferrari F40 was my poster car as a kid, and was what made me a Ferrari fan and petrolhead. This was also the last road car overseen by Enzo Ferrari before his death in 1988.

So I will be driving this car at Monza for a trip down memory lane.

Part 2: 1980s Group B Rallying.

In 1985 and 1986, Peugeot had won the World Rally Championship with the 205 GTI in the final two years of Group B rallying, which many argue is the greatest era of all time and rivalled Formula One.

So I will be driving the Peugeot 205 GTI around a number of rally tracks to mark 40 years since Peugeots first triumph.

Part 3: 1980s IMSA GT.

IMSA GT is a type of racing that featured supercars and grand tourers modified to regulations. In 1989, Ferrari had raced the F40 LM at Laguna Seca with a young Jean Alesi at the wheel, who would later race for Ferrari in Formula One. The #60 car that raced is what I had a Scalextric model of as a kid.

So as another trip down memory lane, I will be driving a modified Ferrari F40.

Part 4: 1980s Group C Le Mans.

The 1980s saw the introduction of Group C, which was the top-level class in the World Sportscar Championship and Le Mans. Many argue it's the best there's ever been having attracted many manufacturers, even rivalling Formula One.

In 1985, Swiss racing team Sauber had entered a partnership with Mercedes-Benz, the latter having returned to motorsport after a 30-year hiatus. The partnership bore much fruit in sportscar racing with the team winning the 1989 World Sportscar Championship (with victories in all but one race) and the 24 hours of Le Mans with the Sauber Mercedes C9.

So to celebrate the 40th anniversary since this partnership was established as well as the dominance, I will be driving the Sauber Mercedes C9 around Le Mans and other tracks.

Part 5: 1980s Formula One.

In 1985, Ayrton Senna had taken his first Formula One victory at that years Portuguese Grand Prix, driving for Lotus in treacherous conditions. Senna would win 41 races in total, while the black-and-gold Lotus livery is one of the most iconic liveries of all time.

To mark 40 years since Sennas first win, I will be driving a 1980s Formula One car reproduction by Gran Turismo, in the black-and-gold livery around Interlagos (Sennas home track) and other tracks.

Part 6: 1980s Formula One.

Sticking with Formula One, and Ayrton Senna, 1988 saw Senna win his first of three drivers world championships for McLaren, driving the iconic MP4/4. The McLaren MP4/4 is one of the most dominant F1 cars of all-time, winning 15 of that years 16 F1 races, before turbochargers were banned from Formula One at the end of that season.

So I will be driving this car around a number of Formula One tracks, finishing off at Suzuka, where Senna took his championship.

Day 5: 29th March - The 1990s - 6 hour session. (13:00 - 19:00).

Part 1: 1990s Honda.

This is a personal tribute. The Honda NSX was the first car I raced on the very first Gran Turismo and is one of my favourite cars of all-time. One of the development drivers was Ayrton Senna. Sadly, Senna would be killed at the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix. I had attended the race in Imola in 2024, where his 30 year anniversary tributes were being held.

So as a tribute to the Honda NSX, a tribute to Senna, as well as a trip down memory lane, I will be driving this car around Tokyo Expressway and a number of tracks from the original Gran Turismo game.

Part 2: 1990s Jaguar.

This is another personal tribute. In 1992, Jaguar had released the XJ220, which was another one of my poster cars as a kid and made me a petrolhead. At the time, it was also the fastest road car to ever be produced.

So as a tribute, I will be driving this car for a trip down memory lane.

Part 3: 1990s Ferrari.

Another personal tribute. 2025 marks 30 years since Ferrari released the F50, marketed as a Formula One car for the road, using an engine based from the 1990 Ferrari 641 Formula One car.

So as a tribute, I will be driving this car for a trip down memory lane.

Part 4: 1990s Group C Le Mans.

2026 marks 35 years since Mazda won the 1991 24 Hours of Le Mans, marking the first time a Japanese manufacturer had won the event. Two of the three drivers were active Formula One drivers, Bertrand Gachot and Johnny Herbert, with Volker Weidler being the third driver. I remember first racing against it in Gran Turismo 3, and being amazed by it. The Group C era of Le Mans is also argued by some as the best era of all-time.

So as a tribute, I will be driving the Mazda 787B at Le Mans and some other circuits.

Part 5: 1990s Rallying.

2025 marks 30 years since Colin McRae won the World Rally Championship driving for Subaru with the Impreza. It was the first time a Scottish driver had won the championship, and the first time a British driver won the championship. Colin McRae was also the youngest champion until 2022. He would later on have another racing game series I used to play named after him. I have always loved the blue-and-yellow livery of that time as well.

So as a tribute, I will be driving a 1990s Subaru Impreza rally car across a number of rally tracks.

Part 6: 1990s JGTC.

In 1997, Toyota had won that years All Japan Grand Touring Car Championship with the TOM'S Supra. The car sported the iconic Castrol livery which I've always been a fan of. I also remember driving this car and its successors on the early Gran Turismo games. One of the drivers was future Formula One driver Pedro de la Rosa.

So as a tribute, I will be driving this car around a number of circuits.

Part 7: 1990s Pikes Peak.

2025 marks 30 years since Nobuhiro Tajima (nicknamed "Monster") won the Pikes Peak hillclimb event in Colorado, becoming the first Japanese driver to win the event driving a Suzuki Escudo. Meanwhile, the 1998 Suzuki Escudo is a Gran Turismo legend. I remember first driving it and being shocked at how fast it was.

So as a tribute to this anniversary as well as a trip down memory lane, I will be driving the Suzuki Escudo around a number of tracks.

Part 8: 1990s Formula One.

Those who know me know how much of a Formula One fan I am (or would have figured it out from all the other Formula One cars I'm driving here). I am also a big fan of V12 engines and have always loved the sound of them. 2025 marks 30 years since the last time a V12 raced in Formula One, with Jean Alesi taking victory in the 1995 Canadian Grand Prix marking the last victory for a V12 engine. It was also the last time the iconic Ferrari #27 took victory before the numbering system changed for 1996.

So as a tribute to this, I will be driving a 1990s V12 Formula One car replica by Gran Turismo, in a 1995 Ferrari 412T2 livery with the #27.

Day 6: 30th March - The 2000s - 5 hour session. (13:00 - 18:00).

Part 1: 2000s GT Racing.

In 2000, the Chrysler Viper GTS-R (known as the Dodge Viper GTS-R when racing in the USA) had taken class victory at Le Mans being ran by Team Oreca. The winning car was featured in Gran Turismo 3, and was one of my most-used cars in arcade mode. The Chrysler had also won the overall victory at Daytona in 2000, before then winning the 24 hours of Spa and the 24 hours of Nurburgring in 2001.

So as a tribute to the 25th anniversary of the Le Mans and Daytona triumphs, I will be driving this car around Le Mans, Daytona, Spa, and the Nurburgring.

Part 2: 2000s Ferrari.

In the 2000s, Ferrari had enjoyed a great run of success in Formula One. In 2002, Ferrari had released the Enzo. Named after Enzo Ferrari himself, and which Michael Schumacher helped to develop it became an iconic car for the new millennium and became one of my all-time favourite cars.

So as a tribute, I will be driving the Ferrari Enzo around a few tracks.

Part 3: 2000s Mercedes and McLaren.

In the 2000s, there was another road car released as the result of an F1-related project. McLaren and Mercedes were in a technical partnership and had developed the Mercedes SLR McLaren. This is another car that I have always been a fan of and in Gran Turismo 4 was what I used to make quick money.

Gran Turismo 4 was also released 20 years ago, and on it featured the dreaded "Mission 34". People who have played it will know what a tough mission it was.

So as a tribute to the F1 effort, as well as a remembrance to the mission, I will be driving the Mercedes SLR McLaren around the Nurburgring.

Part 4: 2000s JGTC.

In 2000, the #16 Honda NSX had won the championship despite the fact it did not win a race that season. The championship was won at Suzuka, which coincidentally is owned by Honda.

So as a tribute to 25 years since this triumph, I will be driving the #16 NSX around Suzuka and some other Japanese tracks.

Part 5: 2000s GT1.

In 2005, the FIA GT1 championship was established following on from the GTS class. Meanwhile, in the same year, Aston Martin released the DBR9 to compete in this category. The car debuted at the 12 hours of Sebring, and won the race defeating the dominant Corvettes. The car would win the 2006 FIA GT Championship, and would take victory at the 2007 and 2008 24 hours of Le Mans in class.

So as a tribute to the 20th anniversary since its debut, I will be driving the Aston Martin DBR9 around a number of circuits.

Day 7: March 31st - The 2010s - 2 hour session. (19:00 - 21:00).

Part 1: 2010s Isle of Man TT.

2026 marks 10 years since Mark Higgins broke the record for cars around the famous Isle of Man TT track, driving a modified Subaru WRX STI. The car utilises a Formula-one DRS system, which stalls the rear wing to improve straight line speed. Meanwhile, the Isle of Man TT course is 37.73 miles long, which equates approximately 3 laps of the Nurburgring Nordschleife.

So as a tribute, I will be driving this very car around the Nurburgring Nordschleife to replicate the record run.

Part 2: 2010s Ferrari XX Programme.

The Ferrari XX Programme is a special R&D programme launched by Ferrari to develop technologies more advanced than Formula One where an exclusive client club have full access to these technologies where they can enjoy them on the race track.

As a tribute to this programme, I will be driving a 2014 Ferrari FXX-K. A track-special Ferrari developed from the LaFerrari.

Part 3: 2010s Le Mans.

2025 marks 10 years since Porsche took victory in the 2015 24-hours of Le Mans with the 919 Hybrid. The winning #19 car was driven by Nico Hulkenberg, Earl Bamber and Nick Tandy. The victory marked the first time since 1991 that an active Formula One driver had won Le Mans, and the first time since 1998 that a rookie had won at Le Mans.

So as a tribute to this, I will be driving the Porsche 919 Hybrid around Le Mans.

Part 4: 2010s Gran Turismo.

In 2010, Kazunori Yamauchi, the man behind Gran Turismo, had a vision. The vision was what a racing car would be like to drive if there were no rules or regulations. The prototype was designed by Red Bull Racings CTO Adrian Newey with Yamauchi, and Red Bull Formula One driver Sebastian Vettel was a test driver. The car went through a number of iterations over the years.

So as a tribute to this project, I will be driving the Red Bull X2014 around a few F1 circuits as well as some original Gran Turismo circuits.

Gran Turismo 7. 7 days. 7 decades of tributes.