Walkthroughs

A beginners' guide to Kairosoft's racing team management simulation Grand Prix Story

Off to a flying start

A beginners' guide to Kairosoft's racing team management simulation Grand Prix Story
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| Grand Prix Story

If you're familiar with any of Kairosoft's previous iPhone management titles, you'll know that they are two things: tough and addictive.

The developer's latest iOS offering, which tasks you with grabbing the reins of a small up-and-coming racing team, is no different.

Your new role involves hiring and firing drivers and mechanics, training your employees to meet their potential, developing new vehicles and racing parts, and securing profitable sponsorships.

It sounds like a lot to think about, but fear not - this guide aims to successfully steer you (pun intended) through your career as a racing team manager.

Strap in, because it might get bumpy.

The Basics

Grand Prix Story gives you 14 in-game years to turn your up-and-coming team into a championship-winning powerhouse, meaning you have to work releatively quickly - especially with months flying by in mere minutes.

Your path to glory will require a steady stream of cash and Research Data if you hope to be successful.

Cash is earned through winning races and through sponsorship deals, and is used to hire new staff, buy new cars, fit racing parts, and train your workers.

Research Data, on the other hand, is earned in small quantities as you race, and can also be collected by scrapping your old vehicles.

Research Data is used to research new racing parts, upgrade your car, and to level-up your staff.

Speaking of staff, your racing team will include a car, a driver, and a bunch of mechanics, all of whom can be hired, fired, and improved through training.

Finally, look out for auras - a colourful light that surrounds your staff at various intervals. These boost the number of points you gain through training, reduce the time it takes to research equipment, and improve your racing parts, among other things.

Remember: don't worry about splashing the cash in your first year too much, as you'll receive a one-off 300k bonus if you start to run low.

The car

Your car is arguably the most important member of your team, so it's important that you develop a race-winning contender.

There are several different types of car to select and develop - unlocked by upgrading your current ride - and a bunch of different drive types to select, each with its own advantages and disadvantages.

As the majority of races throughout Grand Prix Story are held on-road, it's beneficial to develop a car that favours this attribute. That means selecting the 'FR' drive type when creating your car.

Your car will automatically gain experience and level-up as you race, but you can, of course, also upgrade your car using Research Data.

A full list of your car's stats and how they affect your chances of glory can be found below.

Durability - This decreases as you race. If you hit zero your vehicle breaks and you have to exit the race prematurely.
Speed – The top speed of your car.
Acceleratrion – The speed at which your car can accelerate.
Handling – Handling allows your car to take corners at high speeds.
Expansion – The number of slots available for equipping new racing parts.
Appeal – The effectiveness of the sponsorship on the side of your vehicle.
Repair – The time it takes to repair your car after each race.
On-road / off-road / icy road - Dictates the performance of your car over various terrain.

Don't forget to develop new racing parts to give your car an edge over the competition. They can be the difference between first place and third place.

The rest of the team

The rest of your team is made up by a driver and his mechanics, both of which have their own sets of skills to consider.

Your driver, who is paid a yearly salary, can be trained and levelled-up using cash and Research Data.

Keep in mind that as your driver's stats increase so will his performance and his contract renewal fee.

A driver's stats are:

Pedal – Increases your vehicle's top speed.
Shift – Increases your vehicle's acceleration.
Steer – Increases your driver's ability to take corners.
Appeal – Increases the effectiveness of your sponsorships.
Tech – Affects both vehicle development and the speed of repairs.
Analysis – Affects the amount of Research Data you earn as you race. Try to strike a nice balance between upgrading your car and upgrading your driver. Remember: if your driver's stats are particularly low, you're probably best hiring someone else. Training can only get you so far. The second batch of guys and gals you have to consider is mechanics. These are paid monthly and come with three stats: appeal, tech, and analysis. Like drivers, your mechanics can be levelled-up using Research Data, which boosts their stats accordingly. This is beneficial, as a group with a high tech rating, for example, will produce better upgrading results for your vehicle. Sponsorships

As you progress through Grand Prix Story you'll have several opportunities to bag yourself a sponsor, which can turn out to be very profitable if treated correctly. Your sponsors will give you a lump of cash twice a year - the amount depending on the sponsor - bonuses for performing well in races, and special rewards if you manage to boost their ratings through racing. The effectiveness of your sponsorships also boosts the amount of experience your vehicle and racing parts earn after each event.

Anthony Usher
Anthony Usher
Anthony is a Liverpool, UK-based writer who fell in love with gaming while playing Super Mario World on his SNES back in the early '90s. When he isn't busy grooming his beard, you can find him replaying Resident Evil or Final Fantasy VII for the umpteenth time. Aside from gaming, Anthony likes hiking, MMA, and pretending he’s a Viking.