Okay so I was browsing the official GT Sport website and there are actually a few bits of info that I haven't heard much about but something that smacked me in the face is this:

Dirt Course (New track)

From the Rocky Mountains to the Mexican border, the Dirt Course treats you to the beauty of America’s Midwest. The path winds its way through cactus fields and desert shrubbery, over sand and rocks. Also, with a number of elevation changes throughout the long course and the slick driving surface, it’s sure to represent a fun challenge for even the serious off-roader.

Now that sounds pretty interesting to me as it seems to imply that this is a hand crafted course that goes from the Rocky Mountains to the Mexico border. And looking at wikipedia the Rockies extend from Canada down to New Mexico. And while I don't have an exact figure looking at google earth there is a good 100 or so mile stretch between the Rockies and the Mexico border.

At first I thought that this could just be a tileset for a course generator like what we have seen in GT5 and 6 but when they use words like "elevation changes throughout the long course" It makes me think that this is a handcrafted static course and not something being spit out by a procedural course generator.

If this is the case thats pretty insane and could lead to some interesting racing Paris-Dakar style.

Gallery

No. It lets you drive from the Rocky Mountains to the Mexican border in the same way that Horizon 2 let you drive all over Europe.

There needs to be some long ass endurance races not on a circuit like in I-racing

Even if it was one fourth the real distance it would still be pretty dang long.

I'm picturing low-level Polyphony Digital staff meticulously laser-scanning the New Mexico desert and it's making me laugh. Mostly because that sounds like something they might actually do.

@notnert427: and holding mics up to various wildlife

Gotta get those hot gila monster sounds.

They let us drive on the moon once. I'm still waiting on Tourist Trophy 2 with an Isle of Man mountain course. :(

It'll simply be whatever fractional proportion of the real distance that makes for a good videogame racing level.

Really it could go either way. This is a game from the guys who brought you the 24h endurance race. It's not like long races aren't at home in a gran turismo game. I would not be surprised either way.