A major scandal has shaken the Gran Turismo World Series as a race-rigging controversy has come to light, casting a shadow over the integrity of the Manufacturers Cup. The drama centres on a deliberate attempt to manipulate race outcomes, seemingly to influence which teams would qualify for the prestigious live events and World Final. At the heart of the issue lies suspicious activity involving multiple top-level players and the misuse of accounts — a violation of the sport’s strict regulations.
The alarm was raised when fans noticed a sudden drop in Renault’s position in the rankings following Round 4. Previously holding a strong qualifying spot, the team suddenly found itself clinging to a position on the fringe. A deeper dive revealed that Renault had lost 25 points in the EMEA region and a staggering 33 in the Americas, while Lexus also took a hit, losing 8 points in the Americas. This was the result of player scores being retroactively deleted, which triggered a recalculation of points across several rounds.
Although details remain murky, the manipulation appears to involve players logging into each other’s accounts to race under false identities. This tactic, likely aimed at boosting team-mates or sabotaging rivals, directly impacts race results and manufacturer rankings. The GT World Series rulebook explicitly forbids such behaviour, banning the use of multiple accounts, the sharing of accounts, and coordinated efforts to aid other players during races.
Four high-profile drivers have been implicated. They include former Manufacturers Cup champion Mateo Estevez, seasoned GTWS finalist Martin Marza, Toyota Gazoo Racing GT Cup competitor Karl Etyemezian, and a 17-year-old Spanish driver whose identity remains protected due to their age. Etyemezian and the minor have had all results across four rounds wiped, while Estevez and Marza saw individual scores deleted. All four were members of the same esports team, GTSpain92, which has since released a statement denying any prior knowledge of the scheme and initially expelled only Etyemezian. Shortly thereafter, the team removed all four players entirely.
Both Estevez and Marza have issued public apologies, acknowledging their roles in the incident. Etyemezian, too, has expressed remorse, particularly in a message directed at Sota Moriyama — a top Renault driver in the Asia-Oceania region who had no involvement in the misconduct but whose campaign may now be at risk because of the scandal.
While Polyphony Digital has yet to announce any further disciplinary measures, the immediate consequences are already severe. None of the four players can now qualify for the 2025 live events. Renault, meanwhile, clings to 12th place with one round remaining, leaving their fate — and the full impact of the scandal — still hanging in the balance.