Ok I have been running B-spec races in my browser while watching the most recent Happy Hour and drinking several beers. 
 
I have come to the conclusion that the world where GT5 is set is not earth! It is a series of netherworld-esque Hyper dimensions. Kind of like a series of snowglobes. And this is why that the trees and backgrounds are bad looking flat textures and sprites. Because they are supposed to be. Because no matter how shitty the background looks the cars still handle the same and that is the hypernetherworldland that GT5 takes place in. Its an illusion of reality where the only reality is racing. There is no 7-11. No McDonalds. No Politics. No war. No swingsets. No zoos. No happy families enjoying a picknick. No birthday cakes. No all chimpanzee Beatles cover bands.  No first kisses. No childhood friends.  No spunky teens performing a galactic punt. No videogames. 
 
Just Man and Machine, Racing.  

I was always under the impression GT games were set in the world of Cars.

I just assumed everything was made out of paper and dogs loved to have pancakes on their heads...

Wow... I don't remember writing this at all. 

" Wow... I don't remember writing this at all.  "

" @Red12b: I drink beer from timw to time. Usually on the first night of what is my weekend. "

" @Devil240Z said:

" @Red12b: I drink beer from timw to time. Usually on the first night of what is my weekend. "

it was a joke mate,   "

GT5 is going to take place in Medieval Europe.

GT5 is the best and most realistic RPG ever made