Gripped!

To start the Gripped! checkpoint challenge, you need to get into the parked Patriot at the picnic area East of Cedar Grove in Shoreside Vale.

There are 20 blue ringed checkpoints which are scattered over the grassy hills and steep cliffs around Cedar Grove.

You can collect them in any order and the timer doesn't start until you drive through the first checkpoint, but as soon as you do, you'll have 20 seconds to reach the next one as your time counts down. Each additional checkpoint you collect will add a further 20 seconds to your timer and you must collect all 20 of them before your total time runs out. In total, you'll have just over 6 minutes to beat the mission, but you must collect a checkpoint at least every 20 seconds to keep the timer alive.

Tips

This is probably the hardest of the checkpoint challenges, but if you take your time and don't take any unnecessary risks, you should be ok. The Patriot is really good at sticking to and driving up the very steep cliffs. The hardest part of the challenge is the 10 or so checkpoints you'll be able to get from the start point in the picnic area, heading up the cliffs to the Cartel mansion in Cedar Grove.

Start with the checkpoint on a small hill facing the stadium across the water. Reverse into it so you can speed forward to the next one, saving some time.

Then you'll need to carefully make your way across the very steep cliff face. Try to keep all four wheels on the ground at all times. The Patriot can drive completely sideways and almost vertically as long as you don't hit a bump which brings the wheels off the ground.

Drive slowly and be careful. You don't always need to drive in a straight line to the next checkpoint, sometimes it's safer to go up a smoother part of the cliff and then carefully come back down.

The engine is powerful enough to climb to the top of the cliffs and bring you out on the road.

If you can get through that without rolling down the hill, and with a little bit of time remaining, the rest is fairly straight forward and shouldn't pose much of a threat. You'll just need to make your way over the grassy hills in front of the observatory.

At no point should you really speed up, unless you're running out of time, and always be extra careful when driving up steep slopes, but the Patriot can handle a lot.

You'll even be able to enjoy the wonderful views from the top of the hills above Cedar Grove while you collect the checkpoints.

The final checkpoint will probably be on top of the blocked off tunnel near the Cochrane Dam so carefully drive your way onto the concrete. If you're running out of time feel free to slide down the hill into it, otherwise approach it from the other end which is much safer.

As long as you manage to collect the final checkpoint before the time runs out, you'll complete the challenge, regardless of how much time you have remaining.

Mission Passed!

The Gripped! checkpoint challenge is a requirement towards 100% completion.