GTA Online's Free Penaud La Coureuse Has a Wednesday Cutoff: How to Qualify With Three Bunker Research Missions, and What Nightclub Week Brings Thursday

If you want the free Penaud La Coureuse, the clock runs out at Thursday's reset. Rockstar's Business Rivalries event has offered a free GTA$1,000,000 Weekly Challenge every week of September, and completing any one of them between September 3 and 23 is the condition for claiming the La Coureuse, with a free HSW upgrade, when the car goes up at Legendary Motorsport from September 24 to 30. This week's challenge is the easiest of the four if you plan around one detail every patch-notes roundup skipped: Bunker Research Missions have a 20-minute cooldown between runs, so three of them will not fit in one quick session.

Here is the route, the mechanics behind it, the full bonus list for September 17 to 23, and what Rockstar has already scheduled for Nightclub week.

Two things expire at Thursday's reset

1. Eligibility for the free La Coureuse. Rockstar's wording, as carried in Worthplaying's reprint of the September 3 update notes: "Complete just one Weekly Challenge between September 3–23 and come back to GTA Online between September 24–30 to claim your free Penaud La Coureuse (Sports) at Legendary Motorsport, along with a complimentary HSW upgrade from Hao's Special Works (PS5, XBOX Series X|S, and PC [Enhanced])." If you finished the Special Cargo or product-sales challenge in a previous week, you are already qualified. If not, this week's challenge is your last shot.
2. The free Grapeseed Bunker and the GTA$1,000,000 research challenge. This week's challenge is to "complete three Bunker Research Missions to earn a cool GTA$1,000,000 and the Camo Ammu-Nation Sweatsuit," and "the Grapeseed Bunker property is free to claim this week at Maze Bank Foreclosures." Both offers end when the week does.

GTABase phrases the car condition as "over the next two weeks" and RockstarINTEL as "over the next three weeks." Rockstar's own text says September 3 to 23. Go by Rockstar.

The route: three Bunker Research Missions before Thursday

Step 1, if you do not own a bunker: claim Grapeseed. Open Maze Bank Foreclosures on your phone and take the Grapeseed Bunker for free. Skip the upgrades for now; you do not need them for the missions.

Step 1, if you already own a bunker: stop and read this first. You can only own one bunker, and claiming Grapeseed trades in the one you have. GTA Wiki is explicit: "All supplies, stock, and research-in-progress will be lost and should be taken care of first," and Staff, Equipment and Security upgrades do not transfer (completed research and the MOC do). You get 50% of your old bunker's purchase price back, which is a lot less than a free property is worth once you count the upgrades you would rebuy. If you have a stocked, upgraded bunker, keep it and just run the missions from there. You do not need Grapeseed to complete the challenge.

Step 2: call Agent 14 and request a Bunker Research Mission. You do not need to be registered as a CEO or MC President, and per GTA Wiki you can start these even if you finished all 51 research projects years ago. Agent 14 sends you to one of a handful of northern locations (Procopio Truck Stop, the Sonar Collections Dock at Paleto Cove, Larry's RV Sales on Route 68, Tataviam Truckstop, Earl's Mini-Mart on the Senora Freeway), where a target in Ballistic Equipment with a Minigun, occasionally a Juggernaut, is waiting. Kill them, grab the research, lose a three-star wanted level, and deliver it to your bunker. Each mission normally pays GTA$10,000, 1,000 to 2,000 RP and 16.66% research progress; this week Rockstar says the missions pay "2X GTA$, RP, and Research Progress," which means three of them complete an entire project instead of half of one.

Step 3: wait out the cooldown, then repeat twice. GTA Wiki: "Upon completion of the mission, there is a 20-minute cooldown before another can be started." That is the planning fact that matters. Three missions means at least 40 minutes of forced waiting plus three drives north and back, so budget well over an hour in a single session, or split it across two evenings. Do not leave it to Wednesday night. Fill the cooldowns with this week's other 2X work: Ammu-Nation Contracts from the bunker, or Safeguard Deliveries from the Bobcat Security and Gruppe Sechs depots.

Step 4: check the challenge ticked. The Weekly Challenge tracker is in the pause menu. The GTA$1,000,000 and the Camo Ammu-Nation Sweatsuit arrive with the usual delay, but the completion is what qualifies you.

Step 5: log in between September 24 and 30. The La Coureuse and its HSW upgrade are claimed at Legendary Motorsport. Rockstar lists PS5, Xbox Series X|S and PC (Enhanced) for the car-plus-HSW claim; it does not say whether PS4, Xbox One or PC (Legacy) players get the car without the upgrade, so treat the offer as a current-gen one until it says otherwise.

Bunker research explained, since nobody else did

Research is the system the challenge is built on, and it is worth understanding beyond this week.

• There are 51 research projects, and "the current research project is selected at random from the list. Only one research project can be done at a time." You cannot pick what you unlock next.
• Passive research runs off your staff and burns supplies: "Each project will take hours and will consume supplies." A freshly claimed free bunker has none, so buy or steal supplies before assigning staff. "Assigning staff to both stock and research increases the research project time while assigning staff solely to research will halve the time."
• Fast Track lets you buy the rest of the current project. The price drops as progress rises: GTA$225,000 at 0 to 20%, GTA$180,000 at 21 to 40%, GTA$135,000 at 41 to 60%, GTA$90,000 at 61 to 80%, GTA$45,000 above 80%. This week's 2X missions are the cheap way to push a project past 80% before you pay.
• Agent 14's missions are the active route: 16.66% per run normally, 33.33% this week.
• Once all 51 are done, the option to assign staff to research "will become permanently unavailable," but the missions themselves can still be started, which is why the challenge is open to veterans.

The unlocks worth chasing are the weapon and vehicle upgrades: the Oppressor Mk II missiles and the Mk II weapon variants and ammo types, the explosive rounds for the Heavy Sniper Mk II, and the vehicle weapon upgrades for the APC, Tampa and Half-track. A large share of the 51 are liveries you will never use, and because the order is random you cannot skip them, which is exactly what Fast Track is for.

This week's full bonus list (September 17 to 23)

Rockstar's text plus Dexerto's roundup, with the multipliers stated as Rockstar gives them:

• 3X GTA$ and RP on the Community Mission Series (this is the only 3X this week; the bunker bonuses are 2X).
• 2X GTA$, RP and Research Progress on Agent 14's Bunker Research Missions.
• 2X GTA$ and RP on Ammu-Nation Contracts (the Duneloader job) and on Safeguard Deliveries from Bobcat Security and Gruppe Sechs.
• 2X on the Featured Series (Stockpile and Trap Door).
• Free Grapeseed Bunker at Maze Bank Foreclosures.
• Dolla Dolla livery for the Mammoth Avenger, Ocelot Ardent, Pegassi Oppressor and Oppressor Mk II for playing this week.
• Podium vehicle: Vapid Dominator ASP. Prize Ride: Dinka LSCM Jester RR for placing in the LS Car Meet Series four days in a row. Salvage Yard targets: Declasse Mamba, Dinka Sugoi, Karin Previon.
• 70% off the Pfister Astron Custom. 30% off the Albany Hermes, Bravado Half-track, Buckingham Shamal, Grotti Bestia GTS, HVY Nightshark, Imponte Nightshade, Karin Everon, Lampadati Viseris, Ocelot XA-21, Pegassi Torero, Principe Lectro, Schyster Deviant, Shitzu Hakuchou Drag, Übermacht Niobe, Vom Feuer Anti-Aircraft Trailer and Western Rogue.
• Gun Van: 40% off the Stun Gun; GTA+ members get 30% off the Tactical SMG.
• FIB Priority File: The Brute Force File. Prime Gaming: GTA$100,000 for linked accounts.
• GTA+: two Lucky Wheel spins per 24 hours this week, per RockstarINTEL.

The Pegassi Horus, now on general sale

The Horus is not new this week, but this is the first week everyone can buy it. GTA+ members got it free from The Vinewood Car Club in the Velvet Iris livery from September 10, per Worthplaying's reprint of that week's notes, and it moved to Legendary Motorsport for everyone on September 17. RockstarINTEL and GTABase both list it at GTA$2,810,000; GTABase also lists an HSW upgrade for it on current-gen consoles. Check the price in-game before you commit; Rockstar's own text does not carry it.

Is the free Grapeseed Bunker worth keeping?

For new owners, yes, with one caveat. Grapeseed normally costs GTA$1,750,000, which puts it mid-table: Paleto Forest is the cheapest at GTA$1,165,000, Chumash is GTA$1,650,000, Route 68 is GTA$1,950,000, and Farmhouse tops the list at GTA$2,375,000 (all GTA Wiki figures, which match our own bunker guide). The caveat is location. Grapeseed is deep in Blaine County, so sell runs to Los Santos are long, and a free property refunds nothing on the building itself if you move later. If you plan to grind Gunrunning seriously, Chumash or Farmhouse are the classic picks for sell-run distance; if you want a bunker for research, the MOC and this week's challenge, free Grapeseed is fine.

What lands Thursday, September 24: Nightclub week

Rockstar published the whole month on September 3, so next week is not a mystery. From September 24 to 30:

• The Elysian Island Nightclub is free at Maze Bank Foreclosures.
• 2X Popularity on Nightclub Management Missions.
• 2X GTA$ and RP on Nightclub Goods Missions with Yohan, and on QuickiePharm Deliveries.
• 70% off the Imponte Arbiter GT at Southern San Andreas Super Autos.
• The final GTA$1,000,000 Weekly Challenge: sell GTA$1,000,000 across all businesses to earn an additional GTA$1,000,000 and the Retro Fruit Tracksuit.
• The La Coureuse claim window opens for everyone who completed a challenge.

Our nightclub business guide covers how to get a free club earning quickly.

Other clocks running this week

• Standalone GTA Online on PS5 is $9.99 (down from $19.99) on the US PlayStation Store until September 24 at 06:59 UTC, per the store listing.
• nopixel V Twitch Drops run through September 30; see our drops guide.
• Business Battles gear (Six Figure Tee, Ride or Die Tee, Red & White Ammu-Nation Cap, Bourgeoix Tee) is available for playing through September 30.
• GTA+ September perks run through October 7; our GTA+ explainer has the full list.

FAQ

Does a challenge I finished in an earlier week count? Yes. Rockstar's condition is one Weekly Challenge completed between September 3 and 23, any week.

Do I need the HSW upgrade? No, it comes free with the car on PS5, Xbox Series X|S and PC (Enhanced).

Can I claim the car on PS4 or Xbox One? Rockstar's text lists only the current-gen platforms for the car-plus-HSW claim and does not address legacy platforms.

I finished all 51 research projects years ago. Can I still do the challenge? Yes. GTA Wiki confirms Bunker Research Missions can be started after all research is complete.

Is the 2X research bonus for passive staff research too? No. Rockstar scopes "2X GTA$, RP, and Research Progress" to Agent 14's Bunker Research Missions.

Sources

• Rockstar Newswire - Compete Across Entrepreneurial Endeavors in the GTA Online Business Rivalries Event
• Worthplaying - Grand Theft Auto Online update adds free properties, GTA$1M weekly challenge bonuses and more (Sept 3 notes)
• Worthplaying - Grand Theft Auto Online update adds Pegassi Horus supercar early access (Sept 10 notes)
• Dexerto - GTA Online weekly update patch notes (updated Sept 17)
• RockstarINTEL - GTA Online event week: new car and rewards, September 17 to 23
• GTA BOOM - GTA Online Business Rivalries week 3
• GTA Wiki - Research (CC-BY-SA)
• GTA Wiki - Bunkers (CC-BY-SA)
• PlayStation Store - Grand Theft Auto Online (PS5)