Registration is open through the end of Round 1, closing at NOON EST on January 23, 2011. Registrants can enter the online seasonal events area within Gran Turismo 5 to compete in Round 1, which consists of three time trial events designed to test players’ driving skills and mastery of the tracks using Nissan vehicles.

At the end of Round 1, the top 128 players in each of the four national regions will move on to the next round, culminating in Round 4, the national finals, this March. Out of the national finals, 16 competitors will rise to the GT Academy finals, where one person will earn the chance of a lifetime, to become a professional race car driver.

Visit here to learn more and register for GT Academy before noon on January 23, 2011. You must be a legal US resident and at least 18 years old to enter. See here for complete rules.

Thanks again, and GOOD LUCK!

If you haven’t heard about GT Academy, it’s an online competition within GT5 that takes the top 32 players in the United States, based on time trial events, to a national finals event where they will compete for one of 16 spots in the GT Academy boot camp. At the boot camp, the finalists’ strength, stamina, mental agility, and driving skills will be pushed to the limits and beyond. Only one champion will ultimately go on to train to become a professional race driver and compete in a real endurance race. This unique competition will be documented in a GT Academy reality show that will air on the SPEED channel and PlayStation Network.

Round 1 is now open and runs through January 23, 2011. To enter, register at the GT website, then compete in the three online GT Academy time trial events. Your best lap time for each track will be posted to the rankings. Keep practicing, and if you beat your previous best lap time, your new best lap time will be posted and possibly move you up in the rankings.

All players who enter and race will earn rewards just for participating. A piece of free exclusive digital content will be awarded each week for the five weeks of Round 1 to everyone who logs in and races GT Academy events. Content includes exclusive PS3 themes and an exclusive GT Academy racing suit for PlayStation HOME. Round 1 prizes will be awarded after the close of Round 1.

Prizes will also be awarded for the top 20 national leaders (combined lap time) as of the end of each of the five weeks during Round 1, ending on January 23, 2011. The top 20 will each receive a Gran Turismo poster, the top five will each receive a Logitech Driving Force GT steering controller (plus a poster for being in the top 20), and the number one player will receive a Playseat Revolution (Gran Turismo 5 Edition) racing seat (plus a Logitech Driving Force GT steering controller for being in the top 5 and a GT5 poster for being in the top 20). However, if you win one of the prizes, you will be ineligible to receive the same thing in later weeks. So even if the same person maintains that top spot through all five weeks, four other players will have a chance to win one of the weekly 1st place prizes.

At the end of Round 1, the top 128 players per region will each get a voucher for Gran Turismo (PSP) and move on to round 2. The top 16 winners per region at the end of Round 2 will each receive a Gran Turismo 5 Collector’s Edition. And the top eight winners per region in Round 3 win seats at the GT Academy National Finals event for a chance at joining the GT Academy boot camp, where the grand prize winner will be determined. For more information about how the tournament works, visit the official GT Academy FAQ.

And with the arrival of GT Academy, Gran Turismo 5 has received a sizable update to add more content and improve the overall gameplay experience. Here are some highlights to look forward to:

• Seasonal Events
  The Seasonal Events area has been added to the main GT Life screen. From here you can participate in official online events that will be open for a limited time only. Each event has specific entry and race conditions, and completing events earns you rewards and experience points. Compete here to see how you stack up to the rest of the world on the global leaderboards in the time trials and drift trial events.
• Online Race Rewards and Experience
  When you complete a race in the [Open Lobby] or [My Lounge], you will now gain rewards and experience.
  
  
  Even if you are focused more on playing online, you’ll still be able to gain rewards and levels that you need to progress in [GT Life].
• Hot Car Dealer
  A new specialized dealership has also been added to the main GT Life screen, making it much easier to find popular and rare used cars compared to the standard Used Car Dealer.
• Distance Driven and Number of Wins in Online Races
  Your total distance driven online, and the number of wins you achieve in Open Lobby and My Lounge will now add to your Profile and Garage stats.
• Improved Rewards for Playing
  Earn increased rewards for winning races in both A-Spec and B-Spec mode through the end of January only. Now’s the perfect chance to rack up points, build up your garage, and get ahead in the game.

See you online in Gran Turismo 5!

Lots of exciting news in the Gran Turismo world today. First, starting today, you can now register for GT Academy, the ultimate chance to become a real professional race car driver using Gran Turismo 5, now available exclusively on the PlayStation 3. In case you hadn’t heard about this exciting competition, we’re not talking about a weekend racing school here. The GT Academy winner will ultimately go on to train with elite race car drivers in actual Nissan vehicles and race as part of a professional team…the ultimate dream. The actual GT Academy competition, in collaboration with Nissan North America, will start in the US on December 20 and will continue through January 23.

In the case that you just want to have some fun playing Gran Turismo 5 online and don’t think you’ll win GT Academy, all participants will earn free GT digital content just for playing. But if you do have some serious GT skills, you have a chance to win some cool GT prizing, including Logitech Driving Force GT steering wheels, Playseat racing rigs, GT5 posters, and more. Be sure to register for GT Academy first here on the official Gran Turismo web site! For more information on GT Academy, check out the official rules here. You can also join the GT community by following GT Academy on Facebook, and get the latest news and updates on the competition.

In addition to GT Academy, we’re unveiling a new Gran Turismo 5 trailer here on the PlayStation.Blog that showcases all of the many features of the game since there’s so much to show off, including, 1,000+ jaw dropping cars (plus select NASCAR cars and karts), an all-new Course Maker, dynamic weather system, an online racing community and more.

Many of you have seen the Kevin Butler Gran Turismo TV commercial that was unveiled here on the PlayStation.Blog by Peter Dille. Well in addition, this new 15-second TV commercial starts airing today, and features “Planetary (GO!),” the track from My Chemical Romance. If you’ve seen the GT5 launch trailer, or the GT5 opening cinematic, you’ll recognize the song, which is also from the band’s fourth studio album, Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys.

Thank you to those of you who have enjoyed GT5 and also given feedback to us on the game. We definitely appreciate the comments. Polyphony Digital will be releasing a patch soon which will include improvements to damage.

Look forward to seeing you all in GT Academy come December 20!

Whether or not you’re good enough to become a pro race driver doesn’t matter, because all participants will earn free digital content just for playing, as well as an opportunity to earn prizes for winning regional and national time trials. All participants will compete in a series of GT5 online trials using Nissan cars and will be narrowed down to the top 32 virtual racers in the U.S. They will be invited to compete to become one of 16 GT Academy finalists in the live national finals event in March 2011. The 16 finalists will compete in a series of challenges, including behind the wheel of real Nissan race cars, for a chance to become a professional race driver as the GT Academy winner. The ultimate GT Academy winner will train with elite race car drivers and race as part of a professional team.

And if that’s not exciting enough, the competitors’ road to victory will be documented in a multi-episode reality show airing exclusively on SPEED channel and the PlayStation Network in 2011.

Be sure to register first for GT Academy, which opens on December 6th at the official Gran Turismo website. Check out the official rules here, and visit the FAQ here for more information.

If you want to get a head start on GT Academy, be sure to pre-order Gran Turismo 5 to guarantee your copy of the game on November 24. Good luck, everyone!

As you can expect from any Gran Turismo game, GT5 will be bigger and better than ever, including everything from 950+ cars to a new and improved online component with expansive community features and custom race lobbies. Before you head off to pre-order the game that every racing fan is going to be playing, you’ll need to decide which version you’re going to get: the standard edition or the limited Collector’s Edition. And if you’re a true Gran Turismo fan, of course you’ll want to pick up the Collector’s Edition.

Gran Turismo doesn’t cut corners, and neither does this Collector’s Edition. It’s packed full of must-have items that were picked and designed for true car lovers: an exclusive 1:43 scale diecast Nissan GT-R Spec V, an in-depth 300-page car guide, a GT-branded key chain, a voucher for five (5) DLC cars, and a numbered certificate of authenticity, all housed in stylish, premium packaging. And you get all that for $99.99 MSRP.

The included diecast car is an exclusive 1:43 scale 2009 Nissan GT-R Spec V with a custom Gran Turismo livery designed by Polyphony Digital, produced by well-known collectible car maker Kyosho, who have been making some of the best collectible diecast cars for over 20 years. The 300+ page exclusive Collector’s Edition book from Polyphony Digital will be essential reading for GT fans, containing everything from the history of the automobile, to driving techniques, professional racing tips, car and engine basics and tuning know-how, and reference data about Gran Turismo 5. I want to warn you that the Collector’s Edition has a limited run, so pre-order it quickly if you want to guarantee your copy.

The exciting pre-order program for Gran Turismo 5 offers exclusive and beautiful in-game cars as bonuses, including the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG, Nissan GT-R GT500, McLaren F1, and more. Each car features an exclusive and stylish Gran Turismo-themed “stealth” livery custom-designed by Polyphony Digital, with select performance upgrades over the standard versions of the cars available in the game. Pre-orders offers will be coming soon at participating retailers for both the standard and Collector’s Edition versions.

Last but certainly not least, here is the brand new trailer for Gran Turismo 5 that debuted just a short while ago at Sony E3 press conference. Get a glimpse of some of the thrilling racing Gran Turismo 5 will offer, featuring World Rally Championship rally cars kicking up dust clouds at night, SuperGT cars racing through scenic Europe, NASCAR cars jockeying for position, the Stig on the Top Gear test track, and much more.

In the coming months leading up to launch, we’ll be sharing new game features and new cars and tracks. In case you missed it, be sure to go check out the full-length version of the GT retrospective trailer that debuted here on the PS blog. For those of you who fondly remember GT, this one’s for you.

Keep checking the Gran Turismo website for the latest screenshots, detailed information on the game, and other Gran Turismo-related news.

And one game I know everyone is anxious to hear more about is Gran Turismo 5.

Last night, GameTrailers and Spike TV unveiled the latest Gran Turismo 5 trailer in their hour-long pre-E3 special. The trailer features some brand new footage of the game’s gorgeous cars and detailed, realistic tracks. Even if you didn’t catch it, you’re in for a treat because here is the full version of the trailer, featuring a retrospective of Gran Turismo 1 through GT4 and all-new footage of Gran Turismo 5.

If you’ve been a fan of Gran Turismo, you may recognize some of that classic footage from back in the day. Since it first released on PSone, Gran Turismo helped to revolutionize the racing genre of video games, and this year, Gran Turismo 5 will set the bar even higher as the most realistic and comprehensive racing experience — and it’s exclusive to the PS3.

Stay tuned to the PlayStation.Blog and the official Gran Turismo website for the latest information on GT5 in the coming weeks.

As you may have seen, a brand new trailer for Gran Turismo 5 was debuted on the God of War III Blu-ray disc. So for those of you who saw unofficial copies of it, I want to share that trailer in HD, which can also be found on the official Gran Turismo website along with all of the latest and greatest Gran Turismo news. Fans who purchase God of War III will also be able to view the trailer as a part of the Blu-ray when it is available on store shelves beginning this Tuesday, March 16.

I’m sure you noticed the teaser footage for night racing in this trailer. This feature was first revealed in the February issue of PlayStation The Official Magazine, as part of their 10-page cover story on GT5, but this trailer is the first opportunity fans have to see it in action. Night racing is just one of many new GT5 features.

The game will not only include improved features, but also a host of exciting new ones that will be revealed in the coming months. To whet your appetite even further, here are a few new GT5 screenshots that just came in!

As you may have heard, our Senior VP of Marketing and PSN, Peter Dille, announced at the GDC press conference that Gran Turismo 5 will be hitting store shelves this year. There’s lots in store for GT5 this year, so stay tuned here on the PS blog and the official GT website for the latest news and info on the game.

Starting December 17, PlayStation 3 users will be able to download the Gran Turismo 5 Time Trial Challenge from the PlayStation Store for a chance to win. Everyone who downloads it will get a chance to try out Gran Turismo 5’s brand-new physics engine by test driving the new Nissan 370Z on the road to winning an exciting grand prize package that would drive any GT fan wild.

The Gran Turismo 5 Time Trial Challenge features both a stock and a tuned version of the new Nissan 370Z, and includes two time trial events on a single track, one for each version of the car. Both cars drive and handle differently, each providing a unique challenge for newcomers to the GT series and long-time fans alike. And you’ll have to master both to have a chance at winning, because the grand prize will go to the player with the best combined time for both the stock and tuned Time Trial events.

What does being the best of the best earn you? The winner will receive round trip airfare and hotel accommodations for two (winner and guest) to attend the Indianapolis 500 Mile Race, a.k.a. the Indy 500, on May 30, 2010. It doesn’t end there, because the winner and guest also get a VIP package which includes two (2) all-access passes for Carb Day – which includes the final Indy 500 practice, pit stop competition, special concert festivities, special event car rides in the 2010 Indy 500 event vehicle, as well as all-access passes to the garage, pit area, and Victory Lane for pre- and post-race celebrations for the race and two (2) VIP suite tickets to enjoy the race. This is the experience of a lifetime for true racing fans.

The contest is open to US and Canada residents, with an independent contest for each country. That means that there will actually be two grand prize winners: one for the US and one for Canada. And I’m sure there will be some friendly rivalry to see which country has the fastest racers, in true Gran Turismo spirit. You just have to be 18 years old or older to win because much of the cool VIP experience the winner will be treated to require the participants to be 18 for safety reasons.

In the event of a tie of combined Time Trial lap times, the player with the fastest stock non-tuned Time Trial lap will be deemed the winner. In addition, five runner-ups in the US and five in Canada will receive a voucher to download Gran Turismo for PSP.

You’ll have plenty of time to study Gran Turismo 5 and go for your best possible time, because the Gran Turismo 5 Time Trial Challenge will run through 5PM PST on January 25, 2010. After January 25 you won’t be able to download the game from PSN, but those who already have it will be able to continue to play it past the contest end date. Click here for official rules for the US.

So mark December 17 on your calendar for your chance to test your driving skills in the Gran Turismo 5 Time Trial Challenge. Don’t forget to look for more Gran Turismo 5 exciting news in the coming weeks and months on the newly re-designed official Gran Turismo website.

If you followed the October 1 launch of the PSP debut of Gran Turismo, you’ve seen our TV ad teaser, the TV commercial itself, and the behind-the-scenes video for the TV commercial featuring Rhys Millen and Tanner Foust.

And if you are a true GT fan, you drooled over the custom GT-branded helmets and Alpinestars racing suits featured in the videos. Well, now’s your chance to win your very own suit, helmet and gloves!

You’ll also win a Gran Turismo PSP Entertainment Pack which just launched on Tuesday! The Entertainment Pack features a Mystic Silver PSP-3000 system, a copy of the game, a PlayStation Network voucher for The Italian Job movie, a 2 GB Memory Stick PRO Duo, a voucher for the exclusive white version of the Chevrolet Corvette ZR1, and a Sony Music Pass voucher for 10 free songs.

How do you win one of these custom racing helmets and suits, you ask? Just send us a video, essay, or slideshow presentation and prove to us that you are the biggest Gran Turismo fan around. How you prove that is up to you.

The first place winner will get the driver racing suit, gloves and helmet with the visor, as worn by Rhys Millen, a Gran Turismo PSP Entertainment Pack, plus a Gran Turismo poster signed by Rhys Millen and Tanner Foust.

The second place winner will get the passenger racing suit, gloves, and open-face helmet worn by the passenger in the TV commercial, Tanner Foust, plus a Gran Turismo PSP Entertainment Pack, and a Gran Turismo poster signed by Rhys Millen and Tanner Foust.

The third place winner will win a Gran Turismo PSP Entertainment Pack, and a Gran Turismo poster signed by Rhys Millen and Tanner Foust.

And seven more winners will receive a Gran Turismo poster signed by Rhys Millen and Tanner Foust.

To enter, email your video (up to 2 minutes), essay (1 page) or slideshow presentation to PlayStation_Community_Support@playstation.sony.com by midnight PST on November 22 with “GT PSP Contest Entry” in the subject line. Visit here for official entry rules. Contest open to US residents only.

So what are you waiting for? Prove you’re the ultimate Gran Turismo fan and you’ll be able to wear your GT pride on your sleeve, and head, and all over!

It’s been four months since we officially took off the car cover on Gran Turismo for PSP at E3 back in June, and Gran Turismo makes its big debut on the PSP today. Thanks to all the dedicated GT fans for the support!

Those of you who have already downloaded it from PSN or bought it at your local retailer already know that Gran Turismo delivers an unrivaled and authentic racing experience on the PSP, not to mention a massive collection of 800+ cars. Polyphony Digital specifically designed the game for the PSP, with more accessible gameplay modes and more social gaming-oriented multiplayer racing. Gran Turismo breaks a lot of new ground, both technologically in terms of hardware performance, as well as in terms of bringing innovative new features to the Gran Turismo series that are tailored for gaming on the go.

By the way, thanks for your positive feedback on our Gran Turismo TV commercial. The TV shoot itself was so exciting that we just had to create a Behind the Scenes video to show you how we captured the competition between the Corvette ZR1 and Gran Turismo on the PSP at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. The video features interviews with director Jeff Zwart, as well as Rhys Millen, driver of the ZR1, and Tanner Foust, passenger playing the PSP. Tanner is used to driving at fast speeds as a famed drift and rally champion, but had to adjust to playing the PSP while being thrown around by Rhys’ driving. My favorite part of the day was driving in that camera car you see in the video, especially down the corkscrew!

I hope you enjoy the behind the scenes video and the TV commercial as much as we all enjoyed making them.

Don’t forget that you can get a red Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren to add to your in-game car collection in this month’s episode of Qore, for a limited time only. One car down, more than 800 left to go! And all the cars you unlock in the PSP version can be transferred over to Gran Turismo 5 when it comes out.

Happy racing!