From Your Couch to Dubai //

Creators of the Gran Turismo driving simulator have decided to test the driving potential of their biggest fans. Known as the Gran Turismo Academy, thumbstick drivers will be pitted against one another in an eight month, pan-European championship for virtual driving supremacy. Obviously a promotional tool for the team that created Gran Turismo 5: Prologue (featured a few articles down) as well as the Sony Playstation, but do we really care? A National tournament will be held via the Playstation 3's online format, with the winners being wrangled up for some one-on-one competition at the real Silverstone Raceway. The two winners at Silverstone will enter into a four month driver training program, which will allow them to obtain their real racing licenses. Janurary 2009 will see the first race for the two eventual winners, as they pilot a Nissan 350Z in the 24 hour race at Dubai. Gran Turismo Academy will go live at the end of May, and only those with a Playstation 3, Gran Turismo 5: Prologue and a European address will be able to show off their virtual driving skills and have a chance behind the wheel of a 350Z race race. So for us poor American consumers, our only hope of being behind the wheel of a 350Z in Dubai, may come from a long vacation to see our neighbors to the East.