GT Academy, the ground-breaking competition that will give one lucky person the opportunity of a lifetime to become a professional race driver, is coming to Gran Turismo 5. Registration officially opens today, and Round 1 of the competition begins December 20.

GT Academy will challenge gamers and racing fans alike across the U.S. to compete in a series of online time trials in Gran Turismo 5 using pre-selected Nissan vehicles. As the competition progresses, thousands of hopefuls will be narrowed down to the top 32 finalists, who will compete in the live national finals for a coveted spot in the top 16. The top 16 will compete in a grueling boot camp, where their strength, stamina, mental agility, and driving skills will be pushed to the limits and beyond. On top of pure talent, it will take a lot of drive, passion and dedication to prove to the judges who really has what it takes to become a professional race car driver. One winner will start down the path of intense training to become a pro, and ultimately, compete in a real race as part of a professional racing team, which will also be documented in a reality show on SPEED channel.