GT Academy, the ground-breaking competition that will give one Gran Turismo 5 player the opportunity of a lifetime to become a professional race car driver, has reached over 50,000 participants in the United States so far. 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.

Registration is open through the end of Round 1, closing at noon EST on Sunday, January 23, 2011. 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 participants will compete for chance of a lifetime, a chance to become a professional race car driver.

About GT Academy:
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. 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 and the PlayStation Network.