Gran Turismo 5 Demo Hits December 17

Gran Turismo 5 GT Academy December 3rd, 2009 by Jordan

nissan-370z-gran-turismo-5-1

Announced just hours ago on the PlayStation EU Blog, GT Academy 2010 will be held in a brand new demo of Gran Turismo 5 hitting the PlayStation Store on December 17, 2009. The demo will feature a stock and tuned version of the Nissan 370Z, and, while Sony has decided not to release the track just yet, I have been aware of the competition for some time now and GTPlanet can reveal the demo will include either Spa Francorchamps or the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. However, Sony described the track as a “specially created section of a new Gran Turismo 5 circuit”, which suggests to me it’s the Indianapolis GP Circuit, as it is quite literally a “section” of a larger circuit. (Let’s not forget it was also the big track prominently shown in Gran Turismo 5‘s E3 2009 trailer.)

The GT Academy competition will work much like it did last time, only it’s expanded to include all of the countries listed after the jump – though if you’re from the United States like myself, don’t bother looking. Although it’s more than a little disheartening to be left out of the competition for a second time, Sony’s blog post assures us that countries not included in GT Academy will still get to try out the demo. Bring on the 17th!

UPDATE:  A few more specifics have been announced on the GT Academy Facebook page: anyone who has ever held a national or international racing license or who is under the age of 18 is exempt from the competition. It will begin on December 17th and will end of January 24th, and will consist of two “stages”, each featuring new circuits:

Stage One – will offer Gran Turismo fans a sneak preview of the hotly-anticipated Gran Turismo 5 game, due for release during 2010. Competitors will record flying laps on a time trial-based track available via PlayStation®Network, accessed through PS3. Unlike the first GT Academy, participants will not have to enter the competition using the GT5 PrologueTM game itself, and so even more hopeful racing drivers are expected to take part.

Stage Two – the holders of the twenty fastest online lap times from each participating country will qualify for their national final event. Tensions will run high as they battle each other on another exclusive Gran Turismo 5 level for the chance to move to the next phase of the competition.

Kazunori Yamauchi, president of Polyphony Digital and creator of the Gran Turismo series, shares Wijnen’s enthusiasm. “This has been a very rewarding partnership. The whole GT Academy concept is very close to my heart. Our target with the Gran Turismo series has always been to come as close as possible to a real driving experience. To witness the level of driving achieved by GT players after a relatively short space of time at the GT Academy was very satisfying for me and I look forward to seeing the 2010 finalists in action. I am also very happy to have the opportunity for our GT community to have a preview of the Gran Turismo 5 game.”

The online section of the game will run from 17 December until 24 January with national finals following soon afterwards. The GT Academy itself takes place from 26 February until 3 March. The two winners will have to quickly clear their diaries, as their intensive training programme will start immediately and culminate in one driver racing in the opening European GT4 Cup race that could be at Silverstone on 2 May.

UPDATE 2: The prizes offered for United States and Canadian residents has also just been announced. The fastest players from each country will be offered VIP access to the 2010 Indianapolis 500 race. For more details, see the official rules here.

  • UK
  • Ireland
  • France
  • Switzerland
  • Italy
  • Germany
  • Austria
  • Denmark
  • Norway
  • Finland
  • Sweden
  • Spain
  • Portugal
  • Netherlands
  • Belgium
  • Australia
  • New Zealand
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136 Comments

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  1. December 24th, 2009 at 1:35 am - #
    Daniyyel

    2nd GT Academy and 2nd time Czech Republic is left out from this competition :(

  2. December 17th, 2009 at 6:12 pm - #
    ballz

    6pm EST and still no download on PSN :(

  3. December 17th, 2009 at 6:08 pm - #
    blackkeymaestro

    If the US download does not show up in PS Store tonight, I’m making an UK account and hope to find the demo then!

  4. December 17th, 2009 at 1:49 pm - #
    kingofcustoms92

    *I don’t know if they’ll have it*

  5. December 17th, 2009 at 1:48 pm - #
    kingofcustoms92

    OMG, today is the 17th, im still at school, i don’t it will have it on the Canadian PS Store :S (im hoping they’ll put it on the canadian ps store) if they don’t, im not going to be happy about it :@

  6. December 14th, 2009 at 4:46 pm - #
    LESH_ent

    I hate being from Africa… I want a piece of the action too.

  7. December 12th, 2009 at 11:47 am - #
    RaWRespect

    This is what i’ve been waiting for another GT Academy. First was allready awesome and i’m hoping to qualify again in the first round. Will be a lot of hours playing !

    Some people from Holland here ?

  8. December 11th, 2009 at 7:59 am - #
    Incal

    Having Francorchamp (aka Spa) is Gran Turismo series is like to have Porsche or Ferrari as manufacturers.
    A game cannot calls “himself” the best driving simulator if it cannot propose the biggest sport car manufacturer and one of the most famoust track in the world.
    Francorchamps is the most exiting track in Formula 1. Less famous than Monaco but much more interesting for driver.
    Francorchamps is a real “circuit”, from the beginning, even the old one (almost 20 km).
    I defintively prefer Francorchamps than any other circuits. Any type of car can give you fun on this track: from 2CV to F1.

  9. December 10th, 2009 at 4:01 am - #
    noname

    Ok, i am really lost now! So many misunderstandings that I dont know what to believe anymore.. JORDAN, if you read this, please answer me.. I live in Denmark (Europe).. Will I be able to join the competition? Some people says that its only for the americans and canadians, and some people says that its not for American and Canadians, but everyone else. Please reply, im so confused ;’(

  10. December 9th, 2009 at 11:19 pm - #
    Joey

    Will damage be included in the demo?

  11. December 7th, 2009 at 12:43 am - #
    cory

    well, that’s exactly my point. looking at rain tire treads, they all start towards the center of the tire and taper in a general outward pattern. i assumed that, as the tire rolled on a wet surface, the point in the center would make contact first, and any water that got caught in the tread would be brought down the channels and pushed out the side of the tire. the way those 370z tires work, as they rolled, they would bring water to the center of the tire and trap it there, causing it to hydroplane. i don’t know that for sure, its just how i always figured it worked. and i know this is really breaking down every detail, but isn’t that what this wait is all about?

  12. December 5th, 2009 at 3:21 pm - #
    ralph89

    I’m not sure if this is the right guess, but I think the reason why the tires are mounted backward is for rain?

  13. December 5th, 2009 at 2:02 pm - #
    Tim

    I am wondering Have polyphony done this because it’s near completion and they want to show off certain aspects. or is it simply a way to do the Academy competition?

    ethier way it’s encorauging to get a demo at least and the chance to actually play GT5 is good because it will give me the go or no-go to make me spend more money and get the special edition which I at we dont know much about.

    I must say the 350Z in the shots is looking outstanding and I really do think the folks at microsoft have got something to worry about (I am not a fanboy and never will be I personally was dissapointed with Forza I personally found no enjoyment with it and turned it off after just 15 mintutes of playing)

    Bring on the 17th i did not enter the academy last time and wont this time but at least i can try the demo.

  14. December 4th, 2009 at 11:33 am - #
    i3arracuda

    GT5 Demo
    On December 17th
    Curtains for Forza

  15. December 4th, 2009 at 9:43 am - #
    haris

    Greece is part of Europe yes or no??????
    Europe is A GREEK NAME yes or no?????
    Then why is OUT of that????????
    To all Greeks that they still feel a little bit
    proud for their country,
    DON’T BUY OR DOWNLOAD GT5 untill the
    PD and Sony put Greece in their plans.
    THAT’S ENOUGH…..

  16. December 4th, 2009 at 8:55 am - #
    tameem

    @ nick

    this demo which will be released on the 17th is a demonstration of final gt5 product

  17. December 4th, 2009 at 8:03 am - #
    VNAF Ace

    Please tell me this means we’ll finally be able to race IndyCars in GT5!

  18. December 4th, 2009 at 7:29 am - #
    Big Ron

    I bet, the track is just Tokyo. Why not, it isn´t necessary for PD on which track the users get their fastest lap and it isn´t necassary to use a real track.

  19. December 4th, 2009 at 7:25 am - #
    nick

    so does polyphony expect me to download the demo for 1 new car with one track to race onwhen i already have prologue? that is a huge waste of bandwidth, am i missing something here?

  20. December 4th, 2009 at 7:22 am - #
    taekwondo4ever

    Please correct me if I’m wrong, but if we live in the U.S., can we just make a European PSN account for the demo?