Sony On-Track at the 24 Hours of Le Mans 2010
With the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans endurance race coming up the weekend of June 12-13, Sony has re-affirmed their interest in motorsport with title sponsorship of Team Peugeot Sport. Of course, the PlayStation and Gran Turismo brand has been prominently connected with the event for several years now, with highly-visible banner placement around the Mulsane chicanes. This year, though, with the pending release of GT5, they’ve got more reason than ever to support the big race. Here’s the Sony France press release, via GT5rs (thanks to Vidor for the tip!):
Sony Computer Entertainment France is very proud to announce its partnership with Team Peugeot Sport for the 2010 24 Hours of Le Mans. Sony Computer Entertainment France is engaged in the sports world since its launch, especially in the field of auto racing. Besides the commitment of Sony Computer Entertainment France in the car does not stop at 24 hours Le Mans and extends to several French pilots. The first of of them is Sebastien Loeb, six times World Champion Rally which we partner for over 10 years. [...]
In this connection, George Fornay, VP of SCE Europe and CEO of Sony Computer Entertainment France said: “Our involvement in racing and especially the 24 Hours of Le Mans for 13 years is at the heart of our marketing strategy. This year promises to be outstanding for more than a title for fans of the PlayStation 3 since 2010 celebrating the release of Gran Turismo 5 , a new racing game sequel in the best selling of all time on game consoles with more 55 million units sold worldwide. “
More importantly for us, let’s hope Sony’s presence at the race prompts Polyphony Digital to show off an updated version of Circuit de la Sarthe in a new track-side demo – it would be a nice little appetizer to have a few days before E3 kicks off in Los Angeles!
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Yeah, hopefully they do the same kind of thing as they did at the Nürburgring :)
Wow this is good news
Good to see sony and Gran turismo getting even more involved in racing, i guess it is only fair to expect a peugeout GT5 racing demo :)
a 24h-race on PS3… i cannot wait… with such graphics, it’s worth keeping your eyes open… what a delight… am looking forward to it, to racing “La Sarthe”
Yes, this is good news.
They were already involved last years, but with Pescarolo sport and this team was sold this year.
Hopefully for us, as the Peugeot has a Diesel engine, there will be no audio problems while modelling the car, as this car doesn’t make any sound …
Does this mean the Peugeot 908 LMP1 10′ may be in GT5?
This weekend? The weekend of 12-13 June normally?
Definitely pretty cool in my book. I know since 2007 both PD and Turn10 have promoted their respective racers at this event, even with cockpit/wheel setups. I went in 2007 but didn’t play either because of the long lines. Looks like Sony’s making their marketing push like they do with the UEFA CL and the PS logo on the side banners. Good advertising in my book as the name will be very pronounced during the event when being aired on TV. I was going to go this year but it starts the day after the World Cup starts… so no go for me.
What’s funny is that the factory Pug 908s (shown) had the XBOX360 logo as a sponsor in 2007-2009, and I came across on these forums images of a PS sponsored 908 for the 24Hrs of Le Mans event. Seems it’s from the Pescarolo team. I wonder if the announcer on TV will say the #X 908 or the xbox / playstation 908. lol
Great news! Also, it’s next weekend…not this weekend!
good,i hope the peugeot 908 is in,it would be a welcome addition :)
HDI’s in GT5 then, fantastic!
TDI’s and other diesels from BMW, Fiat et.c. would be really appreciated.
Nice to see the GT promotion wagon starting to roll….
Jeez…. its about time!
Fantastic news!! Peugeot is the reigning King at Le Mans and it will be great to see (hopefully) this version of the 908 on GT5. I knew that Peugeot carried the XBOX360 sponsorship in the past, so I was bummed about that, but now all is forgiven and we’ve got a great race car on our hands. I would pay the full price of the game just for this car!
That news picture is what Gran Turismo 8 will look like. Probably. :P
How many demos has GT5 had thus far?
It would be frikin awsome if they set up a demo with the 908 on la sarthe because ive been dreaming of drivin that beautiful machine on GRAN TURISMO, 5 that is.
Interesting.
If Nurburgrung has races in the dark then will we get full day/night cycle from the game and not just fixed day/night race modes?
With “car clubs” mentioned over a year ago.
I wonder if its going to be possible to form a real 24Hr race using stints of “car club” players which although may not need to be done exactly in real time would allow the times from each stint to be added and for pitstops/tyres and a realstic day/night cycle used.
Wish I could be at LeMans 2010 (La Sarthe) race. The closest I get to it is attending the Petit LeMans at the not quite as lengendary track…Road Atlanta. Alot of the cars racing at the big LeMans will be at the Petit so the racing is awesome on both tracks.
Since Ferrari came on board with PD, I hope the awesome 333SP will be in GT5. I saw its debut @ Road Atlanta and those cars look amazing, sound amazing, and go amazing!!!!!!
I am certainly glad Sony is reaffirming a 2010 release for GT5. The way I see it, the sooner the better but…the longest we’ll have to wait is about 215 days!!!!!!!!!!
ah.. finally some good news…
I just can’t wait for E3, I would love to see more than just a trailer this time around. Can’t wait to get my hands on GT5. *pokes preorder receipt*
Great news. Makes me wish I had the 5-8 grand it would cost to go and enjoy Le Mans. It’s funny to see that Xbox has lost the sponsorship to Puegeot. They probably have some room still on the Audi’s for Xbox/FM3. Speaking of Audi, my dad just slapped down some mail from them, looks like a collection booklet and an accessories booklet.
Back on topic though, if they did not implement a full day/night cycle in GT5, don you think it would be a practical idea to have time pass in like 45-60 min increments every pit stop? (assuming your driving a prototype car; Audi made only 32 pits in 2008.)
Grid had accelerated Day/Night cycle in two laps, and it was a huge blast. Not realistic, but it did the trick and I wouldn’t mind seeing the same again.
If there are still some of you who haven’t raced this track in GT4 – get off your behinds and grab a PS2 and a copy of GT4 from the bargain bin. This track alone is worth the money.
Concerning the date: SCEE thought they have to show up this weekend at Le Sarthe but were quite shocked when they realised it’s already 2010. Last I heard from them is they are heading to France and are expected to deliver the stickers “soon”. Production issues could arise, they need some more staff blowing on the stickers so the paint dries in time ;)
Seems Sony/PD have great hands on experience, hopefully that will show with GT5 (hopes for day/night cycle)
Remember gran turismo 4 also had real 24 hour races like at the nurburgring but difference is in GT5 is the day/night real time cycle. It is refreshing to hear from also france that GT5 will be released in europe of this year which looks like yamauchi will be doing the global simultaneous release he wanted for the game, hoping at E3 their is a SOLID release for north america as well.
this is REALLY GOOOOD News!!!!!!!!!!! I can’t wait!
We get kicked in the teeth every single time at E3.
Hopefully at the E3 GT5 should be finished by now. If so, i’m hoping for them to display car tune ups with not just interior modifications but external visuals like custom seats, tires, steering wheels etc. If this happens i would wonder how GT6 will be like.
They are promoting the Gran Turismo franchise without a release date???
What are people going to do? Google Gran Turismo? -_-
Maybe they’ll have the Bugatti Circuit in the demo, as well.
i agree with comet
@Comet
They are promoting the brand not GT5, people can buy Gran Turismo games for PS2 and PS3.
“2010 celebrating the release of Gran Turismo 5 ”
It’s over. :D
It’s good to live in “Le Mans”, i’ll try to make some vids of the new demo ( if there is a new one).
@fafat: ok
man oh man, i cannot wait anymore!
how big is the chance that we are going to get a release date this E3?
Id say 100% certainty we will get a date
the wait for Gt5 is realy killing me x_x, but it’s worth it ! i know that the game will be LEGENNNNNNNNNN … Wait For It !! ….. DARY !!!
This is great news.
It would be outstanding if they showed a demo the day of the race along with a demo of the track GPS in action.
next step i would like to see is game play 24 hours Le Mans track night/day/wet clips and picture
A little offtopic, but that peugeot is the most beautifull peugeots I’ve ever seen :|
Just over two weeks left .. and then E3! @Jordan, do we have someone in place to send back reports!?
@canam1968, speaking of ferrari. Have you guys seen the new 599GTO? 720hp and 6 minutes 58 seconds around the ring. Pretty inpressive eh?
@magicalgin. That Peugeot is better than the current crop of shite they are pumping out, thats for sure. Talk about ugly!!
@magicalgin – Uuh, how can Peugeot at LeMans be “offtopic”? Guess, we’ll see a tough battle between Audi R15 TdI and Peugeot 908 HdI/FAP – and I want them in GT5, of course !
@magicalgin, you’re right, that Peugeot is beautiful! I am driving over to Le Mans next Wednesday to see them live again. This is the most anticipated car for me to drive in GT5, and I didn’t even know they would be in the game til this article came out. I just can’t believe it.
That peugeot looks a lot like the Toyota from 98-99 wich was one of my favourite cars in GT 2
This year the Lion will jump through all four rings once again and claim victory over Audi to win the last 24 hours the 908 will be running in. Boy, I LOVE Peugeot!!¿
Preach it, Denz!!!!! Go Lions!
Sorry Denz but Audi’s taking it this year with their R15 TDI. :D
You can tell Pug is scared since they protested to the ACO on the new rules they tried implementing. With all the debating back and forth on what was legal or not, the ACO said it was up to Pug if Audi could race at certain events, and Pug said no. Audi didn’t even show up to the 12 Hrs of Sebring, and from what I heard they could have but did as they did to make a stance. Things are different now and we should see a good battle between the R15 TDI and the Pug 908… unless of course Pug goes frenchie and cries some more :P
shame the race is on the same day england by usa in the world cup :( oh well i guess its only a couple of hours out of 24 lol
@Denz: looks like someone has watched Truth in 24 a few times over (like me) :P
but I’m hoping that the improved (and quite odd looking) R15 Plus will take the win from Peugeot this year. I was devastated yet happy to hear that the 908 won. It truly is a great car and shows that Peugeot is capaple of more than 206’s and 207’s.
I wonder who Jordon would want to win, Peugeot or Audi?
Demo in coffee shop in Japan…demos in Germany…demo in France…we poor Yankees are being left out…well there is E3.
Lots of spin for game announcements at E3 but nearly nothing about GT5…is Sony keeping silent to pique our interest or just to avoid disappointing us?
@Corey…how many World Cups since we’ve been waiting for GT5?
J’ai eu l’occasion il y a trente ans de regarder un concourse au Mans. J’ai bien aime.
@skiddmarxx
Their saving the best for last :P
IMO in reality, most people that likes the GT franchise have no clue on GT5 progress. we die hard fans that surf the internet for GT5 clue is almost like 1/100th of those who’s interested. Quite small isn’t it? If Sony ever release an early info to the PUBLIC about GT5 it would cause a lot of hype and that will make a lot of disappointment, or worst, it will effect the sale. If you look it in the bigger scale, Sony/PD is doing the right thing on not showing any early info. So let’s just all wait for Le mans/E3 to get the blow out or bust.
“E3 2010 – Blowout or Bust” – @ralph89
+1
Peugeotastic :-) and yes they will kick audi’s bottom ;-)
In anticipation for this i’ve been looking at GT4 videos of Supra’s going round LaSarthe.
Even for a 5-6 years old game (I think?) it is incredible how much detail there is and how enjoyable it is to watch.
Wish my original 60GB PS3 hadn’t of broken. Got a slim now and can’t play old games on it.
If I don’t hear anything about a release date in E3 i’m going out and buying a PS2
@Dave_2JZ: I just take my bros ps2 when I’m bored of prologue and take the all carbon GT-R around Le Sarthe. I don’t own any Supra’s yet :(
globeKidd, how’s that, don’t you know how to earn money for a Supra ?
Even the standard Supra’s are only about 15,000Cr aren’t they?
I mean sure you can save up for a Race spec Supra but hell, I just love them as standard, but that’s just me, lol!
This is great news!!
Hope to be Sponsored one day from Gran Turismo – PlayStation in the best race of the world as they do in GT4 European Cup now!!
As soon as game lovers buy a PSP they expect it to perform a lot more than just play games, they expect it to play music, videos, movies, audio music and so on. The features are limited but due to the fact the introduction in the Pandora battery it’s turn into a dream occur true.