Gaming

Remember GT5 Signature Edition Challenge, which offered the chance to win a real-life Mercedes SLS AMG? The unique B-Spec competition took place in January and the next stage has finally been announced, with the top-placed finishers headed to the Red Bull Ring in Austria for their chance to compete for the top prize.

Brian Heitkotter (GTXf_CudaMan) has just been announced as winner of the first U.S. GT Academy! The win comes at a great time for 30-year-old Brian, who is bouncing back in a big way after having been laid off from his former job as a delivery driver in California. Now, he gets a quick break at home before returning to England, where he’ll continue training throughout the summer with Nissan for the 24 Hours of Dubai next January. Congratulations, Brian!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HVr5rQB1pRU

Since Kazunori Yamauchi announced the next Gran Turismo 5 update was being held back due to ongoing problems with the PlayStation Network, GT fans have had special reason to closely follow news about the service. Fortunately, Sony has taken yet another important step forward, bringing the PSN Store back online today in the U.S. and Europe.

The 24 Hours of Le Mans is just a few weeks away now, and Lucas Ordoñez is doing what he can to get ready. Take a look at this video which shows one of the more interesting ways Lucas is being psychologically prepared for the hardships of a 24-hour race, with a simulated endurance drive around England in a Nissan GT-R.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_UdLgoft9w

Kazunori Yamauchi is back to posting messages on Twitter Sunday afternoon, and he offered a bit of information on what’s holding up the next Gran Turismo 5 update. According to translations by our own SHIRAKAWA Akira, Polyphony Digital is waiting until the PlayStation Network finally “settles down” before publishing the next revision of the game.