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Thanks to GT5 Prologue’s new method of online time and replay verification, we are beginning to see the rise of legitimate competitions endorsed by business and “old media”.  This time, Australia’s Tarmac magazine is fueling the fires of the age old rivalry between the Mitsubishi Lancer Evo and Subaru Impreza STi.  It’s simple enough to participate – just set your best time at London and upload it to the game’s online database.  Then, enter the competition and see if your time holds up.  The fastest drivers of each car will receive either a Mitsubishi or Subaru prize pack.  However, there does appear to be an oversight in the rules, as the use of Professional or Standard physics is not specified.  Tarmac editors posted on our forum that “it’s up to the driver”, but this seems a bit preposterous considering the vast differences between the two modes.  Either way, give it a go, and be sure to use your GTPlanet Registry PSN tag!

Just a reminder to those of you who have yet to submit a time for the GTPlanet Registry Qualifier – the deadline has been moved up to this coming Sunday, September 14, 2008 at midnight GMT.  Remember, a GTP_Registry tag will be required if you want to compete in all future GTPlanet racing events, and the registry will be closed to all new members for one full week following the deadline.  Click here to review all the details about the qualifier, and be sure to send our On-Line Racing manager, Sphinx, a kind word of appreciation for all of his hard work!

Many GTPlanet members made it into the GT Academy’s final rounds, and we have anxiously awaited to hear the results from Silverstone.  Today, thanks to a heads-up by our own dark_ruffo, we can confirm the two winners are Lucas Ordoñez of Spain and Lars Schlommer of Germany.  These two lucky and highly skilled drivers will now continue their training for the 24 Hours of Dubai race in January of 2009.  Congratulations to both of you!  If you’re reading, please stop by our forums and make yourself known!  Of course, even those who won’t be driving in Dubai had an amazing experience, as reports have begun trickling onto our message boards as all the competitors arrive home.  Grandi, of Finland, has been posting details and fielding questions about the experience.  The drivers were pushed to their limits, with tests ranging from physical exams and karting endurance races to piloting a 350Z, Caterham 7, R35 Nissan GT-R, and open-wheeled formula car in nasty weather conditions around the famous British circuit.

In yet another confirmation of the Top Gear test track appearing in Gran Turismo 5, the show has launched a contest giving away 5 free copies of GT5 Prologue.  It’s easy enough to enter – just answer 9 automotive news and Top Gear questions correctly before September 1.  As you might expect, however, only UK residents are eligible, but it’s exciting to see the BBC acknowledge the GT series once again.  See Top Gear’s website for all the questions, terms, and conditions.

The GTPlanet PSN Registry has quickly grown to be the largest organized group of racers in the online world of Gran Turismo 5: Prologue with more than 412 members.  More importantly, it’s going to be the most important set of credentials that you can have when private race rooms come along this fall, as a requirement to compete in officially-sanctioned GTPlanet online events.  In anticipation of this, the Registry’s organizer, Sphinx, is dividing members into separate divisions based upon their performance in an official qualifying time trial.  The new divisions will allow online racers to enjoy much more competitive races with each other this fall, and will give you a good idea of where you stand with the rest of the world (or would that be…the ‘Planet?).