130w ago - Sony Senior Product Marketing Manager Stephanie Yoshimoto has confirmed that GT Academy starts today alongside an announcement of some new expansion features for Gran Tusismo 5 PS3.

To quote: Round 1 of GT Academy, the ground-breaking competition that will turn one Gran Turismo 5 player into a professional race car driver, is now open!

If you haven't heard about GT Academy, it's an online competition within GT5 that takes the top 32 players in the United States, based on time trial events, to a national finals event where they will compete for one of 16 spots in the GT Academy boot camp.

At the boot camp, the finalists' strength, stamina, mental agility, and driving skills will be pushed to the limits and beyond. Only one champion will ultimately go on to train to become a professional race driver and compete in a real endurance race.

This unique competition will be documented in a GT Academy reality show that will air on the SPEED channel and PlayStation Network.

Round 1 is now open and runs through January 23, 2011. To enter, register at the GT Web site, then...