Xbox 360™ begins its search for

Australia’s Best Virtual Driver.

And if you love Forza Motorsport 2, then it could well be you

Only open to Australian Residents

by XboxOZ360

©2008 Grant Smythe:

You think you’re quick off the mark and get great times in Forza 2, and you ‘pwned’ everyone on XboxLive. Well now is the time to put your money where your mouth is. Stop the ‘talking-up’ and get down-n-dirty with the boys on the track, virtual track that is, using Forza Motorsport 2 as your guide.

Yes, that’s right, Xbox 360™ is calling on all Virtual Racers and inviting them to compete for “The Lap Of Their Lives” and to be in the running to win $AU100,000* in prizes. We had the pleasure of being 2 of the 20 gaming media invited to sit next to several of Australia’s best V8 Supercar Drivers such as Mark Scaife and Jamie Whincup, and race them head-to-head on SIlverstones’ Long Circuit in the R3 class.

Did we have fun, you can bet your sweet socks we did. Did we do any good, well GrathiusRX got the 4th fastest time, and actually beat Mark Scaife in one race with 8 other drivers, which also included other V8 Supercar Drivers. So hats off to you GrathiusXR for your “excellent” efforts this afternoon.

No, you can NOT ask how I went – that’s the privileges of being Editor In Chief . . But more about our day out in another item up soon with loads of pics and a movie interview with some of the real Supercar Drivers we had a chance to chat with today.

But more about the competition.

Well there will be a 3 week tournament starting at “exactly” 8.00am Sydney time on the 18th August and run up until 8.00am Sydney PT time on 7th September. The tournament will culminate in a grand final round in Sydney, where the top four competitors will then compete for one seat in the Xbox 360™ Bathurst Challenge at Mt. Panorama, Bathurst on 10 October 2008.

The search for Australia’s fastest virtual racer also coincides with the launch if the Xbox 360 Bathurst Challenge Promotion, which will see 12 lucky winners (from various promotions) racing specially designed go-karts on Mt. Panorama for their chance to share in $AU100,000* in prizes. Hopefuls can enter the competition simply by purchasing ANY Xbox 360 console, accessory, LIVE product or racing game at their Local retail outlet and signing onto XboxLIVE.

Here’s how to participate in this great initiative.

During the qualification round entrants are invited to do the following:

1. Players may register online via www.xbox.com.au/fm2challenge which will be ‘active on Friday 18Th August for registrations.

2. Access XboxLIVE via their Xbox 360 console

3. Load Forza Motorsport 2 and select the Career Mode.

4. Select your car: Any car from the R3 Class (no upgrades but players will be able to tweak their settings)

5. Enter the Multiplayer Mode, choose XboxLIVE and then select the Tournament option.

6. Select Forza Motorsport 2 Challenge

7. Start racing and post your ‘best’ time.

Game settings (which MUST be followed to be elidgable.

• Forza Motorsport 2 races on the Forza Motorsport 2 Challenge Tournament Scoreboard will beplayed on the pre-determined tournament setting. Players will not be able to alter tournament lobby settings while playing on the scoreboard

• All players must race in on of the cars in the R3 Class to be eligible for inclusion on teh Scoreboard.

• Game Assists are optional in all rounds.

• The track to be used is the Silverstone Circuit (long) in the normal direction.

Xbox 360 Bathurst Challenge prizes include:

• $AU30,000 CASH

• Samsung Home Theatre System

• Samsung 40 inch LCD television

• 2 Tickets to Xbox Corporate hospitality on Pit Straight at Bathurst

• 1 jot lap for winner around Mt. Panorama with a Profession driver

• HP Laptop

• V8 merchandise pack

• Xbox 360 Go-Kart

• Holden Racing Team Merchandise

• Oakley merchandise.

Now if you think you can cut the mustard, and have the skills to be Australia’s best Virtual Driver, then get honking and fire up those R3 Class Vipers, Porsche’s, Nissan’s, Toyota’s and start hammering away at those times people. As sitting on the sidelines isn’t the same as sitting in the winners circle, never has been, never will be. Stop reading, get playing.

We will be keeping you well informed as to Entrants times being set every few days (probably the top 20 or so), with the round winners at the end of each week being made public. Perhaps we will take a look at some of the Virtual Racers, their history and careers in gaming so youget to know your Virtual Racing Stars.

And please remember . . . you do NOT have to be an expert to enter orhave fun. If you think that you have to have hours and hours of driving up your sleeve already – scratch that idea NOW. Nor that you won’t stand a chance. Sure the best will win, that’s always the name of competition, there can only be one winner in any race. But the fun is not necessarily in winning, but in being part of the whole things . .

You’ll mix and meet with other virtual racing enthusiasts, make friends and expand your circle of virtual racing friends. This is just ONE of the great initiatives Xbox 360 has planed for you in the upcoming months, so keep your eyes and ears peeled for many others.

• As a Xbox Contributing Community Site, we support any initiative Xbox 360™ ventures forth to that enables the Australian Xbox Community to browaden its network and bring gamer together.

©2008 Grant Smythe:

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Filed under: 1st Party Titles, Console gaming, Industry News, Microsoft Games, Press Release, Xbox 360, Xbox 360 News Tagged: | "Bathurst 2008", "xbox 360 Bathusrt Challenge", Bathurst Supercars", Xbox 360 Virtual Driver challenge", Xbox 360 Virtual driver"