Turn 10 has announced the next DLC content pack for their Forza Motorsport 4 Xbox 360 racer as the Top Gear DLC pack will be adding ten new cars to the title.

Unlike past packs, this one does contain any new race cars but solely street machinery as well as the rather exotic Ford Transit SuperSportVan.

Car List

• 2012 Hennessey Venom GT
• 1977 AMC Pacer X
• 2011 Ford Transit SuperSportVan
• 2012 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon
• 1966 Lotus Cortina
• 1992 Mitsubishi Galant VR-4
• 2012 Smart ForTwo
• 1990 Subaru Legacy RS
• 2012 Chrysler 300 SRT8
• 1965 Austin-Healey 3000 MkIII

The Top Gear DLC pack will be available on Xbox LIVE starting May 1st, selling for 560 Microsoft Points (roughly five Euro).

An interview and overview from Italy on the upcoming game.

Penrose Tackie, European Brand Manager for GT5, has confirmed the schedule for GT Academy 2012 and there’s been a couple of small changes…

GT Academy this year, like the first GT Academy, features a first qualifying round that takes the format of a standalone, downloadable pack. The pack is free to download from PSN, starting on May 1st and doesn’t require Gran Turismo 5 in order to play it. The pack features exclusive content and challenges that “should be a lot of fun whether you’ve played Gran Turismo before or whether you are coming to the game as a complete newbie“. 

The video shows a lap around Donington in a Formula One car in both simulations. the video nicely shows the quantum leap in terms of graphics and other aspects of sim racing, while rFactor was released back in 2005, Project CARS is a current title that is still pre-alpha and is bound to improve even further before the title’s 2013 release.

The video from Gameswelt.tv features Slightly Mad Studio’s producer Suzy Wallace who talks about several aspects of the title’s development as well as her personal experience with driving Ferrari’s.

For even more insight into the upcoming title, Outcast.it has interviewed Creative Director Andy Tudor who shares plenty of very interesting details with us.

Both videos also feature plenty of gameplay footage, showing the upcoming title in action.

The title will include 51 Ferrari road & race cars that can be raced on 36 circuits including variations. You can find a shot of each car below, make sure to also check out the car list & track list.

Test Drive Ferrari will be coming to the PC, Microsoft Xbox 360 and Playstation 3, the release is scheduled for June 30 according to various retailers.

Nissan has officially announced the next edition of their hugely-successful Nissan GT Academy in co-operation with Sony, the 2012 edition of the competition is due to start on May 1st.

Held since 2008, the GT Academy’s aim is to find talent in the virtual racing community and help them get a real racing career started. The success of the program has exceeded everyone’s expectations as all past GT Academy winners have become successful in racing with 2008 winner Lucas Ordonez even becoming 2011 International Le Mans Cup LMP2 champion.

Following a successful spin-off for American users, Nissan is now branching out the competition further as Germany and Russia get a dedicated GT Academy while other European countries remain in the main competition. With three regional competitions and one European one, GT Academy 2012 will see four winners that will enjoy the main prize – A drive in the 2013 Dubai 24 Hours race next January that will hopefully just be their first step in a long racing career.

Traditionally, the GT Academy starts out as an online time-trial competition to find the quickest racers, the GT Academy software will be available on the PlayStation Network starting May 1st. Ownership of Gran Turismo 5 is not required, everyone with a PlayStation 3 living in one of the participating countries is invited to give it their best shot. The online events will be held until June 24, the quickest drivers emerging from there will be challenged in a series of real-life meetings to further prove their skills.

Located on the Dunsfold Aerodrome in Surrey, England, the track is arguably the most famous airfield in the automotive world as it’s regularly featured in BBC’s Top Gear programme to evaluate both cars and drivers.

The scratch-made track will come with seven different layouts, including the one used in the TV-show.

Slightly Mad Studios have released new previews of their WMD-powered Project CARS title, showing off the latest features that are being added to the lighting engine.

The previews show off Connecticut Hill at night during various conditions, showing off new spot lights that illuminate parts of the track and cast shadows on the environment.

The improvements will be made available in one of the title’s next development builds alongside other new content & improvements.

AutoSimSport is back with a new issue of their long-running magazine, bringing us another big batch of previews, reviews & more on everything sim racing.

This issue contains:

• An extensive preview of Assetto Corsa
• Interviews with iRacing’s Dave Kaemmer & Slightly Mad Studios’ Ian Bell
• A review of Forza Motorsport 4
• and much more…

I have just left my email address at the mysterious webpage having read Rob's post on Virtualr.  Lets see what we get back.   Bingo the following turned up promptly.

"Thank you for signing up for Automaniax!

We will shortly release the closed BETA-Version of automaniax.com (about end of April) , which provides a new race experience online. 

With real cars, real tracks,and real motorsports. And that for free. We would be happy, if you take part in this community and race experience.

We will release more details to you shortly before the release, so that you are one of the first who can check out this experience.

Hopefully we see soon on automaniax.com

Thank you very much, The Automaniax Team "

A new driving simulation is always welcome.  Porsche being part of the production of the new driving sim (by Automaniax) is exciting.  Porsche has not licensed there car designs to any Sim to date except via Ruf.  If Porsche have a hand in the engineering it will be superb.  (Ed: Ok I have owned 3 Porsches amongst other Marquees.)   Porsche has a huge following with there iconic 911 style, not to mention a beautiful beast like the Carrera GT.  (I can tell from personal experience that car is mind blowing! )   The Porsche driver will appreciate and get involved in the virtually real driving world I am sure.  My current Visionracer VR3 is Fanatec GT3 and Clubsport pedal based as I've been driving Forza.