Gran Turismo's Top Gear tie-in

A Gran Turismo screenshot from Top Gear featuring a jet-powered Mini.

The title that car-mad gamers rate above all others will feature a hook-up with the BBC's ultra-popular show Top Gear.

Gran Turismo 5 will be released in 2008, and is expected to help Sony's flagging PlayStation 3 console sales worldwide.

The comprehensive racing title will include a dedicated online channel called Gran Turimso TV that will allow players to download 40 episodes of the programme.

It will also feature the latest news from the motoring world.

But one of the biggest pieces of news to come out of Sony Computer Entertainment is that Gran Turismo 5 will include the Top Gear Test Track.

This circuit is where Top Gear's test driver known 'The Stig' tests the planet's quickest vehicles, and celebrity guests are pitted against each other set a hot lap time in a reasonably priced car.

Both GT5 producers Polyphony Digital and the BBC are waxing lyrical about the project.

"BBC Top Gear is the world's number one motoring media brand and we're thrilled to make it accessible to Gran Turismo gamers," said BBC digital media director Simon Danker.

Polyphony Digital boss Kazunori Yamauchi said "We're sure that players will be as thrilled as we are when they get the chance to put their own driving skills to the test on the Top Gear Test Track in GT5."