The award-winning Gran Turismo 5 on PlayStation just got safer. Participants in one of the world's most competitive and popular motor racing video games can now choose to wear the HANS Device prior to starting their engines.
Introduced in November of 2010, the global sales of Gran Turismo 5 have exceeded six million. The HANS Device is now the exclusive head and neck restraint available when participants choose their helmets.
“Gran Turismo 5 has a strong following among young people who are interested in motor racing,” said Gary Milgrom vp of HANS Performance Products. “This is a great opportunity for us to introduce young drivers to the importance of the HANS Device when it comes to safety in the real world racing environment.”
Developed by Polyphony Digital and exclusive to PlayStation, Gran Turismo 5 features a large selection of over 1,000 remarkably realistic vehicles ranging from NASCAR Sprint Cup cars to Le Mans prototypes or exotic street cars like Ferrari. Participants can compete in their vehicles on some of the world's greatest racetracks or on courses created by the contestants themselves.
“We know that great champions like Jeff Gordon used video games to help hone the skills he used to win four Sprint Cup championships,” said Milgrom. “A lot of our next-generation drivers are going to emerge from the video game community and we're glad to be associated with a market leader like Gran Turismo 5.”
The HANS Device will be available as part of a patch to be distributed to all countries where Gran Turismo 5 is sold in the regions of North America, Europe and Asia Pacific. “We sell the HANS Device around the world, so the global reach of Gran Turismo 5 matches up well when it comes to bringing the message about safety to all participants in motor racing,” said Milgrom.