Gran Turismo 5 has had racing purists salivating ever since it was revealed at the E3 show is 2006. Fans have waited so long Sony released a “Prologue” title to appease gearheads.

GT5, if it matches the track record of previous titles, will redefine the racing game genre as humanity knows it. The game features over 1,000 cars and 80 tracks, and, for the first time ever, online play so players can compete against 15 real-life racers.

Now, the first officials screenshots of the PS3 exclusive have been released to the wild. So, until the masterpiece is released Dec. 29, enjoy the eye candy.

Here’s the press release:
Start Your Engines!!!

Gran Turismo 5 will soon roar onto PS3 and we wanted to share with you the first set of screenshots from the game, courtesy of Sony and world-renowned development studio Polyphony Digital. GT5 features a total of 1000 vehicles, more than twice its closest racing competitor along with all the stunningly realistic tracks that fans have come to expect from the Gran Turismo franchise. In addition, Gran Turismo 5 delivers vehicle damage and rollover crashes and takes full advantage of the online capabilities of the PlayStation 3 and PSN, featuring online racing with voice chat, fully customizable race events and the ability to export replays to YouTube.