Australian Gran Turismo champ Dan Holland was evicted from the GT Academy Competition after failing to show up for the opening GT Academy competitor briefing and press conference.

2009 marked the first year that the competition was open to residents of Australia and New Zealand. Finalist's of the event are chosen to attend the intensive five-day driver "boot camp" at England's Silverstone circuit. The top two competitors are then chosen to prepare for an international driving license. The best competitor then goes on to race a full season in the European GT4 Cup in a Nissan 370Z.

Dan Holland qualified after beating 25,000 Australian gamers to earn the trip to the UK. “I’ll go back to the drawing board when I get home. But I’ll be back,” Holland promised.

Via ScreenPlay

Image via Cnet

Lara Croft's tomb spelunking adventures have finally paid off for her in real-world recognition: Her home town in Britain has named a street after her.

The Derby City Council wanted to name a stretch of road and put the naming to an Internet vote. Lara Croft Way won in a landslide. But why would the hero of a videogame even be considered for such an honor? Turns out that Core Design, the game design house that created Tomb Raider, is based in Derby.

According to a story in the Derbyshire press:

Nearly 28,000 of 30,000 votes were cast for Lara Croft Way, while Mercian Way, after Derbyshire's Army regiment, received 1,570 votes.

They were among eight names short-listed by city council officials for the £36m ring road.

Lara Croft Way will be used to name the Osmaston Road to Burton Road stretch, with Mercian Way becoming the Burton Road to Stafford Street link.

Many commenters at the paper's web site were upset, particularly when it was revealed that people could vote more than once. But it is an interesting tribute to a local icon.

Congratulations, Lara.