SPEED channel and Microsoft Game studios team up!

SPEED has joined forces with Microsoft Game Studios in presenting a live-action mini-series based on Xbox 360’s new Forza Motorsport 2 video game.

Forza Motorsport Showdown, produced by Bud Brutsman of the popular SPEED reality show, Payback, is set to air February 2007. The four-episode series will be hosted by Lee Reherman, best known as ‘Hawk’ on hit television show, American Gladiator.

Each episode rigors a diverse group of competitors through a roster of competitive motorsports disciplines – drag racing, road racing, autocross and drifting – in a $100,000 winner-take-all format. Forza Motorsport Showdown is designed to be the ultimate test of high-performance driving and mechanical skills.

“These are real people, real crews and real cars battling it out for a very significant cash prize,” said Robert Ecker, VP of Programming for SPEED. “It’s a very dynamic production encompassing an incredible amount of drama and suspense. Each team and personality has to excel in every one of these racing categories to be competitive; there’s not much room for error.”

Forza Motorsport 2 is Microsoft Game Studios’ sequel presentation to its award-winning Forza Motorsport title, which debuted in 2003. This offering is expected to set new standards for high-definition gaming, customization, driving, physical and damage simulation. In addition, Forza Motorsport 2 allows gamers to collect more than 300 personalized racers and pursue worldwide competitions through its revolutionary Xbox Live gaming community.