SPEED, the automotive lifestyle and motor sports network, has joined forces with Microsoft Game Studios in presenting a live-action mini series based on the popular Forza Motorsport video game franchise, available exclusively on Xbox 360.

Forza Motorsport Showdown, produced by Bud Brutsman of the popular SPEED reality show Payback, is scheduled to begin airing in February 2007. The four-episode series will be hosted by Lee Reherman, best known as 'Hawk' from the hit television show, American Gladiator.

Each episode follows a diverse group of racers through a rigorous roster of competitive motor sports disciplines - drifting, road racing, autocross and drag racing - in a $100,000 winner-take-all format. Forza Motorsport Showdown, inspired by the realism of the on-line, multi-player vehicle customization and tuning features within the game, puts contestants to the ultimate test of high-performance driving and mechanical skills.

"These are real people, real crews and real cars battling it out for a significant prize," said Robert Ecker, VP of Programming for SPEED. "It's a very visually appealing production, with an incredible amount of drama and suspense. Each team and personality has to excel in all of the racing categories to have a chance. There's not a lot of room for error."

"This was the first time SPEED had been approached about doing a video game-based reality series offering a serious prize - while providing a wider appeal to a more youthful audience," Ecker continued. "To Microsoft Games Studios' credit, they didn't want this to be an infomercial about Forza Motorsport 2. They wanted this to be a stand alone show with its own reality twists and uninhibited drama. It's a very refreshing approach."

"In essence, gaming is reality-based entertainment in its purest form," said Jeff Bell, corporate vice president of global marketing, Microsoft's Interactive Entertainment Business. "The upcoming Forza Motorsport Showdown series demonstrates how great games can be a creative force for telling compelling stories in other media such as television and film."

Forza Motorsport 2, the sequel to Microsoft Game Studios' award-winning, fully customizable driving simulator Forza Motorsport, will make its exclusive debut on Xbox 360 early next year. With authentic simulation physics, bone-jarring damage, photo-realistic graphics, and a myriad of real-world tuning and customization options, the franchise improves on the unprecedented features gamers enjoyed in its debut installment. Loaded with more than 300 of the worlds hottest cars to collect, personalize and tune from the automotive industry's leading companies, Forza Motorsport 2 gives players a complete racing experience. More information on Forza Motorsport 2, can be found by visiting www.xbox.com or www.forzamotorsport.net.