For everyone who has ever uttered the words, "I bet I could beat that guy" when watching motor racing on television, getting a chance to actually go head to head with a Formula 1 driver could be your opportunity to prove it.

European gamers will do just that on September 5, when Gran Turismo 5 fans from around Europe will be able to virtually race against former F1 star and current F1 TV pundit David Coulthard.

The former Grand Prix winner will be getting behind the wheel of a 2011 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG supercar on a real race circuit, the location of which is currently undisclosed. At the same time, 24 prize draw winners will be battling to get a top-six time in a competition at Mercedes-Benz World in Surrey, England for a chance to compete in real time against Coulthard.

Millions of other European fans will be able to set online times in the next Gran Turismo 5 "seasonal event" to have a go at beating the F1 star. The event will be broadcast live on the day and the winning gamer at Mercedes-Benz World will be given an all-expenses-paid trip to the 2011 Brazilian Formula 1 Grand Prix this November, so the stakes are high.

The track on which Coulthard and the gamers will battle is being kept a secret until the day to ensure all competitors have a fair chance of victory, selected from one of GT5's real-world circuits such as the Nürburgring, Laguna Seca or Monza.

The challenge could be the world's biggest ever race - over 6 million copies of GT5 have been sold worldwide since release in December 2010.

You'll be able to watch the live battle on September 5 at mercedesliverace.co.uk.

[Mercedes-Benz]