Europeans can begin jumping with glee (or at least pulling out those MadCat steering wheels out of the closet) because it seems likely that Gran Turismo 5 will be coming just in time for next Christmas. James Armstrong, Sony’s big man in southern Europe, recently told Spanish newspaper El Financiero (via GTPlanet) that the racing simulation “will arrive at Christmas.”

The possibility of poor translation aside, the coming of Gran Turismo 5 will finally spell the end of Gran Turismo Prologue, which has been prefacing the daddy release since April 15, 2008 in the United States. Armstrong gave no indication of US or Japan release, but it is probably safe to say that it will make an appearance in both countries.

Polyphony Digital’s Kazunori Yamauchi has said nothing to this effect, and hinted earlier this summer that fans shouldn’t expect GT5 until 2010. That shouldn’t deter our excitement though. The one thing Yamauchi can’t take from us is our hopes and dreams.

[via Ripten]