European Sony executive reported to have confirmed the release date to a Spanish newspaper.

dlcmarch28gt5p - Gran Turismo 5 set for Christmas 2009

Gtplanet reports that the full Gran Turismo 5 release will be hitting stores for PS3 in Christmas 2009. That's according to a statement by Sony's chief executive in southern Europe, James Armstrong.

"For next year, the chief executive of Sony Computer Entertainment for southern Europe said that they are developing a new game thriller, in which the player may be designing their own history, and the new version of Gran Turismo, which will arrive at Christmas," states Spanish newspaper El Financiero.

We've contacted Sony for a comment and are waiting to hear back.