GT Academy SA launch: what went down

Monday, 8 October 2012 saw the official launch of the GT Academy in South Africa. The GT Academy gives Gran Turismo PS3 players the chance of a lifetime – to become a real racedriver.

The challenge requires players to compete in a number of console-based races and stages, before earning your way to a real-life racetrack in England, where you could win yourself the chance to join the GT Academy Race Camp and train to become a full-time race driver.

To celebrate the event, Playstation and Nissan South Africa held a launch event at Zwartkops Raceway, and as expected, there were engines, nerves, and a lot of competitiveness and banter being tossed around.

After an introduction from 2008’s GT Academy winner, Lucas Ordoñez (who is now a Le Mans driver), the day included three main events – go karting, a GT5 competition, and the highlight – getting a go on the skidpan with a Nissan 370Z.

The Go Karting proceedings got underway, with motor and entertainment journalists battling it out on the track.

The GT5 competition saw everyone try their hand at setting the best time on one of the game’s hardest tracks – the Fuji Speedway.

Everyone was obviously most excited for the skidpan though, which was transformed into a gymkhana track, requiring everyone to throw-down some 360s and slalom-cone dodging to see who could grab the best time.

The winners of each respective event got the chance to head back to the go-kart track and test their skills against Lucas Ordoñez himself.

The event was a great introduction of the GT Academy into South Africa, and Lucas Ordoñez, along with other winners, are living proof the success of the initiative put forth by Playstation and Nissan.

The GT Academy opens its virtual doors to gamers on 15 October 2012, with the selection of finalists taking place between 15 December 2012 and mid-January 2013. The top 24 – including those qualifiers who will progress on to Silverstone – will be announced at the end of January 2013.

The GT Academy 2012 download will be available free on Playstation 3 for players to begin posting their qualifying times.