GT Academy underway in SA

As of today (15 October 2012), the Nissan GT Academy competition is officially underway, with aspiring racers getting their chance at becoming a professional race driver.

The challenge requires players to compete in a number of console-based races and stages, before earning your way to the real-life racetrack in England.

The first step requires South African gamers to download the free GT Academy Qualification Demo (GT5 required to play), and compete to earn their place in the final 24. The top 24 – including those qualifiers who will progress on to Silverstone – will be announced at the end of January 2013.

From there, the last 16 will take to the GT Academy Race Camp at Silverstone in the UK, where they will learn to master the Nissan GT-R and 370Z.

The overall winner will then be taken to the Driver Development Programme (DDP) and undergo a three-month training schedule to qualify for an international racing license and the ultimate prize – competing in the Silverstone 24 hours in 2014.

Lucas Ordoñez (2008 GT Academy winner)

The GT Academy has proven to produce real race-drivers, as Spain’s Lucas Ordoñez (2008 GT Academy winner) is contesting the European Le Mans Series and took part at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, along with Frenchman Jordan Tresson (2010 winner), who competes in the FIA World Endurance Championship. The GT Academy’s 2011 winner, Jann Mardenborough (UK) currently competes in the British GT Championship and the Blancpain Endurance Series.