{"id":45611,"date":"2012-10-09T11:53:33","date_gmt":"2012-10-09T09:53:33","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/mygaming.co.za\/news\/?p=45611"},"modified":"2012-10-09T11:54:48","modified_gmt":"2012-10-09T09:54:48","slug":"gt-academy-sa-launch-what-went-down","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mygaming.co.za\/news\/business\/45611-gt-academy-sa-launch-what-went-down","title":{"rendered":"GT Academy SA launch: what went down"},"content":{"rendered":"

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 \u2013 to become a real racedriver.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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After an introduction from 2008\u2019s GT Academy winner, Lucas Ordo\u00f1ez (who is now a Le Mans driver), the day included three main events \u2013 go karting, a GT5 competition, and the highlight \u2013 getting a go on the skidpan with a Nissan 370Z.<\/p>\n

The Go Karting proceedings got underway, with motor and entertainment journalists battling it out on the track.<\/p>\n

The GT5 competition saw everyone try their hand at setting the best time on one of the game\u2019s hardest tracks \u2013 the Fuji Speedway.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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The winners of each respective event got the chance to head back to the go-kart track and test their skills against Lucas Ordo\u00f1ez himself.<\/p>\n

The event was a great introduction of the GT Academy into South Africa, and Lucas Ordo\u00f1ez, along with other winners, are living proof the success of the initiative put forth by Playstation and Nissan.<\/p>\n

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 \u2013 including those qualifiers who will progress on to Silverstone \u2013 will be announced at the end of January 2013.<\/p>\n

The GT Academy 2012 download will be available free on Playstation 3 for players to begin posting their qualifying times.<\/p>\n\n\t\t