{"id":45898,"date":"2012-10-15T11:43:39","date_gmt":"2012-10-15T09:43:39","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/mygaming.co.za\/news\/?p=45898"},"modified":"2012-10-15T11:47:14","modified_gmt":"2012-10-15T09:47:14","slug":"gt-academy-kicks-off-in-sa","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mygaming.co.za\/news\/business\/45898-gt-academy-kicks-off-in-sa","title":{"rendered":"GT Academy underway in SA"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/em><\/strong>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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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

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.<\/p>\n

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 \u2013 competing in the Silverstone 24 hours in 2014.<\/p>\n

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Lucas Ordo\u00f1ez (2008 GT Academy winner)<\/p><\/div>\n

The GT Academy has proven to produce real race-drivers, as Spain\u2019s Lucas Ordo\u00f1ez (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\u2019s 2011 winner, Jann Mardenborough (UK) currently competes in the British GT Championship and the Blancpain Endurance Series.<\/p>\n

Competition dates<\/h3>\n

15th October 2012 \u2013 10th December 2012<\/strong>
\nQualification stage, using an exclusive, free to download qualification programme<\/p>\n

January 2013<\/strong>
\nNational finals stage, to be confirmed<\/p>\n

March 2013<\/strong>
\nRace Camp at Silverstone<\/p>\n

Nissan GT Academy Roadshow<\/h3>\n

There are a number of accompanying wildcard events to be held across South Africa during November and December too:<\/p>\n

Durban<\/strong>
\n2nd-4th November 2012 \u2013 Gateway Theatre of Shopping<\/p>\n

Cape Town<\/strong>
\n9th-11th November 2012 \u2013 Tyger Valley Shopping Centre<\/p>\n

Johannesburg<\/strong>
\n17th November 2012 \u2013 Fourways Crossing
\n23rd-25th November 2012 \u2013 Sandton City
\n2nd December 2012 \u2013 Maponya Mall<\/p>\n

Pretoria<\/strong>
\n18th November 2012 \u2013 Menlyn Park
\n1st December 2012 \u2013 Mall@Reds<\/p>\n\n\t\t