- Nissan PlayStation GT Academy 2016 launches in August
- Since 2008 there have been over 6 million entrants making GT Academy the biggest virtual-to-reality competition in the world
- Winners of the 2015 competition Matt Simmons (Australia) and Romain Sarazin (France) race a Nissan GT-R NISMO GT3 in the Blancpain Endurance Series Cup
- GT Academy 2016 entrants to be amongst the first to experience Gran Turismo Sport in Australia at Live Recruitment Events
YOKOHAMA, Japan – Nissan PlayStation GT Academy has just launched the latest iteration of its virtual to real race competition. This year six territories are hosting the global initiative, which has seen 6 million entrants since it first launched in 2008.
Hopeful racers residing in the following countries will be able to enter the competition; Australia, Indonesia, Mexico, North Africa (Algeria, Egypt & Morocco), Philippines and Thailand. Further regions are set to launch their own GT Academy competitions at a later date in conjunction with Gran Turismo Sport, releasing on the PlayStation 4 from 15th November.
As part of the longstanding partnership with Nissan, Polyphony Digital are supporting this competition with a unique, early version of Gran Turismo Sport featuring only Nissan cars for the live recruitment phase of GT Academy 2016, meaning that those participating in GT Academy 2016 will be amongst the first in Australia to experience this early version of Gran Turismo Sport before its release date.
An amazing prize is once again on offer to the overall winner of the Nissan PlayStation GT Academy 2016. He or she will receive an intensive driver development programme that will see them qualify for an International Race Licence so that they can go on to race in a prestigious 24H International Endurance Race for Nissan (or equivalent prize).
In February Nissan announced its 2016 global motorsport programme confirming that previous winners of the Nissan GT Academy would continue to fly the flag for Nissan; Jann Mardenborough recently made the dream move to Japan where he competes in GT300 and Japanese Formula 3; Ricardo Sanchez takes part in the Blancpain GT Series Sprint Cup; Lucas Ordonez, Matt Simmons and Romain Sarazin all contest the Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup; Bryan Heitkotter races in the Pirelli World Challenge and Nick Hamman competes in Canada's Nissan Micra Cup.
"I entered the GT Academy competition to achieve my dream of becoming a professional racing driver", said Matt Simmons, winner of the 2015 International GT Academy. "GT Academy is an opportunity to make your racing dream come true. To make the most of it, you have to believe in yourself and your abilities but most of all, enjoy the experience".
The 2016 Nissan GT Academy launches during August and begins with live events across the six participating territories. Live events will be hosted at shopping malls, universities, Nissan dealerships and theme parks with permanent residents of participating territories able to turn up to a scheduled live event to set their best time. The 20 fastest drivers will then go on to qualify for a territory final, to take place between August and September, where their real world skills will be tested in fitness, communication and driving challenges.
Each territory will then send its six best drivers to Race Camp at Silverstone Circuit, the home of British Motorsport. Held in October, competitors will have their skills pushed even further to see who has the attributes required to race at International level and become the 2016 Nissan GT Academy winner.
More information on how to enter, live event locations, dates, terms and conditions can be found at http://www.nissan.com.au/Discover/GT-Academy
Additional Notes:
About GT Academy
GT Academy is a collaboration between Nissan and PlayStation that uses the virtual world of Gran Turismo to unearth real-world racing talent. Now in its eighth year, GT Academy is one competition open to permanent residents of the following territories; Australia, Indonesia, Mexico, North Africa (Algeria, Egypt & Morocco), Philippines and Thailand.
Qualification for GT Academy is through live events hosted on a number of dates at locations across the six participating territories, detailed above. At a live event, entrants set their best time on PlayStation 4 running Gran Turismo Sport. The fastest 20 entrants progress to a territory final where they are scored in gaming, fitness, communication and driving activities. The top six scorers from each final join competitors from other territories at the legendary Race Camp, held at Silverstone Circuit, UK. During Race Camp judges look for those who have the attributes required to race at International level. Once an overall winner has been selected, they go on to complete a comprehensive driver development programme that includes racing in the UK to qualify for an International Race Licence so that they can compete in a prestigious 24H Endurance Race for Nissan.
Previous winners of GT Academy have gone on to win in the real world at the highest level; Jann Mardenborough is a race winner in GP3, Lucas Ordonez became the Blancpain Endurance Series Pro-Am champion in 2013, Wolfgang Reip is the 2015 Blancpain Endurance Series Pro Champion also winning the Bathurst 12H with Florian Strauss in 2015.
News and views on GT Academy 2016 and the progress of all the GT Academy drivers can be followed on the following platforms:
www.facebook.com/GTAcademy,
www.twitter.com/GTAcademy,
www.youtube.com/gtacademyeurope,
www.flickr.com/photos/gtacademyeurope,
www.instagram.com/gtacademy
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About Sony Computer Entertainment Europe:
Sony Computer Entertainment Europe (SCEE), based in London, is responsible for the distribution of PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system, PlayStation®3 (PS3™) computer entertainment system, PlayStation®Vita (PS Vita) portable entertainment system, in 109 territories across Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Oceania. SCEE has revolutionised home entertainment since they launched PlayStation® in 1994. PS2® further enhanced the PlayStation® legacy as the core of home networked entertainment. PSP® allowed users to enjoy on-the-go games with high-quality full-motion video and high-fidelity stereo audio. PS3™ is an advanced computer system, incorporating the powerful Cell Broadband Engine and RSX processors. PS Vita is an ultimate portable entertainment system that offers a revolutionary combination of rich gaming and social connectivity within a real world context. PlayStation®4 redefines rich and immersive gameplay with powerful graphics and speed, intelligent personalisation and deeply integrated social capabilities. PlayStation™Network, that includes PlayStation®Store, delivers unparalleled online gaming experiences to PlayStation users. PlayStation™Now, a streaming game service that leverages cloud-based technology, enables users to instantly enjoy a wide range of PS3 games on numerous Internet-connected devices they use every day. SCEE also delivers the PlayStation® experience to open operating systems through PlayStation®Mobile, a cross device platform. SCEE also develops, publishes, markets and distributes entertainment software for these formats, and manages the third party licensing programs for the formats in these territories.
About Nissan Motor Co.
Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., Japan's second-largest automotive company, is headquartered in Yokohama, Japan, and is part of the Renault-Nissan Alliance. Operating with more than 244,500 employees globally, Nissan sold almost 5.2 million vehicles and generated revenue of 10.5 trillion yen (USD 105 billion) in fiscal 2013. Nissan delivers a comprehensive range of more than 60 models under the Nissan, Infiniti and Datsun brands. In 2010, Nissan introduced the Nissan LEAF, and continues to lead in zero-emission mobility. The LEAF, the first mass-market, pure-electric vehicle launched globally, is now the best-selling EV in history with almost 50% share of the zero-emission vehicle segment.
For more information on our products, services and commitment to sustainable mobility, visit our website at http://www.nissan-global.com/EN
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