With GT (Gran Turismo) Academy, anyone with proven video game driving skills can compete in a REAL racetrack. Created in 2008, this globally played tournament expands into GT Academy Asia, in which the Philippines will be pitted against other Asian countries to become the GT Academy Champion.
Nissan Philippines, Inc. is now part of this virtual-to-pro racing competition, as it launches the First GT Academy in the Philippines.
From Good Gamer to Champion Driver
The GT Academy International Champion 2014 Ricardo Sanchez (above) flew in all the way from UK to attend the launch of the First GT Academy in the Philippines last March 25. After winning last year’s competition, Ricardo’s racing career took off after he joined Nissan’s elite motor sport team, the NISMO, to run the coveted tracks of the prestigious Dubai 24-Hour race in January 2015.
“With the launch of GT Academy in the Philippines, we at Nissan offer an exciting opportunity for Filipinos to emerge as a breakthrough talent in the racing world,” said Antonio Zara, President and Managing Director of Nissan Philippines, Inc.
The Shift from Gamer to Racer
GT Academy takes skilled Gran Turismo 6 players and turns them into professional racers in five stages.
First Gear: The Recruitment (April – June)
Thousands of hopefuls will be narrowed down to the top 20 gamers to be determined by time trials taking place behind the wheel of GT pods during live racing events.
[Update: section below on How to Qualify has been added on April 4, 2015.]
HOW TO QUALIFY
- There’s no online tournament. To qualify, one must join the Live events (see schedule below) and play on the GT Pods. It’s free of charge. There’s no registration fee.
- There’s no limit to the number of times one can try to qualify during the live events. The 20 fastest and qualified gamers at the event will go through to the next stage of the competition which is the National Finals happening in July 2015.
- The 20 finalists must abide by a criteria for them to be eligible to win. These include but are not limited to being 18 years old, having a valid driver’s license, having a valid passport, and the readiness to travel internationally.
#NissanGTAcademyPH LIVE events schedule:
- April 10 and 11, 10AM-10PM at the Glorietta 5 Activity Center
- April 12, 10AM-9PM at Glorietta 5 Activity Center
- April 17-18, 10AM-10PM at Glorietta Activity Center
- April 19, 10AM-9PM at Glorietta Activity Center
Second Gear: National Finals (July)
The National Finals will determine top 6 Filipino players who will go to the next round and go bumper-to-bumper with the best Gran Turismo drivers in Asia.
Third Gear: The Race Camp Week (August)
Players will be tested on their strength, stamina, mental agility and driving skills against Asia’s best at the Silverstone Racing Circuit in UK.
Fourth Gear: Driver Development Program
The emerging GT Academy Champion in Asia will join other GT Academy winners in a rigorous training under the wing of professional coaches and racers at the Silverstone Racing Circuit in UK.
Fifth Gear: Graduation
After passing the Driver Development Program, graduates will receive their International C License, allowing them to compete in a prestigious racing event anywhere in the world.
“We are looking forward to discovering even more new stars in 2015. Anyone in the Philippines who thinks they have what it takes should give GT Academy a go. Not everyone can win, but the experience is hugely rewarding at every stage of the competition.” said GTA Global’s Managing Director Laurence Wiltshire.
For the schedule of live events and updates on the GT Academy Philippines, please visit www.facebook.com/NissanPhilippinesInc.
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