Gran Turismo Academy: From e-sports to real racing drivers!

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Recently updated on October 29, 2023 at 08:02 am

The Gran Turismo Academy, also known as The NISMO PlayStation GT Academy, is not just a simple e-sports tournament. It is a bridge that enables the transition from virtual racing simulations to real motorsport careers. An innovative casting and funding program run by Nissan and Sony PlayStation was created to discover and promote talented drivers through e-sports. But, why does the GT Academy no longer exist? The GT Academy continued until 2016. Over time, the concept expanded so much that there were up to five winners per year. However, Nissan couldn't accommodate everyone in real-world motorsport, so the program ended in 2016.

Gran Turismo Academy – the process

• Phase 1: Qualification: In this phase everyone can Gran Turismo player Register online via your PlayStation with your PSN (PlayStation Network) ID and take part in the national preliminary rounds. The races take place on different tracks and with different Nissan vehicles. The best players qualify for the next phase. There are also local qualifications at public events to enable players without a PlayStation to take part.

• Phase 2: National Finals: The best players who have a real chance of taking part in the next phase are determined here. In addition to the tournaments, participants are also tested in real vehicles and have to pass various tests such as personality, fitness and health tests.
• Phase 3: The Race Camp: The Race Camp, located at Stowe Circuit on the grounds of Silverstone Circuit in the UK, is a training center and week-long selection process. The GT Academy winners are determined here. The participants are divided into regional groups and supervised by experienced mentors. At the end, a winner is chosen in each group, who then receives a place in one of Nissan's international racing series.

• Phase 4: Driver Development Program: This program, headquartered at Silverstone Circuit, consists of intensive training lasting two to four months. Here the participants receive training and racing at club sport and national level. These operations are necessary to obtain the international driver's license required for international races such as the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

the entry requirements

To participate in the GT Academy, players had to be at least 18 years old. Previous qualifications for the Race Camp were not taken into account and the elimination heats had to be completed again. The Gran Turismo Academy had managed to bring e-sports to the fore and offer talented players a real opportunity in motorsport. Proof that passion and talent, combined with the right platform, can make dreams come true.

• Name: GT Academy (also The NISMO PlayStation GT Academy)
• Purpose: Casting and support program
• Partner: Nissan and Sony PlayStation
• Goal: recruiting talented drivers through e-sports
• Main goal: Transition from virtual racing simulations to real motorsport in a Nissan motorsport team.

Hintergrund:

• Founding: June 2008
• Partner at founding: Nissan Europe, Sony Computer Entertainment Europe, Polyphony Digital
• Inventor: Darren Cox (then Global Head of Sales, Marketing and Brand at Nissan)

Program structure:

• Phase 1: Qualification
  • Platform: PlayStation
  • Registration: PSN (PlayStation Network) ID
  • Venue: Various tracks and Nissan vehicles
  • Local qualifications: Public dates and events
• Phase 2: National Finals
  • Tests: Real vehicles, personality, fitness, motivation and health tests
• Phase 3: The Race Camp
  • Location: Stowe Circuit, Silverstone Circuit, UK
  • Duration: One-week selection process
  • Goal: Determine the GT Academy winners
  • Mentors 2014: Nick Heidfeld (Germany), Johnny Herbert (Europe)
• Phase 4: Driver Development Program
  • Location: Silverstone Circuit
  • Duration: Two to four months
  • Content: Education, training and racing at club sport and national level
  • Goal: Issuance of the international driver's license

Entry requirements:

• Minimum age: 18 years
• Qualifications from previous events will not be taken into account for the race camp

Competition groups and their winners:

• Origin: European competition
• Expansion: 2011 (USA), 2014 (International)
• Groups:
  • Group 1: Europe (incl. France, Italy, UK, Spain, Portugal, Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg, Russia, Sweden, Poland, Czech Republic)
  • Group 2: Germany
  • Group 3: North America (USA and Canada)
  • Group 4: International (Australia, India, Middle East, Mexico, Thailand)

GT Academy competitions 2015:

• GT Academy Europe: Countries such as France, Italy, Germany, UK, Spain/Portugal, Benelux, CEE
• GT Academy Asia: Countries such as Japan, India, Thailand, Philippines, Indonesia
• GT Academy International: USA, Australia, Mexico, Egypt, Morocco, Algeria, Turkey and others

Exemplary successes of the graduates in real motorsport:

• Lucas Ordoñez: 2nd place in the 24 Hours of Le Mans 2011, 3rd place in the 24 Hours of Le Mans 2013
• Jordan Tresson: he was champion in the GT4 class of the Blancpain Endurance Series 2011
• Wolfgang Reip: First lap of a purely electric racing car at the 24 Hours of Le Mans 2014

Awards:

• Multiple Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity Awards
• 'Campaign' magazine Media Awards
• Media Week Awards
• AUTOSPORT Awards

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