Virtual to real race dream close to reality for two Brits

Sony Computer Entertainment UK and Nissan Motor (GB) Limited have announced 32-year-old John Moorby a programmer from Macclesfield and 22-year-old student Alex Ingram from Edinburgh as the UK qualifiers of the Nissan PlayStation GT Academy. The pair will now go onto represent the UK, against gamers from 17 countries at the international final staged at Silverstone Circuit from 26 February – 2 March.

From the 20 competitors who travelled to Brands Hatch from around the UK, only Moorby and Ingram will keep their PlayStation3 (PS3) loungeroom racing dream alive. They will now see if they can transfer their gaming skills to the real track at Silverstone, where the fastest gamers from around the world will undergo a rigorous training programme for the chance to become a real racing driver.

Tensions were high as the UK’s most talented PlayStation racers battled it out at Brands Hatch, competing over a series of online races staged on a specially designed version of the hugely popular Gran Turismo game. The final gaming heat of the day was staged on the world-famous Nürburgring circuit. Moorby and Ingram crossed the line in first and second positions to qualify for the next stage of GT Academy 2010.

As part of the National Final, last year’s winner of the GT Academy, Spaniard Lucas Ordoñez, and his Nissan team-mate Alex Buncombe gave the UK competitors a taste of the final prize with a passenger ride around Brands Hatch circuit in the Nissan 350Z GT and a race-spec 370Z. The 350Z GT was the same car in which Ordoñez and Buncombe recorded a race victory to secure second place in the 2009 European GT4 Cup Racing Series.

Alex Ingram said: “I was nervous but I managed to hold on to my second place and I am really chuffed. I have been really determined since the start of GT Academy. I knew coming in here that everyone was very closely matched so I was confident that I had as good a chance as anyone but I am really delighted. The passenger ride in the 370Z was amazing so I can’t imagine how unbelievable a real drive at Silverstone will be.”

“I have been a massive Gran Turismo fan since the beginning. This has been a great day and Nissan and PlayStation have given all of us an incredible opportunity. I don’t know what to think about Silverstone. I’m sure I’ll be very nervous as it gets closer. I didn’t imagine I could win today, so I might have to cancel the holiday I have got booked in March now as I’ll need a week off for Silverstone,” said winner John Moorby.

Moorby and Ingram will now join other international finalists at Silverstone circuit for the GT Academy – a five day, comprehensive race driver boot camp. Participants will have the chance to develop new driving skills through a series of driving, physical and mental aptitude tests.

The two international finalists that are judged to display the talent and determination to succeed in motor sport will undergo an intensive driver training programme to prepare them to qualify for an international race licence. The driver with the most potential will claim the golden prize of contesting a full-season in the 2010 European GT4 Cup racing series in a Nissan 370Z GT, prepared by RJN Motorsport.

David Wilson, Head of Communications for Sony Computer Entertainment, commented: “GT Academy reflects the PlayStation spirit of turning dreams into reality. We have been overwhelmed that over 1.1 million people from around the world and 260,000 in the UK alone have taken up the challenge to transfer their racing passion for Gran Turismo and attempt to become a real racing driver.”

“We now move to the GT Academy 2010 international final stage and a baptism of fire awaits our two UK winners,” said, Terry Steeden, Sports car product manager for Nissan Motor (GB) Limited. “It’s going to be fascinating to see who can most effectively adapt their on-screen skills to the real track. If the international finalists are looking for inspiration, they should recognise what last year’s winner Lucas achieved in such a short space of time.”

For people who want to follow the progress of GT Academy 2010, lots of news will be shared on a variety of platforms including: facebook.com/GTAcademy | eu.gran-turismo.com | twitter.com/GTAcademy