ITV4 will soon be broadcasting a series of six programmes covering the fourth outing of PlayStation's GT Academy. Launched in association with Nissan, the GT Academy sets to turn the world's fastest virtual racers into real-life, professional racing drivers.
The basis for the event is the racing simulator, Gran Turismo 5. For the 2012 GT Academy, the 830,000 gamers who entered over the 14 participating European countries were eventually whittled down to six entrants per country.
The programme, hosted by Irish TV presenter, Craig Doyle, follows the six entrants from the UK and Ireland as they are eliminated one by one in a series of driving, physical and mental challenges at the Silverstone circuit. Assessing their ability is a panel of experts, including former British Formula One Champion, Johnny Herbert. The winner of these challenges will go on to race for the UK to decide who will be crowned the 2012 GT Academy Champion.
The prize? To enter driver development training in order to compete in a full race-spec Nissan 370Z GT4 at this year's Dubai International 24 Hour Race. Previous champions have not stopped there either, with winners becoming professional Le Mans 24 Hour racing drivers in less than three years.
Broadcasting begins on Monday 4th February at 8pm. Each episode will also be repeated on Saturday evenings and Sunday mornings.
James Giddings - 30 Jan 2013