Nissan PlayStation GT Academy plans to conduct its programmes in more cities next year. The event which concluded recently in Chennai saw around 1,000 participants and selected a diving enthusiast who has completed the lap in 2.02 minutes. After the qualifying rounds at the 2014 Auto Expo, Delhi (NCR), Mumbai, Hyderabad and Bangalore in February, March, April and May 2014 respectively, Chennai is fifth city chosen by Nissan in their nationwide hunt to find India’s motor racing talent.
Ajay Raghuvanshi, Vice President, Marketing, Sales and Dealer Development, Nissan India said, “We are delighted to launch GT Academy in India; bringing the programme here reinforces our commitment to growing the Nissan brand and developing relationships with both existing and potential customers. GT Academy really proves that Nissan stands for innovation and excitement for everyone. This year we have received tremendous response for the event, therfore we plan to go to more cities next year.”
A total of 28 participants with the quickest laps , fourteen from live events and another fourteen from online qualification rounds will be eligible to enter the National Final. The 28 contestants who go to Mumbai for the National Final will be put through a two-day intensive physical and mental training examination programme out of which, only six contestants will be filtered to be eligible for the International Race Camp at Silverstone in the United Kingdom. At the Silverstone Race Camp, the six shortlisted Indian contestants will be pitted against 18 qualified contestants from other nations, which is also new to the programme.
The contestants will undergo and endure exhaustive training for mental and physical strength under the supervision of motorsports experts. After testing their driving skills at the Formula One Silverstone motor racing circuit in Nismo-tuned Nissan 370Zs and GT-Rs, only one contestant will move on to the Driver Development Programme and learn all the skills necessary to compete in an international ‘graduation race’.
