ITV4 will screen a new series of six programmes covering Nissan’s groundbreaking GT Academy, starting on February 4.
GT Academy challenges the conventions of motorsport by taking some of the fastest gamers in the world and fast tracking one of them to become a professional racing driver with the famous Japanese marque.
The series of high-octane, character-driven programmes will be broadcast across six weeks by ITV4 on Monday evenings at 8pm.
GT Academy is an international virtual-to-reality contest that allows the best Gran Turismo players to compete for the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to become a real-life professional racecar driver.
Any player who proves his or her skill in the virtual world has a chance to go wheel-to-wheel in a real racecar on a real circuit to achieve the grand prize – a spot on the Nissan racing team, and all the training and licensing needed to race in international events.
Created in 2008 in collaboration with Nissan Europe, this competition has grown in popularity all over the world, with the recent launch of a United States GT Academy in 2011.
The ITV4 series charts the incredible journey that started with a massive entry list of 830,000 gamers from 14 participating European countries.
From each country, the fastest players on PlayStation’s legendary video game Gran Turismo 5, qualified for a National Final event, bringing the worlds of virtual and real racing ever closer.
The six winners from the UK and Ireland National Final arrived at the GT Academy Race Camp at the world famous Silverstone circuit in August 2012, where the transition from virtual expert to real racing driver began.
Not for the fainthearted, contestants were put through their paces in a gruelling set of driving, physical and mental challenges designed to measure what it takes to become a modern day professional racing driver.
The programme discovers who has the winning mentality and who will crack under the intense pressure.
ITV4, home to much of ITV’s sports coverage, has recruited top sports presenter Craig Doyle to capture all the highs and lows of GT Academy.
Doyle follows the progress of the six competitors, as they face a series of knockout challenges judged by a panel of experts, including former British GP Formula One winner Johnny Herbert.
At stake, the opportunity to represent the UK and Ireland in a final battle against the best of Europe to determine who will be crowned the overall GT Academy Champion.
Tensions run high in this winner-takes-all format, with the ultimate prize to undergo a comprehensive driver development programme before racing a full race-spec Nissan 370Z GT4 car at the prestigious Dubai International 24-Hour race in January 2013.
GT Academy 2012 marked the fourth iteration of this motorsport talent-spotting contest, which has seen former winners transformed from PlayStation console racers into Nissan Le Mans 24 Hours racing drivers within just three years.
ITV4’s GT Academy series takes viewers on a unique journey from the sofa to a real race track, as contestants slug it out to determine who will be the next virtual-to-reality professional racing driver.
It explores the art and science of motorsport, delivering race-fuelled action and emotional must-see moments that will keep racing fans and gamers alike on the edge of their seats.
All six episodes will air on Monday nights on ITV4 at 8pm, starting on February 4, with a repeat airing in Saturday early evening and Sunday morning slots.
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Learn more about GT Academy by visiting the OFFICIAL WEBSITE
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