NISMO PlayStation® GT Academy 2015 International Race Camp: Day 2

SILVERSTONE, UK – The second day of the 2015 NISMO PlayStation® GT Academy International Race Camp began in a slightly more tranquil manner than the competitors had experienced on Day 1. On the first day, the competitors were thrust in to the hot seat of numerous fast cars to demonstrate if they could transfer their Gran Turismo® gaming aptitude in to a real life track scenario at the Bedford Aerodrome. Some down time allowed the competitors to report home and deliberate on the events ahead, with most of the chatter turning to when the first elimination was going to take place.

Anticipation grew when the competitors were transported to Silverstone Circuit before lunch, but that excitement quickly died down again when there was no sign of action other than interviews, photo sessions and a bite to eat. However it was pretty evident that this was the calm before the storm and they were going to be in for an extremely tough afternoon.

After the administration was complete, all 30 competitors were marshalled in to the iconic Silverstone Wing to face an enormous ninja assault course. The daunting challenge ahead which consisted of rope climbs, sprints across tilted platforms, core crunches, suspended monkey bars, and vertical walls to scale would have been a tough test for any nation’s elite forces – let alone 30 gamers with a dream to become professional race drivers.

Each contestant was allowed two practice runs to test out the best way to overcome the obstacles, and it was quickly apparent that this was perhaps the hardest physical challenge GT Academy had thrown at their contestants in the past eight years, with many of them simply unable to complete the entire course.

Rob Barff, GT Academy International Head Judge, stood in front of the contestants to introduce the challenge: “I can see some smiling faces, but that’s going to have to stop. We’re here to make the jump from ‘Virtual to Reality.’ It’s going to be tough. It’s not a game anymore. We’ve already seen you drive, but to be a racer you have to be both fast and fit. This is GT Ninja. It will test you physically, mentally and, most importantly, it’s a chance for you to impress your mentors and me. Your mentors will give you the details, but remember this: Give 100 percent effort 100 percent of the time. Why? Two gamers from every country will be going home. Good Luck.”

After dinner, the contestants returned to the assault course for the real thing, only to find that more elements had been added to the already demanding challenge. Not only did they have to compete head to head within their territories against the friends they had been making over the past couple of days, but the course was also shrouded in smoke, and the flames of pyrotechnics added to the already sweltering conditions.

A nervous and unusually quiet Australian team got proceedings underway after the sun had set over Silverstone Circuit with the other territories following at 30 minute intervals. Each race was surprisingly close due to the contestants giving their absolute all to win their individual battle and ultimately stay in the competition. Turkey were the last to compete, and with the other territories having already returned to Whittlebury Hall, the atmosphere was a little eerie. They too were then on their way back to bed exhausted and without a whisper of any eliminations taking place on Day 2. So we will begin Day 3 with all 30 of our 2015 GT Academy International competitors vying for the ultimate prize.

Wolfgang Reip, 2012 GT Academy Europe winner and mentor to 2015 GT Academy USA team:
“In camp at the start of the day, they were all excited. They don’t know what’s going on throughout the day, so every new challenge is a surprise for them. Obviously some have more importance than others, and actually this one had quite a lot of importance, but they don’t know it of course. It’s a great experience for them. I think if we only look at facts, at the lap times, then USA is one of the strongest teams, but there’s a long way to go. Two or three of this team are really good.”

Max King, USA competitor:
“This morning, they told us to wake up at 11 a.m. and we were like wow, that’s really late. We just had pictures taken, had lunch and met our mentors. We had no idea the obstacle course was going to happen. My first thought was that it looked really intense and figured that due to the layout we’d be going two by two – but against other countries not our own country. Physically it was very challenging. It was a really close race right to the end, and I feel bad for the people that might be going home.”

The Competitors

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