GT Academy Race Camp Day 5: Another elimination looms large

SILVERSTONE, UK – There was tension in the air as the remaining finalists awoke on the penultimate day of International Race Camp, with another elimination looming large on the horizon. The competitors had spent last night camping overnight at Silverstone, with the bottom two from each country knowing that they would have to go head-to-head today to keep their dreams alive.

Once again GT Academy was full of surprises, with their fate being decided behind the wheel of giant 500-bhp Monster Trucks. To put into scale the size of both the trucks and the challenge they faced, each of these trucks had tires weighing 1600 pounds each, at the cost of 4,600 per tire. This was a drag race with a difference, with the competitors having to crush two road cars on the start-line before putting pedal to the metal and being careful not to lose time by making contact with any of the barrels that marked their lane. This format would determine four of the country's eliminations, with the U.S. team having a fastest lap shootout around Silverstone's Stowe Circuit in the Nissan 370Z NISMO road car.

It was a busy day for the finalists with elimination races running alongside track testing of the Nissan 370Z NISMO race cars, giving competitors their first chance to familiarise themselves with the vehicle that will be used in the final race tomorrow.

"It's the penultimate day of GT Academy, and it's time for three to become two," said Rob Barff, GT Academy International Head Judge. "You can really feel the pressure rising among the finalists. Monster Trucks is our elimination challenge, and these are big, intimidating vehicles to drive. It's a massive step in terms of automotive learning and experience for our gamers, and the reward for adapting quickly is massive as they'll make it to the final two and have a 50/50 chance of securing the race seat for their territory."

After the eliminations were completed and the flattened cars disposed of, the remaining two finalists from each country headed to Northampton International Raceway where they would be taking part in a stock car relay race. Despite each pair of finalists vying for one race seat, teamwork was essential as the result of the relay would determine the starting grid of tomorrow's final race.

The stock cars in question were stripped out second generation Nissan Micras, with the evening forming two 10-minute practice sessions (one for each set of competitors) which would determine the grid for the 20-minute race. After a blistering lap by Heseyin Dagli in the first session, it was Turkey who would take pole position for the race ahead of Australia.

The race was packed full of incident, overtakes and close contact, with an early spin for Mexico bringing out the yellow flag. This proved to be the turning point, as quick-thinking Australia judge Rick Kelly brought in his team for their compulsory driver change while others had slowed to obey the marshals' warning. By the time all the other teams had made their changes, the Australians were a lap ahead and led all the way to the finish, earning themselves pole position in the final race tomorrow in the process. The surprise package of the race were the U.S. team that, after starting at the back of the grid, really picked up their pace and pipped Turkey to second place by just over three seconds.

"It was the first opportunity for us to go up against the other countries, and it was really nerve-wracking standing up on the pit wall," said Rick Kelly, Australia team judge.  "I can understand what my team go through when I'm out on the track. The boys did an outstanding job. We took advantage of the early safety car while the others stayed out, and from that point on we were in a really good position. We put Matthew (Simmons) in with more than three quarters of the race to go, and he handled it really well and managed his times consistently, getting us to the flag in first place. Last year we were the strongest team in a number of disciplines but being at the back of the grid for the final race cost us. This time we're at the front so let's see what happens."

Jason Tahincioğlu, Turkey team judge said: "We were the quickest in the practice, which was great for the guys, and we got off to a quick start by keeping the lead and avoiding some of the chaos at the back. I insisted that even if there was a yellow flag, the drivers didn't drop down their pace a lot, but being in this racing environment for the first time he did slow down quite considerably. However I'm sure he'll learn from this, and the fact he has this pace is the main thing. I have two very quick drivers whose pace is up there with the best of them, so I'm feeling confident going in to tomorrow."

THE COMPETITORS

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