The 2013 European GT Academy has now named its champion as Miguel Faisca, a 24-year-old student from Lisbon, Portugal. Faisca beat over 765,000 entrants into this year's competition following a week of intense track action, challenges and mentoring.
This year marks the fifth GT Academy competition, and saw a record 42 gamers attend Race Camp at Silverstone. There, the entrants were tested on fitness, attitude and psychological strength, as well as driving skill and potential. Following gruelling training sessions in Nismo-tuned 370Zs and 370Z race-cars, seven remaining qualifiers took to the track for the final race. Conditions were wet, which Faisca claims he likes to race in - and eventually Faisca was crowned victorious.
"I didn't expect to win this morning, and I don't think I was one of the favourites," commented Faisca. "But I was feeling good with the car and the track, and once I got into the lead it was very difficult to keep it."
Faisca's win was aided in part by race leader Romain Delva spinning off in lap two, allowing Faisca to take his place at the front of the pack. A late charge by Adam Suswillo from the UK just wasn't enough.
"I am so happy and very proud to be the first Portuguese winner" said Faisca. Faisca's racing career with Nissan will begin in October where he will meet the winners of the German, Russian and USA legs of the competition for an intensive training programme to prepare him for his first racing season.
Anything else?
The progress of this year's competition can be found on various websites such as www.youtube.com/gtacademyeurope, www.facebook.com/GTAcademy and www.twitter.com/GTAcademy.