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French Gran Turismo gamer becomes European GT Academy 2014 champion

12 Aug 2014|1,925 views

Stunning and intense Race Camp paves the way for impressive Gran Turismo gamer for a career in motorsports with Nissan.

Having won through National Finals, Gaetan arrived at Silverstone as one of six to represent France, alongside 41 European competitors overall, representing 12 countries split into seven territory groups

Gaetan Paletou now has the chance to show that he has what it takes to become a NISMO Athlete and race all over the world for the Japanese automaker, following in the footsteps of the likes of Lucas Ordonez (now racing in Japanese Super GT) and Jann Mardenborough (a racer-winner this year in the highly-competitive GP3 Formula One feeder series).

Over the course of eight days, the competitors were put through their paces both on and off track. They enjoyed some of the best racing instruction and mentoring in the world in a range of Nissan cars, including the GT-R, the 370Z Nismo and 370Z race cars.

As well as the circuit driving and assessment, the competitors were judged on a series of challenges that included the Mud Mayhem assault course, Nissan Micra Stock Car racing, the Pit Stop Challenge in the Nissan Juke Nismo, the head-to-head Gymkhana, Rage Buggy Racing, the Traffic Challenge in the Nissan GT-R, a head-to-head Dogfight pursuit race in Nissan 370Zs and the Ride along Challenge with their judges that included ex-F1 drivers.

Gradual eliminations led to the finale when each judge had to decide between their two best drivers for who would take the wheel of the 370Z race cars for an eight-lap race of Silverstone's international circuit. A qualifying session saw two drivers eliminated with five going on to race.

After some heated judges' deliberations, it fell to long-term GT Academy head judge, and ex-Formula One racer, Johnny Herbert to announce the winner on the Silverstone Grand Prix podium with Gran Turismo creator and President of Polyphony Digital Inc. Kazunori Yamauchi and NISMO Global Head of Brand, Marketing & Sales Darren Cox on hand to present the trophies.

The NISMO PlayStation GT Academy 2014 European Race Camp drew to a thrilling conclusion at the Silverstone circuit as 22-year old Gaetan Paletou (above) from France, was crowned champion. He will now go on to enjoy four months in one of the most advanced and successful driver development programmes in the world before racing for the Nissan NISMO race team in the international Dubai 24 Hour race in January 2015.

Gaetan Paletou now has the chance to show that he has what it takes to become a NISMO Athlete and race all over the world for the Japanese automaker, following in the footsteps of the likes of Lucas Ordonez (now racing in Japanese Super GT) and Jann Mardenborough (a racer-winner this year in the highly-competitive GP3 Formula One feeder series).

Over the course of eight days, the competitors were put through their paces both on and off track. They enjoyed some of the best racing instruction and mentoring in the world in a range of Nissan cars, including the GT-R, the 370Z Nismo and 370Z race cars.

As well as the circuit driving and assessment, the competitors were judged on a series of challenges that included the Mud Mayhem assault course, Nissan Micra Stock Car racing, the Pit Stop Challenge in the Nissan Juke Nismo, the head-to-head Gymkhana, Rage Buggy Racing, the Traffic Challenge in the Nissan GT-R, a head-to-head Dogfight pursuit race in Nissan 370Zs and the Ride along Challenge with their judges that included ex-F1 drivers.

Gradual eliminations led to the finale when each judge had to decide between their two best drivers for who would take the wheel of the 370Z race cars for an eight-lap race of Silverstone's international circuit. A qualifying session saw two drivers eliminated with five going on to race.

After some heated judges' deliberations, it fell to long-term GT Academy head judge, and ex-Formula One racer, Johnny Herbert to announce the winner on the Silverstone Grand Prix podium with Gran Turismo creator and President of Polyphony Digital Inc. Kazunori Yamauchi and NISMO Global Head of Brand, Marketing & Sales Darren Cox on hand to present the trophies.