Romain Sarazin from France crowned European NISMO PlayStation® GT Academy champion 2015
- Life-changing experience as PlayStation® gamer wins chance to pursue dream of becoming a Nissan racing driver
The spectacular 2015 NISMO PlayStation® GT Academy European Race Camp drew to a spectacular close today under the floodlights of Abu Dhabi’s Yas Marina Circuit. Atop the podium stood a proud and delighted French Gran Turismo® gamer coming to terms with the life-changing opportunity he has just won.
Romain Sarazin, a 22-year-old economics and management student from Meyzieu near Lyon, beat a field of 56 gamers from 11 countries who travelled to Abu Dhabi for Race Camp. Having performed well all week, Romain was the clear choice of French mentor and NISMO LMP1 driver Olivier Pla to take the wheel of the Nissan 370Z race car for the six-lap, title deciding final race. He didn’t put a wheel wrong in the ultra-competitive battle and took victory, the fastest lap and the title of GT Academy Europe Winner 2015.
“I’m really thrilled,” exclaimed Romain. “I knew I had to get a good start because it’s difficult to overtake. After I got past Ben in the first corner I just had to keep cool and build a gap. I saw the others fighting behind me, and it made it easier for me to get away. This is a huge achievement and will completely change my life. I’m lucky enough to now have a chance to live my dream, and I can’t wait to get started!”
Throughout this year’s GT Academy, Nissan and PlayStation have sent out the message ‘#RacingDriverWanted’. At Race Camp in Abu Dhabi it was ‘racing driver found’! Romain will now embark on GT Academy’s comprehensive Driver Development Programme with the clear objective of joining the ranks of NISMO Athletes to travel the world as an international racing driver.
“I was very impressed with that race, considering that the guys haven’t raced before,” commented Red Bull Racing Chief Technical Officer Adrian Newey. “There was no contact at all. Once they were away it was a very tight race. Romain did well to open up a gap and utilise the space while the cars behind slowed each other down. He controlled the gap very well, which I enjoyed.
“It has been a fascinating experience to come here and see GT Academy in action. I can see that this programme will become an increasingly important route into motor sport for young people to chase their dream, as the costs of the traditional karting and Formula-racing route continue to escalate. It’s a great shame that there can only be one winner.”
Race Camp in Abu Dhabi has been an incredible experience for the gamers. Some tough challenges awaited them in the 40°-plus heat, but they also had the opportunity to experience the glamour and lifestyle of an international racing driver. Staying in the Viceroy Hotel, that straddles Yas Marina’s impressive Formula 1 circuit, the competitors enjoyed some incredible experiences. Racing Nissan GT-R’s on the ‘bridge to nowhere’, Nissan 370Zs on the circuit and Yas’s drag strip, and racing dune buggies in the sand were some of the racing highlights; while a night under canvas in the middle of the spectacular desert will live long in the memory of the competitors.
All of the action at the GT Academy Race Camp will be aired in GT Academy TV shows across Europe in the latter part of 2015 and early 2016. More details about GT Academy 2015 can be found on various platforms including: www.facebook.com/GTAcademy, www.gran-turismo.com and Twitter @GTAcademy. #RacingDriverWanted
ENDS
For more information, please contact your local PR manager.
NOTES TO EDITOR
About GT Academy 2015
GT Academy is a collaboration between PlayStation® and Nissan that uses the virtual world of the Gran Turismo®6 game to unearth real-world racing talent. Now in its seventh year, GT Academy includes separate competitions for Europe (France, Italy, Germany, UK, Spain, Portugal, Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg, Poland , Hungary, Czech Republic), Asia (Japan, India, Thailand, Philippines, Indonesia) and ‘International’ (USA, Australia, Mexico, Egypt, Algeria, Morocco, Turkey).
The GT Academy qualification round will be part of a free Gran Turismo®6 update on PlayStation®3 (terms and conditions apply). The fastest gamers in each participating territory will qualify for their place at their territory’s Race Camp. A number of competitors will also gain access via a series of Live Gran Turismo® events organised locally.
At Race Camp competitors are put through their paces on track and in a series of challenges in Nissan sports cars under the watchful eyes of high profile judges and mentors. One winner from each competition will be invited to take part in the intensive Driver Development Programme. They could qualify for an international race license and race for Nissan in 2016, before potentially joining Nissan’s elite NISMO Athlete group of racers.
Previous winners of GT Academy are now regular racing drivers. In 2015, Jann Mardenborough (UK, winner in 2011) and Lucas Ordoñez (Spain, winner in 2008) represented Nissan in its LMP1 factory assault on the Le Mans 24 Hours. Jann also races single-seaters in GP3, a feeder series to Formula One, while Lucas is racing in the Super GT500 Championship in Japan. GT Academy winners are also present in the World Endurance Championship and Blancpain Endurance Series.
Since its inception, GT Academy has attracted well over 5 million entrants worldwide. GT Academy winners have recorded two Le Mans 24 Hour podiums as well as 90 further podiums in international racing and over 22 race wins.
News and views on GT Academy 2015 and the progress of all the GT Academy drivers can be followed on various platforms including: www.facebook.com/GTAcademy | www.twitter.com/GTAcademy | www.nismo.tv |www.flickr.com/photos/gtacademyeurope.
About the Gran Turismo® Franchise
Gran Turismo® celebrated its 15th anniversary in 2013, having first appeared internationally in 1998. The multi-award-winning franchise has been the most successful ever for PlayStation®, and in 2013 it also surpassed worldwide sales of 70 million units. Various iterations of Gran Turismo® have been created for PlayStation® , PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system, PlayStation®3 and PSP (PlayStation® Portable), and have always been regarded as the best and most authentic driving simulators ever created due to true-to-life graphics, authentic physics technology and design. Since the inception of Gran Turismo®, famed creator Kazunori Yamauchi and Polyphony Digital Inc. in Japan have revolutionized the racing category as we know it today. His offerings provide the most realistic driving simulation in the industry and a unique medium for automotive manufacturers to showcase their products. Gran Turismo®6, the latest iteration of the game, was released on 6 December, 2013.
About Sony Computer Entertainment Europe Ltd.
Sony Computer Entertainment Europe (SCEE), based in London, is responsible for the distribution, marketing and sales of PlayStation®4 (PS4®) computer entertainment system, PlayStation®Vita (PS Vita) portable entertainment system, PlayStation®3 (PS3®) computer entertainment system, PSP™ (PlayStation®Portable) handheld entertainment system and PSN software and hardware in 109 territories across Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Oceania. SCEE has revolutionised home entertainment since they launched PlayStation® in 1994. PlayStation®4 redefines rich and immersive gameplay with powerful graphics and speed, intelligent personalisation and deeply integrated social capabilities. PS Vita is an ultimate portable entertainment system that offers a revolutionary combination of rich gaming and social connectivity within a real world context. PS3® is an advanced computer system, incorporating the powerful Cell Broadband Engine and RSX processors. PSP® is a handheld entertainment system that allows users to enjoy 3D games with high-quality full-motion video and high-fidelity stereo audio. SCEE also delivers the PlayStation® experience to open operating systems through PlayStation®Mobile, a cross device platform. SCEE also develops, publishes, markets and distributes entertainment software for these formats, and manages the third party licensing programs for the formats in these territories.
More information about PlayStation® products can be found at www.playstation.com.
PlayStation®, PS4, PS3, PS2 and PSP are registered trademarks or trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners.
About Nissan in Europe
Nissan has one of the most comprehensive European presences of any overseas manufacturer, employing more than 17,600 staff across locally-based design, research & development, manufacturing, logistics and sales & marketing operations. Last financial year Nissan plants in the UK, Spain and Russia produced more than 675,000 vehicles including award-winning crossovers, small cars, SUVs, commercial vehicles and electric vehicles, including the Nissan LEAF, the world's most popular electric vehicle with 96% of customers willing to recommend the car to friends. Nissan now offers a strong line-up of 23 diverse and innovative models in Europe under the Nissan and Datsun brands.
About NISMO
For the full NISMO story please click here
For NISMO’s GT Academy story click here
