Fastest drivers

[1gt6freak]

We the non participating countries wonder, is it fair to say that the people who participate are really the worlds best drivers, I don't think so, the best driver within the participating countries yes but certainly not the WORLD. When it will be available for everyone, then the winner of GT academy will be the best of the best. What do you think?

 

[fasj6418]

I think they should let the 16 best of the rest of the world qualify and then fly then over to Silverstone to the finals.

The cost of this, considering the overall cost of the event, wouldn't be this big, and it's a nice thing to do if they are looking for the fastest guys.

 

[Imari]

They're not really looking for the fastest guys though. It's just advertising for Nissan and Gran Turismo. Finding someone who is moderately quick is just a bonus.

 

[perrolocomcquee]

Oh i wish they consider that idea

 

[gar529]

Many of the fastest drivers aren't even eligible to participate because they were in a previous GTA race camp. So not only are some of the best drivers in ineligible countries not going to try, but many of the fastest in countries that are eligible won't bother either.

And also, if they really wanted to find the best driver, race camp would be longer, with a lot more driving, there wouldn't be eliminations, and the winner wouldn't be decided by a single race.

 

[fasj6418]

Many of the fastest drivers aren't even eligible to participate because they were in a previous GTA race camp. So not only are some of the best drivers in ineligible countries not going to try, but many of the fastest in countries that are eligible won't bother either.

And also, if they really wanted to find the best driver, race camp would be longer, with a lot more driving, there wouldn't be eliminations, and the winner wouldn't be decided by a single race.

Absolutely. Watching the USA last years academy and it seemed like 99% reality show and 1% trying to find the best driver.

I was rooting for the guys with no real life track experience, but they have an unfair battle compared to guys with track days and amateur stuff.

If i´m not mistaken, you were one of the finalists in GT Academy, 2011 or 2012, right? I remember seeing your name on the leaderboards.

 

[magsolid]

Absolutely. Watching the USA last years academy and it seemed like 99% reality show and 1% trying to find the best driver.

I was rooting for the guys with no real life track experience, but they have an unfair battle compared to guys with track days and amateur stuff.

If i´m not mistaken, you were one of the finalists in GT Academy, 2011 or 2012, right? I remember seeing your name on the leaderboards.

You are right a little with your statement. Most of the GT Academy finalists have a little bit of real driving experience. I talked to the latest US GT Academy winner, and he said that he only have race on a oval dirt track.
I asked him which one help him the most the games or real, and he said GT5.

 

[magsolid]

Many of the fastest drivers aren't even eligible to participate because they were in a previous GTA race camp. So not only are some of the best drivers in ineligible countries not going to try, but many of the fastest in countries that are eligible won't bother either.

And also, if they really wanted to find the best driver, race camp would be longer, with a lot more driving, there wouldn't be eliminations, and the winner wouldn't be decided by a single race.

Well if they want the best driver, they wouldn't even have an elimation at the first place. Both of them who made it to race camp as potential, by eliminating one of them will just be a waste.

 

[fordskydog]

They're not really looking for the fastest guys though. It's just advertising for Nissan and Gran Turismo. Finding someone who is moderately quick is just a bonus.

BS. Nissan is going to use the winner ON THEIR FACTORY TEAM! The past winners are still driving for Nissan and kikking ass. This is FAR more than "just advertising" for Nissan in the sense that the winners WILL be expected to PERFORM. Now, in the sense that racing is advertising, maybe.

 

[CJSpencer77]

They're not really looking for the fastest guys though. It's just advertising for Nissan and Gran Turismo. Finding someone who is moderately quick is just a bonus.

BS. Nissan is going to use the winner ON THEIR FACTORY TEAM! The past winners are still driving for Nissan and kikking ass. This is FAR more than "just advertising" for Nissan in the sense that the winners WILL be expected to PERFORM. Now, in the sense that racing is advertising, maybe.

Imari is correct, for a start there is a "United colours of Beneton" setup going on, from Europe they have one guy from the following countries - UK, Spain, France, Belgium, Russia and Germany, chances are the guy this time will be from one of the countries who have not already won, yes you need to do well behind the wheel to get to the last 6 but after that the judges pick the winner rather than racing for it, and they are hired by Nissan.

The point is you have to remeber that the winner has to be one of the faces of Nissan , i.e. polite, likeable, personable etc. etc. , you think if the very best driver there was rude and brash that Nissan would be happy to ascociate his/her face with thier brand and have him doing interviews on camera platered in Nissan logos?

Yes there is a huge opportunity for one of the drivers, but if you honestly believe they are pumping all this money into finding a good driver for racings sake then you are very niave, its a marketing exercise at the end of the day.

 

[Goruk]

Imari is correct, for a start there is a "United colours of Beneton" setup going on, from Europe they have one guy from the following countries - UK, Spain, France, Belgium, Russia and Germany, chances are the guy this time will be from one of the countries who have not already won, yes you need to do well behind the wheel to get to the last 6 but after that the judges pick the winner rather than racing for it, and they are hired by Nissan.

The point is you have to remeber that the winner has to be one of the faces of Nissan , i.e. polite, likeable, personable etc. etc. , you think if the very best driver there was rude and brash that Nissan would be happy to ascociate his/her face with thier brand and have him doing interviews on camera platered in Nissan logos?

Yes there is a huge opportunity for one of the drivers, but if you honestly believe they are pumping all this money into finding a good driver for racings sake then you are very niave, its a marketing exercise at the end of the day.

Either way, I don´t bother being their marketing face...

 

[CarCzar]

A prime example is how Lucas Ordonez is the GTA 2013 instructor. He's marketing new players GT6. However, he drives awesome in GT1/Blancpain

 

[Johnnypenso]

The point is you have to remeber that the winner has to be one of the faces of Nissan , i.e. polite, likeable, personable etc. etc. , you think if the very best driver there was rude and brash that Nissan would be happy to ascociate his/her face with thier brand and have him doing interviews on camera platered in Nissan logos?

Yes there is a huge opportunity for one of the drivers, but if you honestly believe they are pumping all this money into finding a good driver for racings sake then you are very niave, its a marketing exercise at the end of the day.

Almost all top level racing is marketing, that's the entire foundation of the sport. Win on Sunday, sell on Monday. Yes everyone wants to win and everyone is passionate and lots of guys would still do it even if they only made $50K a year, but in the end all the money that goes into any team is expected to be recouped directly or indirectly through product sales. So in this sense your argument is pretty much irrelevant since everyone is there for the same purpose.

 

[LeMansAid]

Almost all top level racing is marketing, that's the entire foundation of the sport. Win on Sunday, sell on Monday. Yes everyone wants to win and everyone is passionate and lots of guys would still do it even if they only made $50K a year, but in the end all the money that goes into any team is expected to be recouped directly or indirectly through product sales. So in this sense your argument is pretty much irrelevant since everyone is there for the same purpose.

Completely agree, and one would be exceedingly naive to think otherwise. It would also be naive to think that a driver's character is not a massive consideration in real racing as well, just as with the "face" of Nissan. Though in motor racing the marketing hits stride at the end of the process, while GTA is a promotion that begins much earlier in the cycle.

An equivalent to GTA might be The Ultimate Fighter in MMA. The show does not exist due to a dearth in fighter stocks. It exists to promote, but that also does not mean that the participants are not valid combatants. Though, somehow I don't think we will be seeing the UFC scouting via their video games for fresh talent!

 

[GTPMcBride]

We use Nissan an they use us simple as that.. My mate Norman Parke who i have trained with many times has won the Ultimate Fighter TUF The Smashes UkVsAustralia that was his gate way into the UFC, he has won his first UFC... His record is 19/2 point being that this guy could already fight the same as some guys who enter GTAcademy can already race at a competitive level.. Lucas Ordonez was used to racing its just another way for Racing Talents to get another seat.. Bedroom gamer?? I think not lol.. Ti tech didnt even get 3rd in that final it goes to show that it doesnt matter how good or the ability to be they will always pick the guy with most expierence..