GT Academy - Boot Camp - Final Eight (Confirmed)

[Sphinx]

:: GT Academy Boot Camp - Final Eight ::

​

The above photo of the final eight has been posted on the GT Academy flickr page.

Can we put names to the faces?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/gtacademy2010/

Thanks to Mrs Bear for posting the link.



Final Eight:


From left to right: (Confirmed)


Jordan Tresson (21) - GT_driver_BMW (FR)

Oliver Simon (27) - GTNDC_czsimo (CH)

Daniel Collins (31) - DarkEnergyForce (IE)

Jeroen Kesselring (26) - Oenta (NL)

Marco Calvo Acedo (22) - MakaayX (ES)

Filipe Baretto (32) - Hunter_4_6 (PT)

Luca Lorenzini (26) - Giagua (IT)

Giacomo Cunial (20) - gioboy (IT)



Eliminated:


Roberto Otero (21) Zocker16_GTRP (ES)

Dan Holland (25) GTP_DHolland (AU)

Benjamin Peron (age unknown?) Unknown ID (BE)

Christian Giere (27) GTRP_Gantenbein(DE)

John Moorby (32) GTP_PrudentBear (GB)

Tony Autridge (19) TIZZLAA (NZ)

Steffen Christein (20) Zocker16_GTRP (DE)

Alex Ingram (22) GTP_Ingram (GB)

Marko Moisio (25) Ocer_Fl (FI - The Nordics)

Robert Wawrzyniak (25) earthquaker (AT)


Discuss...

 

[danilc1007]

Starting from left:

5th: Marco Calvo (from Spain. GO Makaay 👍)
7th: Luca Lorenzini (Italy)
8th: Giacomo Cunial (Italy)

I don't know anyone more.

 

[Synwraith]

3rd = Daniel Collins (Ireland)
1st = the BMWDriver guy from France?
4th = Jeroen Kesselring (NL) ?

All the best
Maz

 

[davissi]

Jordan Tresson, Oliver Simon, Daniel Collins, Jeroen Kesselring, Marco Calvo, Filipe Baretto, Luca Lorenzini, Giacomo Cunial


I'm pretty sure that's it now.

 

[Sphinx]

Thanks guys.
I won't add the ones that are doubtful.

 

[The Outlaw]

Damn....so from the looks of things, all of the GTP'ers were eliminated?

 

[davissi]

Gamesmiths perhaps ?

 

[davissi]

Jordan Tresson (France), Oliver Simon (Swiss), Daniel Collins (Ireland), Jeroen Kesselring (Holland), Marco Calvo (Spain), Filipe Baretto (Portugal), Luca Lorenzini (Italy), Giacomo Cunial (Italy)

 

[PrudentClaire]

Afraid so. I think a little bit of experience of previous racing and karting went a long way, not sure how many of the final eight are true sofa to racecar novices? One for GT Academy 2011 hopefuls to note: get karting!

 

[Sphinx]

I believe I've got it right. It would be nice for someone to check the list for me.

It's really good to see the two Italians going through. 👍

And how about GTNDC Oliver Simon going through. 👍








<--- *cough* GTNDC *cough*

 

[davissi]

That's definitely it, good work !

 

[Sphinx]

The list is now official. 👍

Congrats to the last eight.

 

[RUI]

Congrats to the 8 finalists; good job Filipe

Sorry not everybody could get through and no GTPers are in the final; still, you did an amazing job guys! 👍

I think a little bit of experience of previous racing and karting went a long way, not sure how many of the final eight are true sofa to racecar novices? One for GT Academy 2011 hopefuls to note: get karting!

This is evidently very true. As much as this competition wants to promote the idea of gt-gamer-turn-racing-driver, and as much as most of us would like to believe it, people with some racing experience are going to have an obvious advantage once things get down to driving real cars (or karts for that matter). I remember a Lucas Ordonez interview where it became quite apparent, at least to me (sorry can&#8217;t dig it up now), that there was someone who had always wanted to become a racing driver and thus used the GT Academy competition (he bought a PS3 and a G25 and put up many hours of practice) to grab a chance; he didn&#8217;t sound at all like a casual gamer that somehow landed a job as a GT4 racing driver. Don&#8217;t get me wrong: I&#8217;m not criticizing him at all &#8211; he deserves all the credit for all he achieved! But if we pause to think for a minute it&#8217;ll become pretty clear that the best Gran Turismo player is not necessarily going to be the best racing driver out there!

 

[Owen.C93]

Well yes you can't expect to get very far solely on GT knowledge. Nonetheless well done to all th finalists adn hopefully I will see a couple of their names again.

 

[Louie_Schumii]

Afraid so. I think a little bit of experience of previous racing and karting went a long way, not sure how many of the final eight are true sofa to racecar novices? One for GT Academy 2011 hopefuls to note: get karting!

Thanks for all the updates Mrs PrudentBear Things sound very promising for another season of GT Academy for 2011.

I'm guessing full blown outdoor race karting is the way to go for practise?

Problem is there's very few places here in New Zealand (if any) that offer that sort of performance and experience (tiny little country is full of slippery indoor tracks ) unless you buy your own race kart and join a club...which is still quite expensive.

But the karting couldn't have been the main factor in the judges decisions? The timed runs in the 370's and GT-R's must be the criteria they pay most attention to?

 

[Calcifer12]

Anyone notice none of the fastest TT demo lads went through? Here's a list of the finalists with the national rankings from the TT demo.

Jordan Tresson - GT_driver_BMW (FR) 18e
Oliver Simon - GTNDC_czsimo (CH) 16e
Daniel Collins - DarkEnergyForce (IE) 7e
Jeroen Kesselring - Oenta (NL) 4e
Marco Calvo - MakaayX (ES) 19e
Filipe Baretto - Hunter_4_6 (PT) 11e
Luca Lorenzini - Giagua (IT) 13e
Giacomo Cunial - gioboy (IT) 16e

Oenta (our Dutch pride) seems to be the only one left with a top5 national ranking.

 

[eSZee]

it just shows that video games =/= real world, somehow.
And to those thinking about picking up karting, it's one of those things that you need to start doing as a kid. Unless you're one of those who learn quickly.

 

[The Outlaw]

it just shows that video games =/= real world, somehow.
And to those thinking about picking up karting, it's one of those things that you need to start doing as a kid. Unless you're one of those who learn quickly.

Ummm, yea it helps to begin at a very young age if you're trying to get to a very high level in karting. But I don't think anyone said that's what they were trying to do necessarily

A bit of prior experience (with karts or real trackdays) goes a long way in this competition, which shows people what they should work on if they plan to come back to the next Academy stronger and with a better shot of being successful.

 

[Louie_Schumii]

Ummm, yea it helps to begin at a very young age if you're trying to get to a very high level in karting. But I don't think anyone said that's what they were trying to do necessarily

A bit of prior experience (with karts or real trackdays) goes a long way in this competition, which shows people what they should work on if they plan to come back to the next Academy stronger and with a better shot of being successful.

Yup indeed

I think it was Lucas Ordonez' site that said he used to do karting when he was younger but just didn't have the $$$ to race at a national level so had to stop.

Just doing a bit of thinking about the academy so far...I'm starting to think they got judged in equal measure in all of the events (fitness, timed laps, endurance kart race and probably the media bit too?)

Don't know the scores they have so far like in the 2008 GT Academy videos...so can only speculate...

 

[Tomaz]

Where is that french dude Ti-tech85?

 

[PrudentClaire]

Just doing a bit of thinking about the academy so far...I'm starting to think they got judged in equal measure in all of the events (fitness, timed laps, endurance kart race and probably the media bit too?)

Don't know the scores they have so far like in the 2008 GT Academy videos...so can only speculate...

John said he got the impression that the 370z laps and karting had a lot more influence on the decision. Makes sense I suppose, you can always get fit and take some media training but you need the raw pace to start with.

 

[Stotty]

Makes sense I suppose, you can always get fit and take some media training but you need the raw pace to start with.

I think you're right, Claire.

Really looking forward to hearing about the experience when he gets back.

 

[amowiel]

John said he got the impression that the 370z laps and karting had a lot more influence on the decision. Makes sense I suppose, you can always get fit and take some media training but you need the raw pace to start with.

I talked to Jeroen last night and he said he felt that the way you handled the media definitely had an influence on the decision making. Dan Holland was very fast, but Jeroen had the feeling that he didn't make it to the final 8 because of how he communicated with the media.

Also, I don't know what it's like for the others in the final 8 but Jeroen never did much karting. His brother Eric (SolarSystem) owned his own kart, but Jeroen hardly ever drove it except for maybe once or twice. Of course he went karting with his friends sometimes, but I guess no more than the average guy.

 

[PrudentClaire]

Sounds like Jeroen has done really well to make the final 8 then, lots of luck to him! Do you know how many more are eliminated at the end of today? I expect they are just finishing the assault course now, it is absolutely chucking it down with rain here and freezing cold!

I just noticed that the two Italians both made it through to the final 8 in GT Academy 2008.

 

[amowiel]

Nope I forgot to ask... he wanted to go to bed early yesterday as he knew today was going to be a tough day. Are there even any elimination tonight or will it just be Tuesday, bringing it down to the final 2?

 

[superwally]

Thanks to all for the information 👍

 

[PrudentClaire]

Dan Holland was very fast, but Jeroen had the feeling that he didn't make it to the final 8 because of how he communicated with the media.

Just seen from the GT Academy report on Facebook that Dan H didn't turn up for the media interviews. So it is more a case of how he didn't communicate with the media! That is a pity, sounds like he was really quick.

Also seen that 4 more go out tonight. Brutal.

 

[amowiel]

Just seen from the GT Academy report on Facebook that Dan H didn't turn up for the media interviews. So it is more a case of how he didn't communicate with the media! That is a pity, sounds like he was really quick.

Also seen that 4 more go out tonight. Brutal.

that's what Jeroen told me as well, about Dan...

4 more out tonight? Geesh, that's harsh... I'll be spending the day crossing my fingers and keeping an eye on twitter.

Latest news from twitter:

Rob Barff: "Morning's fitness test was fantastic.It was horrific out there - we saw tears, we saw blood and we saw real, real dedication"

and France wins assault test:

France's Jordan Tresson winning the Assault Course event - huge congratulations to him. A phenomenal effort!

Next thing they're going back into the cars again:

They need to recover... sprint laps in GT-R on a wet course and making his arrival by helicopter to make the final decisions - Eddie Jordan!

 

[Austin343]

Dan Holland was very fast

I'm definitely not surprised to hear that.

Dan H didn't turn up for the media interviews

But I'm also not surprised to hear that. In his defense, he was probably suffering from really horrible jet lag; not only does he live on the opposite side of the globe, but he also arrived on the day before the competition began, if I'm not mistaken. The Sony representatives who handled the travel arrangements probably should have been more considerate in scheduling his flight.

 

[Famine]

Where is that french dude Ti-tech85?

He wasn't able to make the finals. I don't recall if this was explained or not, though neither the 3rd nor 4th place French finalists could make it either.

John said he got the impression that the 370z laps and karting had a lot more influence on the decision. Makes sense I suppose, you can always get fit and take some media training but you need the raw pace to start with.

I'd agree in their cases. John and Alex had reasonable superpole laps - though again the timings weren't made available to me, I got the impression they were neither top nor bottom - but came 2nd last in the karting. The last place was the German pair, who didn't make it through either. The last placed superpole lap was Tony, and he's absent from the final 8 also.

Just seen from the GT Academy report on Facebook that Dan H didn't turn up for the media interviews. So it is more a case of how he didn't communicate with the media! That is a pity, sounds like he was really quick.

Yep. That would have really counted against him - the assembled media gave each driver a score out of ten based on their responses and with a no score, Dan would have placed last.

John and Alex, nationalism aside, gave excellent interviews and, though it turns out Alex is the brother of a friend of mine (a fact I didn't learn until John told me at 9pm during dinner!), I thought Alex gave one of the best interviews - alongside Jordan and Marko. In fact even Lucas - who stood in for Dan - gave a worse interview! From those, only Jordan has made the final eight.

I'm not sure what effect the fitness tests had. I know that, of the two kings of press-ups in our session, one is through (Daniel C) and the other is not (Alex).