GT Academy - Boot Camp - Final Eight (Confirmed)

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Thanks for the kind words for the Brits, Famine. Especially about John's media interview, he is a man of few words and *hates* being the centre of attention so that is the bit he was dreading the most. So your comments will mean a lot to him.

I wonder if Eddie Jordan will still arrive by helicopter if the weather stays like this, apparently it is the remnants of the storm that ripped through Madeira. Driving conditions will be v tricky.
 
I still don't understand why they didn't organise these events in the summer, like last time. The assault course event was already brutal in the 2008 series...must have been even more horrible with this rain and wind :s

Anyway, I guess they're all tough guys... they'll survive :)
 
PrudentClaire
Thanks for the kind words for the Brits, Famine. Especially about John's media interview, he is a man of few words and *hates* being the centre of attention so that is the bit he was dreading the most. So your comments will mean a lot to him.
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He's a nice guy. I think Alex and him both have a little camerashyness, but I think that's pretty inherent to Brits. Besides, it's just plain weird that the BBC want to interview them at Silverstone, driving a GT-R, because they've done well at a computer game. Aside from the guys who'd been there before, none of us were in our comfort zone, and they dealt very well with it.

They both gave good interviews, laced with a bit of dry British humour, but I think all of the drivers present gave interviews that were at least better than most Premiership footballers. One or two drivers lost their way a little in English, but continued in their native language just fine - I'm not sure whether it was the stress or just language ability, but it wasn't an English test.

That said, I was there as a "member of the press". I am not a "member of the press". I am a biologist. I marked the drivers on whether, when they appeared on TV in a post-race, pitlane interview, I'd actually be still listening to them. For the most part, I would, and Alex and John both made me laugh (as did Luca, Felipe and Marko) during their interviews.

PrudentClaire
I wonder if Eddie Jordan will still arrive by helicopter if the weather stays like this, apparently it is the remnants of the storm that ripped through Madeira. Driving conditions will be v tricky.
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I've just seen on the news that Towcester races have been cancelled due to waterlogging, and Towcester is about nine feet from Silverstone...
 
Famine, what is your impressions about Marko's pace & placement? Good to hear that he had a nice interview 👍 (hard to find any info on him..)

Sorry to hear he didn't make it in the top 8.. :(
 
twitter update: Kesselring: "that assault course had to be worst moment of my life!"

I so feel for him :( ...though it would've been fun to watch him struggle ;)

I am not sure how much that tweet says but I guess he's gotta fight hard back in the car in order to be able to make it tonight
 
Unfortunately, I haven't been party to the competitors' times and the drivers/media were split into two groups along territory lines and Marko wasn't in our group, so I barely had any time with him at all.

His interview in English was good - I didn't catch a word of the interview in Finnish. He was asked, with multiple world champions in various driving disciplines, why the Finns are so fast!
 
Im not pointing any fingers and accuse anyone but... When most people skip a final i think i know the answer:indiff:! In my opinion is the cameras, the media pressure! Isnt there to many coincidences? So many finalists, in so many diferent countrys and so many guys giving up... of corse a few had real problems and really didnt make it, but hey, i dont believe in so many coinsidences! I have to be honest and im not quite sure if i would/could endure that! Saying i will is one thing, really doing it is another;)! Just a thought:idea:!
 
Only two didn't make it, and though I don't know why in the case of the French finalist, the Belgian finalist was too ill to travel. I'm told he asked if he could arrive slightly later in the day, but of course the competition started literally at breakfast on Friday. Miss any of it and the chances are you won't make the 3rd day.

On day 1 the only video cameras there were GT Academy's and the guy from the BBC who only wanted to film John and Alex, though there were photographers everywhere (including me). All the drivers dealt with being photographed almost as if we weren't there, even while they were doing press-ups!
 
I see! I was also talking about every national finalist in every country, mainly the top 10!
 
amowiel
I so feel for him :( ...though it would've been fun to watch him struggle ;)
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ROFL :lol: I love your evil streak!

I'm visiting my parents this weekend who only live 30 mins from Silverstone, thought I might be able to sneak in and watch some action but John said it was unlikely. Or maybe he just told me that so that I wouldn't go and laugh at him doing the assault course...
 
To be entirely fair, there's some restrictions and the time scale is kinda short.

Some of the top 20 in each country simply weren't eligible - through age or not having a driving licence. The national finals were also quite short notice after the end of the Time Trial and, of course, many of the people who did qualify would have had to take time off work to go to the final - and thinking of just the UK final at Brands Hatch, that'd be just about an 8 hour trip for someone like daan, which would mean at least 3 days off work to go play a computer game :lol:

It was interesting to see how many of the Boot Camp finalists are students...


As an aside, Felipe gave my favourite answer to a question. He was asked if his age might count against him with all these youngsters. He said "Maybe it's my lucky number." :lol:
 
PrudentClaire
ROFL :lol: I love your evil streak!
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;) I've never seen him rolling through the mud so that would've been something new...and probably very character building for him :P

PrudentClaire
I'm visiting my parents this weekend who only live 30 mins from Silverstone, thought I might be able to sneak in and watch some action but John said it was unlikely. Or maybe he just told me that so that I wouldn't go and laugh at him doing the assault course...
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Probably... :D for some reason guys do like to show off, but only if they know they're going to be the best

I'd be so jealous if you could get in! :D I even dreamt about visiting last night. I really don't know what happened to my own life, lol.. I used to have one :P.
 
Agree the timing could be better but I guess they had to wait for the gt5 demo to be ready and they can't change the date of the first race of the season on 9 may at Dijon.

The final 2 are going to have to immediately give up their normal lives for a couple of months to do the training, with no guarantee of a drive at the end of it. That might be a tough decision.
 
That indeed is going to be a tough decision. I talked about it to Jeroen and he would have to give up both his jobs and we would have to cancel our holiday... if he makes it to the final two. Then, if you do not make it after those two months, you're unemployed... which is not a very good situation in the current economy

Then again... if it really is your dream it is a chance you have to take in order to achieve it... I'd say go for it and work something out if you do not become the driver of their choice...
 
amowiel
That indeed is going to be a tough decision. I talked about it to Jeroen and he would have to give up both his jobs and we would have to cancel our holiday... if he makes it to the final two. Then, if you do not make it after those two months, you're unemployed... which is not a very good situation in the current economy

Then again... if it really is your dream it is a chance you have to take in order to achieve it... I'd say go for it and work something out if you do not become the driver of their choice...
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Yes you'd have to go for it! This is an unbelievable opportunity.
 
Here is a segment from the official press release.

Comments from Johnny Herbert regarding the final eight elimination.

Formula One and Le Mans 24 Hour winner Johnny Herbert felt that most of the decisions were relatively clear cut: “I would say that the standard is fairly similar to that of GT Academy 2008 at this stage,” he explained. “However, the eight that we have chosen are close, compatible and very competitive. There was probably a bit more of a difference between the last eight in the first Academy. You have the impression that these guys are really going to push each other, but in a positive way.

“Obviously we feel we have got the best eight, but it was a hard decision. There were a couple of guys that were close and we had to weigh up all the factors and make that tough decision based on who can realistically progress to be the full racing package. That means being fast and consistent on the track, but also being able to communicate well with your team and the media. In the end, it may have been some of those ‘softer’ elements that made the difference of one guy over the next.”
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The GT Academy continues on Sunday. A 7.00am start of a gruelling assault course awaits the competitors, followed by more intensive race instruction and challenges in the GT-Rs, 370Zs and some single seaters. In the classroom, the eight competitors will sit their written ARDS (race licence) test. Joining the judging panel on Sunday will be former Formula One team owner, Eddie Jordan.
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amowiel
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. ;)
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Hey Kelly :)
First of all big congratulations to my brother of course hes keeping the family name high up there. I knew he would do well if it would come to driving, fitness Im not too sure about but probably today will bring more information about that.

But Jeroen has a good amount of karting experience but I guess everyone of the top 8 has that, we drove a lot in indoor karts and he has driven in my own kart 3 times and he did good at it(could have been more but he crashed with it on the 3rd time:)) Could happen to everyone btw so dont judge about that, before people come talking about it! Lets say it this way: He really knows how to drive a kart and together with me we learned a lot about it which made us good enough to get fastest times of months at any kart track:tup: Most of the times at least...

The experience seems to have changed tho compared to the first edition of the GT Academy.

I believe we didnt got to drive any cars on the first 3 days. Owh I dont count the 2 laps (or was it 1 because some guys of other countries ruined the CLUTCH?) in the 350Z. That was the most horrible thing back then, 2 laps and pushing well yes then you get broken clutches... Anyway, good thing they now started with racing and not with the fitness part to get the REAL drivers out of it. I was eliminated because of getting ill due to fitness tests and a 4 hour endurance race(with my physical health, I got problems with my bladder/kidney and the fun part is: Thats the same thing why the operation is done last week and therefore... I could not go to Silverstone), but in the cars I did very well with a 2nd position overall behind Lars Schlomer (In the 350Z Trail). And not to mention the Formula Silverstone where the owner came to me to congratulate me with my great driving, he didnt believed that I have never driven a Formula car and said that it was ''weird to see that I was eliminated''. But I was bad at fitness, yes and I couldnt complete a 4 hour kart race... And I fully understand that you need a complete picture, not only be a good driver. But its a good thing theyve changed things now and finding the best DRIVER! And putting fitness a little bit on a lower standard...

EDIT: Ok so it seems they didnt put fitness on a lower standard. Just seen some pictures of it and it seems pretty hard that assault course. Respect for all those final 8s!
 
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IRT_SolarSystem
... But its a good thing theyve changed things now and finding the best DRIVER! And putting fitness a little bit on a lower standard...
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EDIT: Woops sorry! Just realised you've seen the photos :)

How do you think the karts from the 1st academy would compare to the ones this time around? The endurance kart race might've been shortened because the new ones are more physical to drive? (Just speculating btw :lol:. So much info to take in!)

Sphinx
After a full English, it always go silent until the inevitable happens. ;)
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How do you mean Sphinx? Coming from New Zealand, I'm not too familiar with the English from that part of the world :lol:
 
Sphinx
After a full English, it always go silent until the inevitable happens. ;)
...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Full_breakfast

:lol:
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Would the inevitable be gas? :lol: sorry I know it sounds immature but it's the only explanation I can think of! :banghead:

...which is probably a good cue to head off to bed. Keep up the good work with the news from Silverstone guys (and girls lets not forget :D)! Looking forward to catching up on it in 8 hours :)
 
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Louie_Schumii
How do you think the karts from the 1st academy would compare to the ones this time around? The endurance kart race might've been shortened because the new ones are more physical to drive? (Just speculating btw :lol:. So much info to take in!)
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Well, its really difficult to say. But one thing I know is that the karts they have been driving are from Rotax Max. Because of the technical side of those engines you cant let them run 4 hours non-stop, so there is the logical explenation of only 2 hours (which is really hard enough). Compared to the endurance karts its a situation of weight and speed. the endurance karts are a lot more weight so they are heavy in the corners, making it harder physical to drive it. But the speed of the Rotax Max is faster so that can be seen as physical harder. In the end I drove both of the karts... 3 years of Rotax Max, 2 years national championships. but besides that I did 2 races of endurance karting and to be honest I cant tell the difference between which is physically harder, I enjoyed Rotax Max a lot more so therefore for me Rotax Max felt less heavy to drive... besides that I dont know the technical specifications of tuning from those engines they have driven or the sprockets they drove because the more tuned down the longer they last but slower they go. Also, tires, if they were soft, its really hard to drive but I expect for 2 hours that they drove hard tires...

In the end, both are hard to drive for a few hours long and I cant say which one is harder phyiscally...
 
But Jeroen has a good amount of karting experience but I guess everyone of the top 8 has that, we drove a lot in indoor karts and he has driven in my own kart 3 times and he did good at it(could have been more but he crashed with it on the 3rd time)
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Hey Eric,

It must be so hard for you right now... hearing all these enthusiastic stories from Jeroen. I'm sure you'll be able to go next time, as you are still the fastest Dutch guy around ;).

Apart from those times he drove your kart, I'd say he'd have about the same amount of karting experience as most guys around. That's what I meant to say at least. If I look at my own brother... he karts more frequently than Jeroen at this point. It's just something guys do when they go out with friends, just like girls go shopping ;).

Ok so it seems they didnt put fitness on a lower standard. Just seen some pictures of it and it seems pretty hard that assault course. Respect for all those final 8s!
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Hehe I read on twitter that Jeroen said it had to be the worst experience of his life. So I guess that really says something considering the last few weeks.
 
amowiel
Apart from those times he drove your kart, I'd say he'd have about the same amount of karting experience as most guys around. That's what I meant to say at least. If I look at my own brother... he karts more frequently than Jeroen at this point. It's just something guys do when they go out with friends, just like girls go shopping ;).
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Yeah I understand what you mean. But I can assure you the times me and Jeroen did indoor karting its more than an ''average friend thing'', over the years we have done it often and outside that we went with friends sometimes. Its not a bad thing? I say its good he hasnt done it professionaly but he knew what he had to do last Friday and I would say thats a good thing, it still shows his skill! Only the last few years we both havent been karting at all (no not even me) thats absolutely true...

amowiel
Hehe I read on twitter that Jeroen said it had to be the worst experience of his life. So I guess that really says something considering the last few weeks.
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Yeah I read it also... Checking Twitter now and then but I think that what he said to the media isnt quite what he really means, at least I hope. What happened last weeks is, well nothing to compare it with. But he just points out that it was a horrible experience:) And from the looks of the pictures I would agree instantly with him...
 
IRT_SolarSystem
Yeah I understand what you mean. But I can assure you the times me and Jeroen did indoor karting its more than an ''average friend thing'', over the years we have done it often and outside that we went with friends sometimes. Its not a bad thing? I say its good he hasnt done it professionaly but he knew what he had to do last Friday and I would say thats a good thing, it still shows his skill! Only the last few years we both havent been karting at all (no not even me) thats absolutely true...
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I get your point... and both you and Jeroen were never average when it came to racing.. but I guess that applies to everyone over there or they'd never been there.


IRT_SolarSystem
Yeah I read it also... Checking Twitter now and then but I think that what he said to the media isnt quite what he really means, at least I hope. What happened last weeks is, well nothing to compare it with. But he just points out that it was a horrible experience:) And from the looks of the pictures I would agree instantly with him...
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I certainly don't hope so either... though I think it will prove to have been a very character building experience for him ;).

The looks from the photos suggest that he has grown his hair again, lol... also I think, wearing glasses is quite a disadvantage, with the rain and mud covering your sight. In any case, they all survived :P
 
anyone knows what happened to DanHolland!? i've heard he was doing well.. i was rooting for him to pass but he's not listed... :confused:
 
He didn't attend the media stuff, not sure why, if you score an own goal like that you'd have to look at your attitude and how badly you want it. He seems really angry at himself though so hopefully he's already realised his mistake and will come back stronger next time.
 

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