Hello!
Maybe someone will recognize my nick "Czempion" from Gran Turismo 5 online time trials, maybe not...
I just wanted to write below my story, also as a GT Academy finalist. As a random guy, like a lot of us from here (I think) I couldn't afford myself for pro racing in Cup cars. But still as a kid, and later teenager I've dreamed, to be a pro racer, despite having not enough money. So I've competed in GT Academy.
My first attempt was in 2013, when I was 18 years old. GT Academy qualifiers was in June and July, and my 18th birthday was on May, but because of law changes in beginning of the year, my driving license exam was delayed for two months. I've had only one attempt to pass it, and I was in the most difficult city in Poland, to pass (comparing to exam results in whole nation). Luckily, I've passed all exams in one day, at my first attepmt, so I knew I'll get my license in time, to compete in GT Academy. In qualifiers I've passed with 18th place in world, and 1st place in live qualifiers. At national final in Poland, unfortunately I've failed driving test, because of not big enough experience with cars, so I was only 3rd in final and I didn't qualified to European Final in Silverstone.
After final I've got depression. I couldn't focus on anything. After some time, I said to myself that I can't give up - and I've decided to prepare better for GT Academy 2014. I've bought my first car for time attack events. I've searched for something cheap to repair and modify, and also unstable and difficult to control, to learn as most as I can. I decided to buy... Fiat Cinquecento Sporting with 54HP (this car was on GT2). Why I've choose this ugly car? Totally unbalanced car with very low horsepower is very difficult to handle if you are searching for thousands of seconds - even a little mistake will make a huge gap on time.
I've qualified into GT Academy 2014 national final without any problems. But if I've had more experience as a person and driver, this year I didn't had any luck to win my ticket. During gaming challenge when judges have chosen Silverstone International Circuit, where you have to cut the track by grass (and everyone who , I've missed cutting point by 10cm's and game gave me penalty. With penalty I've lost a lot of points on this. Also at driving challenge, if I could yet properly handle a car, at finish I stopped 0,5s too late and I've missed finish line for stop-finish (line must was between two axles of the car). On this, I've also lost a lot of points, so I've finished only at 4th place in Poland. S^$%t happens.
At 2015 I said to myself, this attempt in GT Academy will be my last one. I've met one of pro racing drivers, who lives near me, and we've started our cooperation. I was his younger engineer for Volkswagen Golf Cup 2015, and also simulator and FWD coach, because at this time, he had never drove with FWD car in pro racing, earlier only RWD cars like BMW E36, M3, M3 GTR, and he wanted my support in preparations. I've had also opportunity to practice with his cars on real racing circuits, and this was big experience. My goal was Yas Marina and NISMO seat.
All my dreams were blown, where I've read all earlier national finalists from Europe were banned, to compete in 2015. I was angry, but I've decided to start my career on my own. I've worked in 2015, just after school-ending exams as a courier in Germany, to earn some money for my beginning.
At 2016 I've made international FIA racing license, and my debut in racing (Polish "Hour Race" Championship) was at May 2015, one week before my 21st birthday. At my first race in BMW E36 318is, I've achieved podium in class, and later I've continued my luck with another podiums.
That was the preludium of my story. From this moment, at next week I will compete in final race of 2016 season, and I still have a chance to get Polish Champion title in my debut season in pro racing. Thanks to my stubbornness and some way luck - few days ago I was invited by Audi to TT Cup 2017 scouting tests for young talents. I will fight for Audi support and possibility to compete in TT Cup, so keep fingers crossed for me!
I just wanted to share my story to show it's still possible to start your career, even if you also failed in GT Academy I am not sure if I can share here link to my website, so I'll try to update this thread sometimes - of course if you're interested!
Best regards!
Damian
Maybe someone will recognize my nick "Czempion" from Gran Turismo 5 online time trials, maybe not...
I just wanted to write below my story, also as a GT Academy finalist. As a random guy, like a lot of us from here (I think) I couldn't afford myself for pro racing in Cup cars. But still as a kid, and later teenager I've dreamed, to be a pro racer, despite having not enough money. So I've competed in GT Academy.
My first attempt was in 2013, when I was 18 years old. GT Academy qualifiers was in June and July, and my 18th birthday was on May, but because of law changes in beginning of the year, my driving license exam was delayed for two months. I've had only one attempt to pass it, and I was in the most difficult city in Poland, to pass (comparing to exam results in whole nation). Luckily, I've passed all exams in one day, at my first attepmt, so I knew I'll get my license in time, to compete in GT Academy. In qualifiers I've passed with 18th place in world, and 1st place in live qualifiers. At national final in Poland, unfortunately I've failed driving test, because of not big enough experience with cars, so I was only 3rd in final and I didn't qualified to European Final in Silverstone.
After final I've got depression. I couldn't focus on anything. After some time, I said to myself that I can't give up - and I've decided to prepare better for GT Academy 2014. I've bought my first car for time attack events. I've searched for something cheap to repair and modify, and also unstable and difficult to control, to learn as most as I can. I decided to buy... Fiat Cinquecento Sporting with 54HP (this car was on GT2). Why I've choose this ugly car? Totally unbalanced car with very low horsepower is very difficult to handle if you are searching for thousands of seconds - even a little mistake will make a huge gap on time.
I've qualified into GT Academy 2014 national final without any problems. But if I've had more experience as a person and driver, this year I didn't had any luck to win my ticket. During gaming challenge when judges have chosen Silverstone International Circuit, where you have to cut the track by grass (and everyone who , I've missed cutting point by 10cm's and game gave me penalty. With penalty I've lost a lot of points on this. Also at driving challenge, if I could yet properly handle a car, at finish I stopped 0,5s too late and I've missed finish line for stop-finish (line must was between two axles of the car). On this, I've also lost a lot of points, so I've finished only at 4th place in Poland. S^$%t happens.
At 2015 I said to myself, this attempt in GT Academy will be my last one. I've met one of pro racing drivers, who lives near me, and we've started our cooperation. I was his younger engineer for Volkswagen Golf Cup 2015, and also simulator and FWD coach, because at this time, he had never drove with FWD car in pro racing, earlier only RWD cars like BMW E36, M3, M3 GTR, and he wanted my support in preparations. I've had also opportunity to practice with his cars on real racing circuits, and this was big experience. My goal was Yas Marina and NISMO seat.
All my dreams were blown, where I've read all earlier national finalists from Europe were banned, to compete in 2015. I was angry, but I've decided to start my career on my own. I've worked in 2015, just after school-ending exams as a courier in Germany, to earn some money for my beginning.
At 2016 I've made international FIA racing license, and my debut in racing (Polish "Hour Race" Championship) was at May 2015, one week before my 21st birthday. At my first race in BMW E36 318is, I've achieved podium in class, and later I've continued my luck with another podiums.
That was the preludium of my story. From this moment, at next week I will compete in final race of 2016 season, and I still have a chance to get Polish Champion title in my debut season in pro racing. Thanks to my stubbornness and some way luck - few days ago I was invited by Audi to TT Cup 2017 scouting tests for young talents. I will fight for Audi support and possibility to compete in TT Cup, so keep fingers crossed for me!
I just wanted to share my story to show it's still possible to start your career, even if you also failed in GT Academy
I am not sure if I can share here link to my website, so I'll try to update this thread sometimes - of course if you're interested! Best regards!
Damian
At this day, we've had four challenges: Time Attack with TTS, Racing with instructor behind us in TTS, Trailbraking-Drift challenge with R8 V10 and Interview in English.
Maybe I don't wrote it earlier, but I can say that I'll compete again in Polish Racing Championship in my 318is to fight for Champion title. The learning season was over, time to win something! Soon I'll write about my new work on the race tracks and work as a... test driver! 
