GT Academy (EU) 2011 Starts with “Mini Leagues”, Free Car

GT Academy officially returns to Europe today, with a new, custom “Eifel” track specially designed for the competition by Kazunori Yamauchi himself. Participants will be piloting a Nissan 370Z around the new course, featuring sweeping, high-speed corners with plenty of helpful camber (check out the video above for a complete lap).

To participate, you’ll need to be over the age of 18 and a resident in one of these countries, then get yourself registered on the official site. The top 20 drivers as of April 17th in each region will move forward to their respective national finals. Even if you don’t make the cut, you’ll still receive this special-edition GT-R in GT5 as a gift for taking part. This year’s Academy also introduces a new “mini leagues” feature which enables you to easily compare your top laps with those of your friends.

GTPlanet’s new dedicated GT Academy (EU) 2011 Forum is already starting to heat up, so be sure to drop in join the discussion with your fellow competitors. Good luck, everyone!

Comments (109)

  1. dznuts

    better question, is the GTR proprietary for that PSN account or is it like the preorder DLC and available on the PS3 hard drive?

  2. jason paul

    i got my gt5 game from mum for christmas and she got it online.it has a sticker stating:compete in GT5 for a chance to become a real pro race car driver.details inside…wonder if i can enter?..i go and read details

  3. CorporateHammer

    Whining during the competition due to race lines now whining due to not receiving a free car. Man, know wonder the world makes fun of our country.

  4. GT-PRO1

    for some odd reason when i go into seasonal events, i can do the european gt5 academy? i wonder why this is? so, i am going to investigate this further and see if i can get anything out of it^^

  5. GTR2_4_LyF

    Gtr2 wud destroy this game ne day sounds much better, better physics, unlimited mods and most importantly, more fun.

    1. TsunamiSephi

      Hey, ‘GTR2_4_LyF,’ you also might try a game called “Reader Rabbit.” You might find some inspiration in the lessons it offers, especially in the department of proper punctuation and spelling. Go ahead and give it a shot and come back with a proper, well written response on how much you like GTR-2 over Gran Turismo. Thanks.

  6. andrew c

    I played the US “Try out the Europe GT Academy track event” in the Special Events a few hours ago. That track is so frustrating with Comfort Mediums..

  7. DarthStig1

    I understand why some people aren’t to fond about the tyres. However, I think that this is one of GT5’s strengths. It’s very satisfying indeed when driving on normal tyres, the levels of concentration required is greater. One of the best points about GT in general.

  8. MintBerryCrunch

    I live in the US, why does everyone else get all the free stuff? Japanese get 3 Chromeline cars. UK & Ireland, France & Switzerland, Germany & Austria, Spain & Portugal, Italy Netherlands, get the Stealth GT-R.

    Anyone know if the Stealth cars can be traded, because I have a UK account on my PS3 that might let me at least get the GT-R?

    1. MintBerryCrunch

      I take it we don’t get the prize right away?
      I registered online(got confirmation email), entered the race, set a time but nothing happened when I got to the main menu.
      So do we have to wait until the end of the round for the car?

    2. Alex

      America sucks because we can’t do anything right anymore. WE SOLD VOLVO TO SOME STUPID CHINESE AUTOMAKER MAN!!

    3. mobiletone

      i got my car ticket right after submitting a time and getting back to the main menu.

      not liking the Academy, mostly due to using the 370Z and those tyres, it’s a virtual death machine.

  9. BWX

    In US, and we can still run the timetrial.. It just doesn’t count for anything. And hey, WTF, where’s our free car for participating in the US academy?

  10. mynamehere

    Of course. Not only do the Euros get the Special Edition of the game, a Chromeline Jag, and another free car….

  11. NFSCARBON1

    I’m entering for the car! No chance of me getting through and i’m too young to take part properly but the car looks good.

    1. Antony Henley

      If you are under 18 I seriously doubt you will get past the registration prtocess, unless you “lie” about your age, which is against the T&C’s so good luck if you gop donw that route….. No Sympathy whatsoever :p

    2. NFSCARBON1

      My PSN is registered in my dad’s name anyway (I can’t remember why)so i’ll ask him to do it. And I didn’t want YOUR sympathy anyway XD

  12. Antony Henley

    Managed a time of 2:37. 1523rd place but I knew I wasn’t going to be that good so wasn’t expecting a miracle. Still the GT-R looks great in the stealth livery with GT academy branding. I was giving it fills beans round my Rouninville track.

  13. Rob

    All very nice, but I do wish they’d seperate the ds3 users from the wheel users. 1 ds3 user in the top 10. 10 ds3 users in the top 60. If this is supposed to be a talent contest then put through a percentage of both input devices.

    I know the argument will be that the wheel users have invested more money so are more dedicated but thats not always the case.

    1. pudge

      I think the argument is a. use whatever is best for you and b. this is a DRIVING contest for REAL CARS with REAL WHEELS, so … :-)

    2. GT_Die_Hard

      So, you want to say that all people who don’t have a racing wheel have to buy one to race properly?

      BTW, the DS3 is the Playstation’s main controller and if GT5 was about REAL driving, we’d get a free racing wheel with it…

    1. Jilt

      GTHQ.nl is a GT community website like GTPlanet, only fot the Dutch and Belgium market.

      Like GTP tags, we use GTHQ tags.

  14. Brandon

    Is that Skyline only obtainable via the GT Academy Europe, or is it the same one you get for earning gold in all 60 license tests?

    1. Stash!

      No. this is a new DLC car, only obtainable via GT Academy Europe. its not the the one from the gold S licence Prize.

    2. Ummm...

      you don’t get a GT-R GT Academy version for completing the licences on gold, you get a 370Z GT Academy version

  15. BigMackAttack

    Maybe they’re give EU the GT-R because that was the GT-R that the US got with their collectors edition and EU didn’t? But I realllllllly want that GT-R….

    1. GTPorsche

      No. the GTR in the Collector’s edition was a die-cast car. We didn’t get any in-game GTR in the CE or any free in-game cars for those who participated in US GT Academy like they had mentioned.

    2. BigMackAttack

      No Porsche I was referencing the fact that since EU didnt get the die cast they are getting the dlc

  16. ML

    kind of want that “Stealth” GT-R, i hope PD/SCE goes back and gives US competition participants that car.

    1. mcfizzle

      You will what? Stop playing the game? It’s a competition being put on by Nissan, did you expext a Ferrari? Complain some more.

  17. strtgng

    Still waiting on the free “DLC” promised to all USA participants. This just rubs salt in the wounds. Thanks for nothing PD. We probably would have just gotten some stupid PSN Home thing instead of a car anyway.

  18. Wouter-522

    Sh!t I am allmost 18, in april… but why do you need a driving license to drive a race car. ITS ON A CIRCUIT.. haha. I hope this race will be back next year, because this is very disappointing GT5 :(

    1. GT_Die_Hard

      Is that possible? I really want that GT-R, it will make my collection complete… :P

      It looks really great, but i think they’ve allready found a way to block people who want the GT-R, but dont want to participate…

  19. j8mie

    I’ve signed up as well. No chance of me making it into the next round but worth a shot I guess……….and I get a free car as well :D

    1. Ummm...

      it actually looks quite nice… there’s more decal detail to it than the other GT-R GT Academy car and the matt black gives a nice finish.

      i shan’t be touching mine

    1. crcn11

      @marsh-420 haha serves you right :-D I just got mine today… think I should give it a try? Yeah :-)

  20. Spoox777

    Does anybody know why when i go to sign up i receive a message saying that i cannot register my email.
    It’s a valid email & my main account & works fine for everything else.

    1. guidance is internal

      Heard that PD is shutting down anyone who has duped cars, has multiple accounts or used the “birthday scam”. PD morals rules are stricter than the Mormons.

  21. PS3gamerXD

    I would really like to participate, I live in The Netherlands, but I’m 16 years old. *sadface*

    1. Antony Henley

      No you don’t buy the car, and No you cannot modify the car. It’s a standard car that’s available to everyone that partakes in the event to use. Thus fairness is across the board.

  22. Rob Haswell

    Unfortunately it seems that any enjoyment I would derive from this competition is going to be ruined by Comfort Medium tyres.

  23. Tintorera

    I hate that only 10 of the 50 countries in europe is invited to the Academy, (just envy of those allowed to participate;)
    Good luck to all participants!

    1. Mr_Hansen

      I’m very disappointed too.
      I did not fulfill the age requirements last year (am 18 now), but since then I’ve been extremely exited about participating..

    1. VBR

      Signed up too & like you no chance of winning, came 58th in the UK last time & there are more faster drivers about now I reckon. Worth doing just for the free car though, hehe!

    2. Foxiol

      I did 2.27….10 seconds behind the first…after 6 laps…not bad pos.2251 now. I´m not so bad but with the G27 at least for me is working very bad.

    1. KamyKaze1098

      Since this time they call it GT Academy “EUROPE”, i think we allready know that New Zealand Aussie won’t make it this time. I don’t know what’s so difficult to understand.
      Did the last time included the word “EUROPE” in it’s name??
      Not trying to be a smart ass or anything, but if you don’t like it you should flood the Sony division of your contry. And get some help from all other people there.

    2. Mike

      Considering they excluded Canada from the North American one, I wouldn’t count on ever getting this.

    3. RACECAR

      I’m pretty sure that would up to SCE New Zealand to make that happen instead of SCEE. SCEA (Sony Computer Entertainment America) for instance was the main force behind GT Academy coming to North America.

    4. Xerxes

      Australia/New Zealand will most likely be excluded, considering we (I’m Aussie) are a tiny market nobody seems to care much for.

      @KamyKaze1098, no need to be a smartarse! because the AU/NZ markets are so tiny we often get tagged into larger markets, Sony has traditionally made us part of the EU market, hence, SCEE is responsible for us. However, as Mike said SCEA excluded Canada from the NA GT Academy and considering AU/NZ was never part of the first GT Academy there is little hope we will get in this time either.

      Maybe they’ll make an Asia Pacific version and include AU/NZ in that maybe. That is my 2 cents, take with a grain of salt.

    5. heymoa

      Woa take a chill pill Kamy, I wasn’t asking if NZ etc were in this academy because I can read its a European one. I was asking if there has been any word on a NZ/Aussie academy in the future.

    6. Ummm...

      Is Japan included in GT Academy?

      Seems silly if they’re not, considering Sony is a Japanese company. Plus, there are plenty of good Japanese GT5 drivers around… GTDB is testament to that.

      It would make sense to have an Asian/Oceanic league but maybe it’s got to do with the logistics of getting all of the qualifying drivers from Australia, New Zealand and Asia together for the regionals.

    7. Luis

      They actually did a Gran Turismo Asia competition. Check the Singapore, Thailand or Hong Kong Gran Turismo website and you’ll see the event they had (written in English). Logistics wise it won’t be an issue. It’s just a matter of how much Sony (and Nissan or other partner companies) are willing to spend on such an event to promote their products.

      I found this petition in the feedback section if any of you guys want to vote for a GT Academy in your part of the world though – feedback.gtplanet.net/forums/96709-gt5-feedback/suggestions/1501113-gt-academy-in-all-regions-and-countries-where-gt5

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