The world of ultra-realistic virtual racing breaks through into reality as GT Academy rolls onto the Silverstone starting grid. For the first time in the competition, contestants will have to prove that their skills go beyond virtual driving in Gran Turismo 5 Prologue™.  Contestants will be getting behind the wheel of Nissan’s 350Z and GT-R to compete for the chance to be one of two drivers joining the Nissan racing team in the Dubai 24hr race in 2009.

Facing a gruelling week of challenges at the iconic Silverstone track in the driver’s Seat of a Nissan GT-R will be Mathew Gordon (25) a lawn specialist from Ipswich in Suffolk, John Cook (23) web designer from Tadworth in Surrey and Mark Perry (20) a karting race director based in Tamworth, Staffordshire. Their skills and stamina got them through the online competition and then the head to head National finals, held at the British Motor Show on the Nissan stand. Now, along with the top three drivers from 10 other European countries, it’s time to see if these virtual race champions have what it takes to become a top class racing driver.

The training at Silverstone will be rigorous and unrelenting and will include fitness tests, media evaluation and of course, numerous driving tests. To be in with a chance to fulfil their racing dreams, drivers will need to measure up to all the expectations of a modern day race driver – fit, quick to learn, media-savvy and talented behind the wheel.

At the end of the Silverstone event, two drivers will be selected by a panel of Nissan racing team trainers to embark on four months of hardcore driver training at the Nissan Race Academy to earn their official racing licences and experience life as professional race car drivers.

“The GT Academy gives wannabe racing drivers the opportunity of a lifetime to realise their dream and we are looking for the best of the best. Our finalists have proven they have what it takes online. Now they need to impress me and my fellow judges with their real-life skills,” says Bob Neville of the Nissan Racing team.

Get ready for a week of high-adrenaline, high-octane racing in the competition that is the ultimate test of driving skills.