On Day 3, eight of our competitors were one step closer to their dream but this day started with a nightmare for them in the shape of an Assault Course dripping with water and mud.

Any racing driver underestimates fitness and conditioning at their peril and our guys were no different – they would be pushed to their physical and mental limits to complete the task.

British Armed Forces created and shouted our guys round the track – there was literally blood, sweat and tears as they struggled against the odds to complete the task and impress the Judges.

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It was not just Day 2 for our competitors but also the last day for 10 of them as we got closer to finding or Champion of GT Academy 2010. Each of our competitors knew that they had to give their all to catch the Judge’s eyes and stay away from a giant, red ‘X’ next to their name that would see them going home.

Each of the competitors had to show skill, talent, dedication and ability to listen to instruction as they took part in sprints, car control, head-to-head racing, drifting and even a pit stop challenge. If that wasn’t enough, they had their first taste of the Nissan GT-R supercar in horrendously wet conditions.

In the early morning sprinting we saw some spectacular speed and handling on a wet Stowe circuit. Giacomo Cunial from Italy catching everybody’s eye with a phenomenal run that put him only half a second behind the professional Silverstone racing driver. Fellow Italian Luca Lorenzini and Swiss driver Oliver Simon also catching the Judge’s eyes.

Over the day the Judge’s were keeping a keen eye out for who was improving the most, who was taking on all the lessons and putting it into their laps and their car control. Keen stand-out guys who showed real improvement in Day Two were Daniel Collins of Ireland, Jeroen Kesselring on the Netherlands and Oliver Simon again of Switzerland.

As track conditions worsened competitors got a real taste of what is required from them if they are to make it as a professional racing driver and in the late afternoon they got to meet their potential new boss. Bob Neville, The Team Principal of the Nissan PlayStation GT Academy Race Team.

But, sadly after a hugely impressive day for the contestants – we had to send 10 guys home. It took the Judge’s over an hour to make their final decision as they compared, argued and interrogated each and every driver for their speed, skill, attitude a potential to keep making the grade and make it as a professional racing driver.

In front of a crammed GT Academy Base Conference Hall. GT Academy 2010 is proud to announce that the following competitors have made it to Day 3.

FIlipe Barreto – Portugal
Luca Lorenzini – Italy
Giacomo Cunial – Italy
Marco Calvo – Spain
Jordan Tresson – France
Jeroen Kesselring – Netherlands
Oliver Simon – Switzerland
Daniel Collins – Ireland

Sadly it meant we had to say goodbye to Alex Ingram, John Moorby, Daniel Holland, Tony Autridge, Steffen Christein, Christian Giere, Benjamin Peron, Robert Wawrzyniak, Roberto Otero and Marko Moisio. All of these guys are Champions and the decision was extremely close and each and every single one of them should be proud of their performances.

GT Academy 2010 Judge, Johnny Herbert said:

“I would say that the standard is fairly similar to that of GT Academy 2008 at this stage. 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.”

Qualifier Jeroen Kesselring said:

“I am really happy to get through to the Top 8. I am so happy. This is the chance of a lifetime.”

Ireland’s Finest, Daniel Collins said:

“It was extremely tense waiting to see if I got through. I have learnt so much from the Judge’s who have been fantastic to me. You see them on the TV and felt they would be hard to talk to but they have been tremendous with me and I hope to keep learning and improving.”

Australia’s Daniel Holland was disappointed not to make the final 8. He said after the decision:

“I’m pretty devastated. My speed was really good and getting the car to work well under the braking. I made a giant mistake by not turning up for the media interviews. I am disappointed in myself and in going out but I really hope to have this chance again in the future where you will see an even faster Daniel Holland.”

Tomorrow sees them take their racing to the next level as well as an assault course where they will be up against Judge Rob Barff. There is no time to stand still, the Judge’s want to see even more improvement from each competitor as we go from 8 to 4 and even closer to GT Academy 2010′s Number One Driver.

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In December 2009 over 1.4m people attempted to make it to the final event of the ultimate racing prize. After hundreds of virtual laps our competitors beat all-comers to make the final 18 putting it all on the line for real.

Our competitors entered the world-famous Silverstone track full of nerves and excitement – they had no idea what was about to happen to them, but they all knew that they had to be determined, motivated and extremely fast.

On the first morning they received their first briefing from the Judges. Our Judges Eddie Jordan, Johnny Herbert, Sabine Schmitz and Head of Driving, Rob Barff will be putting all of them through their paces. They want to see only the greatest talent make it through each day for the overall prize of GT Academy 2010 Champion and become a professional racing driver.

After the briefing, they were put through a truly punishing fitness test put together by UK Marines and on-track Doctor’s. From endurance running, press-up’s, chin-up’s to sit-up’s. This wasn’t just proving to the Judge’s that you were fit enough to take part but the first competitive event.

The Fitness Test threw up a lot of sweat and even tears as each competitors took their bodies to the limit. Germany’s Steffen Christein surprising everyone as King of the Fitness Test.

Sabine Schmitz commented: “For someone so small and slight, he was incredible. He made me tired just watching him do all of those press-ups.”

After a deserved drink of water the contestants knew that this was just the beginning. They were going to have their first taste of a race-car on the Silverstone track.

One timed lap in a specially built circuit to test their car control and ability to handle real speed – in the wet weather.

In a track full of spray we had 5 racers set the pace; Luca Lorenzini from Italy, Dan Holland from Australia, Benjamin Peron from Belgium, Giacomo Cunial from Italy and Jordan Tresson from France.

Head of Driving, Rob Barff said: “This is the beginnings of a fantastic opportunity for them. They have to grab it with both hands. A lot of the guys are trying too hard, making too many mistakes by going too fast into the slow corners and too steady into the fast corners.”

Johnny Herbert said: “In this weather it is critical they have a real feel for the car under acceleration and braking. In order to really make the grade they have to turn this feeling for the car into real, real speed.”

If the contestants liked their first taste of real competitive racing, their next task would require them to love it. Endurance Karting in 70mph beasts in an endurance race for 2 hours on a dark, cold and damp kart track at Silverstone.

Working in teams of two, competitors took turns in their kart to not just win the race but impress the Judge’s with their controlled aggression, knowledge of racing lines and determination to succeed.

The competition was fierce as the lead changed several times and as tiredness crept in, so did the mistakes.

The Judge’s were watching every corner, every pass and every mistake from the pit wall. The competitors knew that they could not turn off for a second.

After two hard hours the team of Filipe Baretto and Jordan Tresson in Team France/Portugal were victorious followed by Marco Calvo and Roberto Otero in Team Spain and Jeroen Kesselring and Benjamin Peron in Team Benelux.

Jordan and Filipe impressed the Judge’s with their hard fought victory but Spain’s Marco Calvo took the fastest lap crown by quite some distance

Tired, exhausted and burnt out of adrenaline the contestants went back to the hotel knowing that the Judge’s had already made their first impressions.

After a short introduction to the press, the contestants went to bed knowing that tomorrow wasn’t just the next day, but potentially the last day at GT Academy 2010 as the Judge’s start to make their eliminations based on their racing in what is set to be a truly remarkable day’s action.

Follow the action live at www.twitter.com/GTAcademy and at www.facebook.com/GTAcademy plus right here on PlayStation.Blog each day in the ultimate racing prize from PlayStation and Nissan. The Game is Just The Start but the event is just about to get bigger, better, faster and even more intense.

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From millions of virtual racers we are down to 18 putting it all on the line for real.

Our competitors raced hundreds of laps each on the GT Academy Time Trial to prove their speed, they beat all comers at the National Championships and now putting their nerves, sweat and skills to the limit at Silverstone.

From Ireland to New Zealand and from Finland to Italy our 18 competitors have a chance to move from virtual champion to professional racing driver.

In front of them lies a 5-day test of skill, physical fitness and pure speed in front of our legendary judges of Eddie Jordan, Johnny Herbert and Sabine Schmitz where only the very fastest will achieve their dream.

Johnny Herbert, GT Academy 2010 Judge, said:

“These next few days will be difficult, different and hard but the potential for the most rewarding prize ever. We are going to transform a guy from the virtual world and bring them to the reality of motor-sport. At Silverstone, they will work and race together but act for themselves. Its a chance they need to take with both hands.”

One man has been more responsible for giving pure talent its big break, this man is F1 legend and discoverer of talent such Ayrton Senna, Damon Hill and Michael Schumacher. This man is Judge Eddie Jordan.

Speaking to the competitors for the first time, he said:

“I require big passion, big commitment to win and desire to win. You have to believe in yourself to win.”

From a Marine inspired assault course, to 75mph karts to a race-ready Nissan 370Z and GT-R – each challenge will need the very best from our competitors to succeed and become the GT Academy 2010 Champion.

Kazinori Yamauchi had a dream of a Gran Turismo player becoming a real racing driver. Lucas Ordonez proved it can be done, one of these 18 competitors will be further prove that you can swap a sofa for a real race car and that the game is just the start to changing your life forever.

We will give you all the latest updates each day, right here at the PlayStation.Blog. Don’t miss a thing and show your support for our 18 competitors. They’re all winners, but only one can be our champion.

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