The recent GT Academy Live Activation which took place from 9-11 November at the Tyger Valley Shopping Centre in Bellville near Cape Town has produced a new overall leader in the GT Academy standings.
Hot on the heels of Johannesburg resident Jacobus Volschenk who set the leading lap time previously at the KZN Activation, Capetonian Robin van Merch blitzed Volschenk’s time by 0.75 seconds, emerging as the new leader with a time of 1:31.439. The two avid console racers had previously competed as team mates in online GranTurismo racing.
“After Jacobus set the fastest time in Durban I knew the game was on. Being an ex-team-mate of mine, we have shared many a heated virtual race and his time was very respectable. After rushing to the Activation on Friday after work, I almost matched his time but knew I could do better with more practise. A sleepless night and an early morning on the Saturday meant I was able to achieve my goal time of 1:31 and I am very proud of my performance,” said van Merch after his achievement. Now in the hot seat in the running to Race Camp at Silverstone in England next year, van Merch hopes to hold on to the number one spot as further Live Activations continue through November and into December 2012.
Van Merch continued: “The whole GT community in South Africa is thrilled that the GT Academy has reached our shores and the competition is bigger than I thought. Competitors are giving it their all and the rivalry out there is immense. Thanks again to Nissan and Sony PlayStation® for turning our couch fantasies into reality!”
Open to anyone with a PlayStation®3 console or access to one of the Live Activations, the GT Academy is set to seek out the best in South Africa’s virtual racing talent with the ultimate prize of becoming a real-world professional Nissan racing driver up for the taking.
FORTHCOMING GT ACADEMY LIVE EVENTS DATES:
| City | Date | Venue | Time |
| Johannesburg | 17th November 2012 | Fourways Crossing | 11:00 – 15:00 |
| Pretoria | 18th November 2012 | Menlyn Park | 11:00 – 15:00 |
| Johannesburg | 23rd November 2012 | Sandton City | 09:00 – 20:00 |
| Johannesburg | 24th November 2012 | Sandton City | 09:00 – 20:00 |
| Johannesburg | 25th November 2012 | Sandton City | 09:00 – 18:00 |
| Pretoria | 1st December 2012 | Mall @ Reds | 11:00 – 15:00 |
| Johannesburg | 2nd December 2012 | Maponya Mall | 11:00 – 15:00 |
Details of how to enter GT Academy 2012 can be found on gran-turismo.com
