News: Video Gamer Allowed in Real Car

Sony has chosen a kiwi racer to represent the nation in the GT Academy competition, with 19 year-old Wellington student Tony Autridge set to go head to head with 19 competitors from 14 countries.

To find the country’s top GT driver, 20 finalists were flown in from all across the country to participate in the final event at Hampton Downs Motorsport Park. Autridge bested the competition with ‘coolness under pressure and an ability to lead from the front.’

After the competition, Autridge was given his first taste of the real thing – a drive in a Nissan 370Z, one of the cars he may end up racing in on the European GT4 Cup circuit. Under the guidance of top international driver Jonny Reid, Tony showed that the skills he’s been honing on his PS3 transferred to the track well.   

In less than three weeks, Autridge will travel to the GT Academy at Silverstone, UK to undergo a 5-day rigorous training program against 19 international competitors for the chance to win the competition’s ultimate prize – the chance to become a real world, professional race car driver.

During the racing ‘boot-camp’, participants will have the chance to develop new driving skills through a series of online and off-line challenges that will include handling of Nissan cars and will also be judged on physical fitness and mental attitude.

“It was really tough. And you needed a bit of luck too,” says Autridge of the NZ finals. “I’m very excited to be going. But it still hasn’t sunk in yet.”