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…Who knows, we just might become its first Filipino race car driver!

I only started learning how to drive a few weeks ago, so I’m very fascinated with everything to do with driving. So when Nissan Philippines invited me to the Nissan GT Academy Media Cup last Friday, May 29, in Valkyrie, I was totally up for it. What I didn’t expect—but should have—was that members of the media would be asked to participate in our own Gran Turismo race on PlayStation pods they set up on the dance floor of Manila’s hottest nightclub. Haha, uh, no. Even if it’s just virtual race car driving, I still didn’t want to go up against the mostly male members of the motoring media, haha! (I know, I’m chicken.)

Nissan GT Academy Pods

But looking back, I should have, because not only were awesome prizes up for grabs, Nissan Philippines, Inc. President and Managing Director Antonio Zara also said during his opening remarks that the best players that night should come to the actual Nissan GT Academy Live Events in various cities around the Philippines for a chance to be among the players who will compete in the National Finals this July to become the first-ever Filipino race car driver who’ll take it to a podium finish at Silverstone, UK.

Nissan GT Academy Live Event

“Ever since we launched the program last March 25, we at Nissan are overwhelmed to see how the Filipino GT players rose to our call and answered the challenge of making good time on the virtual track in their quest to become real race car drivers,” Antonio said. “This can be seen in the number of players who’ve signed up in all of our Live Events, with nearly 20,000 trials made in the 13 Live Events we’ve held to date,” he added.

GT Academy Live Event Results as of May 24, 2015

As of this writing, there have been 20 excellent players who have led the charge in the leaderboards. However, they are advised not to rest on their laurels, as Nissan holds the succeeding Live Events scheduled in June, including a provincial run, as it expands its search for potential talents in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. Here’s the the schedule of the Live Events this month:

• SM BF Paranaque and Robinsons Bacolod – June 5-7
• Centrio Mall, CDO – June 5-6
• SM Cebu – June 11-17
• SM Masinag – June 12-14
• SM Sta. Rosa – June 18-24
• SM Manila – June 19-21
• Glorietta 2 Activity Center – June 26-28
• High Street, BGC – June 27

Antonio also confirmed Marlon Stockinger, a hot young Filipino race car driver who has raced for Status Grand Prix, as the mentor and guest-judge of the Filipino finalists. Marlon wasn’t at the event (sad), but they did play a video message he has for the media and the participants.

Marlon Stockinger delivers his message on video at the Nissan GT Academy media event in Valkyrie. (Photo from my Instagram)

The top finalists are expected to hurdle a series of challenges that will test their driving skills, mental and physical agility, as well as tactical ability to qualify for the Race Camp Week in Silverstone this August.

For more details on the Nissan GT Academy, go to Nissan’s Facebook page.

Photos courtesy of Nissan

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