19 year old Wellington student Tony Autridge has been eliminated along with nine others from the Gran Turismo Academy in Silverstone, UK.
The once in a lifetime opportunity uses Gran Turismo as a scouting platform to find real-world race drivers. Tony won the New Zealand tournament. Along with another 18 drivers from around the world Tony underwent a boot-camp style programme that involved real and simulated driving training. While there, he worked with former F1 boss Eddie Jordan, two-time Nürburgring 24-Hour winner Sabine Schmitz and Formula One and Le Mans 24 Hour winner Johnny Herbert.
“With over 1.1 million people having tried out for the GT Academy globally, Tony has achieved something that only a handful can lay claim to. This is an outstanding achievement for New Zealand’s first representative at the GT Academy, and we once again congratulate Tony on representing New Zealand from the living room to the racing track,” says David Hine of Sony Computer Entertainment New Zealand.
“Who would have thought that playing a PS3 and entering the GT Academy competition would lead me all the way to Silverstone? I have learnt invaluable skills - it was like starting at the very highest level of motorsport, constantly learning about driving techniques on and off the track," says Tony.
“I know quite a lot of people would have given anything to be in my shoes - I got to train with the best the world has to offer, I learnt a lot and I got to drive some pretty amazing cars – it’s been a bit like a dream really,” he finished.
Well done, Tony.
