Nissan GT Sport Motul Team RJN racer Lucas Ordóñez has celebrated the 10th anniversary of when his life transformed from a student who played Gran Turismo on his Sony PlayStation to become Nissan's first "gamer-to-racer."
Ordóñez was the inaugural winner of the Nissan PlayStation GT Academy competition. His initial prize was a drive at the Dubai 24-hour aboard a Nissan 370Z.
A race in the European GT4 Cup campaign followed where the Spaniard scored a podium on debut, took two victories during the year, and finished the season as runner-up in the championship.
Go behind the racing with the Nissan GT SPORT MOTUL Team RJN as it competes in the Blancpain Endurance Series. As the team takes on the 3-hour Silverstone race, GT Academy winner Lucas Ordóñez reflects on his 10 years since going from gamer to racer.
His career at Nissan has gone from strength to strength and included podium performances at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, a Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup Pro-Am Championship and a stint in Japan racing in both GT300 and GT500 in Super GT.
Ordóñez has impressed again this season in the Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup alongside Alex Buncombe and Matt Parry at GT Sport Motul Team RJN aboard the 2018-spec Nissan GT-R NISMO GT3.
"There aren't enough words to describe how thankful I am to Nissan / NISMO and Gran Turismo PlayStation for the support over the last 10 years," said Ordóñez. "Without them, I would not be where I am now. I wouldn't even be living my dream of working as a racing driver."
Ordóñez will next be on track at the final round of the 2018 Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup on home soil at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya from September 28-30.
The weekend will coincide with the Nissan GT Sport Cup Finale. Gran Turismo GT Sport gamers will gather in Barcelona for the chance to win the trip of a lifetime to Japan to see the 2018 NISMO Festival and visit the home of Polyphony Digital, the creators of Gran Turismo.
Related Story:
Nissan GT Sport Cup on NISMO.com
10 years with Nissan – by Lucas Ordóñez
Thank you @Kaz_Yamauchi !! For many more years racing on @thegranturismo and Real! pic.twitter.com/TsCi4QYQkc
— Lucas Ordonez (@Lucas_Ordonez) September 1, 2018
🎬 Look back at how it all began for @Lucas_Ordonez - our first @GTAcademy winner. Check out "Professional" our latest episode of #GTSport episode at: https://t.co/bYRut82tDe #NISMOnation #NissanGTSportCup pic.twitter.com/aDufjVDsxW
— Nissan NISMO (@NISMO) September 1, 2018
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NISMO Calendar
September 8-9
IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, Weathtech Raceway Laguna Seca, Monterey, CA, USA
September 15-16
Super GT, Sportsland Sugo, Japan
Virgin Australia Supercars Championship, Sandown International Raceway, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Contact
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Phone: +33 7 7614 7286
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Paul Ryan
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paul@nismosupport.com
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