While everyone loves free samples, the fact that 1 million people from all over the world downloaded the demo version of the forthcoming Gran Turismo 6 game during the past two weeks is an impressive feat.

In addition to that number, Nissan said that the some 600,000 entrants from the 18 participating European countries (including Russia) have entered the online qualifying rounds for Nissan and PlayStation’s GT Academy gamer-to-racer competition in the past two weeks, which will remain open until the night of July 28.

Up until now, Spain is proving to be the birth ground of the fastest drivers as 41 of the first 250 entries with the best times are from the Mediterranean country. However, after two weeks, the first place with the best overall lap time is held by a French player (PSN ID: Ti-tech85) who recorded a 2:16.516 run on the Silverstone Grand Prix circuit in a tuned Nissan 370Z.

“The lap in the virtual car was a realistic 14 seconds slower than the 2012 GT Academy champions recorded at Silverstone while racing the real Nissan GT-R NISMO GT3 race car in the Blancpain Endurance race there earlier this year,” said Nissan in a statement.

The fastest gamers of the competition will be invited to National Final events where they will race on the game as well as in real Nissan NISMO car, with the big winner to potentially join the band of Nissan’s NISMO Athletes.

If Nissan and Playstation’s GT Academy sounds interesting, then you may want to listen to what the competition’s inaugural winner Lucas Ordonez has to same about the game ahead of his test drive this weekend at the Suzuka Circuit for the Super GT 300 in the video below.

 

Lucas Ordonez, Nismo Race Driver:

So here we are in Suzuka racetrack. It’s really good for me to be practicing on the Gran Turismo [simulator] right now, because I’m going to be testing this weekend in the Super GT 300 GT-R Nismo GT3.

TIP #1: TAKE STEERING WHEEL IN THE RIGHT POSITION

The first advice that I can give to the competitors or to every fan who wants to be a racing driver – take the steering wheel as I am doing now. Don’t be moving around and don’t take the steering wheel from different places.

You have to keep your hands on the steering wheel, and be really smooth with the steering wheel, and with the throttle and brake pedals. It’s very important.

I know it’s very difficult because we don’t have the g-force like in real life, but if you focus on the gaming, you can feel with the steering wheel input that you feel the tires, and if the car is under-steering or over-steering into the corner.

TIP #2: LOOK AS FAR AS POSSIBLE

Look ahead as far as you can. You have to really look further to see what’s coming and to be really accurate in your driving.

TIP #3: USE ALL TRACK AVAILABLE

Like in real racing, use all the track. That’s the fastest way to go.
For example, here on the hairpin, I keep on the inside, and then full throttle, using all the exit of the track.

The less turning angle you put in the steering wheel, the faster you will be.

TIP #4: FIND THE LIMIT ON CORNERS OF THE TRACK

For example, here we are approaching the most famous corner in the Suzuka racetrack, the 130R, which will be nearly flat in the GT500, but now I’ve got hard compound tires so it’s very tricky.

And here in the chicane over the curbs, doing the least meters as possible in the track.

And here coming into the last chicane, using all the curves and flat out again into the start and finish straight line.

PHOTO GALLERY