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Gran Turismo Gamer Becomes Pro Race Driver

Posted by samzenpus on from the practice-makes-profession dept.

An anonymous reader writes "Back in 2008, Lucas Ordonez lived what seemed like an ordinary existence. The 22-year-old Spanish student was an avid motorsports fan, but he lacked the suitable investment necessary to become a professional race driver and had virtually given up on racing. Besides, he was already knee-deep in trying to complete a Master of Business Administration (MBA). But it was Ordonez' passion for virtual racing, particularly his love of Gran Turismo, that made him stand out from his peers — both off the track and eventually on it. In just a few months, Ordonez' life was transformed from console dreamer to racing the real thing at a real race track in Europe. And Ordonez managed to do the unthinkable: go from the couch car to the race car, and win."

11 of 249 comments (clear)

  1. Oh God by pwnies · · Score: 5, Funny

    Just what we need - more people thinking that since they can play games they can do it in real life. Hide all the Guitar Hero/Rock Band addicts.

    1. Re:Oh God by EkriirkE · · Score: 5, Funny

      Don't worry Sir, I'm from the internet!

      --
      from 09 F9 11 02 9D 74 E3 5B D8 41 56 C5 63 56 88 C0
      to 45 2F 6E 40 3C DF 10 71 4E 41 DF AA 25 7D 31 3F
    2. Re:Oh God by interkin3tic · · Score: 4, Funny

      Just what we need - more people thinking that since they can play games they can do it in real life. Hide all the Guitar Hero/Rock Band addicts.

      And keep all the "Phoenix Wright" players off of slashdot.

      "I am not a lawyer, but I've played one on the DS!"

    3. Re:Oh God by megamerican · · Score: 4, Funny

      Just what we need - more people thinking that since they can play games they can do it in real life. Hide all the Guitar Hero/Rock Band addicts.

      Bill Belichick got his job with the Patriots after showing off his skills at bribing the ref in Mutant League Football.

      Now if only it was legal to kill the quarterback and farting was a 5 yard penalty, then I might watch a game again.

      --
      If you have something that you dont want anyone to know, maybe you shouldnt be doing it in the first place -Eric Schmidt
    4. Re:Oh God by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      OBJECTION!

  2. First... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    ...Place!

    Congrats to the kid. The best I ever did was become a plumber.

    1. Re:First... by Daimanta · · Score: 5, Funny

      "The best I ever did was become a plumber."

      Suck to be told that the princess is another castle everyday I presume?

      --
      Knowledge is power. Knowledge shared is power lost.
  3. Re:It's different by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    I think about 98% of gamers just had their hopes dashed when they read "fitness" as a requirement.

  4. Re:my son did this... by hansamurai · · Score: 4, Funny

    As he tells it, he was in there a long time -- much longer than the recruits ahead of him had been. When he came out, the room was full of people, including officers, who were all staring at him.
    He asked, "What's everybody looking at?
    Someone replied, "The Buggers, son... you just wiped out the Buggers."

    --
    Reviewing just the first hour of video games.
  5. Re:my son did this... by elrous0 · · Score: 4, Funny

    That's very similar to the story of how I was chosen to become a futuristic super-soldier fighting off an alien invasion.

    --
    SJW: Someone who has run out of real oppression, and has to fake it.
  6. Re:my son did this... by rally2xs · · Score: 3, Funny

    >For his expertise, he was rewarded with an all-expense-paid trip to Baghdad in 2003...

    And in his tank, it goes something like this:

    "Yea tho I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I shall fear no evil...
    for I am the biggest, badest, mother******er in the valley..."