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Gran Turismo Gamer Takes Second In Class In World-Renowned Race

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

dotarray writes "If your parents tell you that playing video games will never get you anywhere, point them in the direction of Lucas Ordoñez. Three years ago, Lucas heard about a competition for racing game fans – the Nissan PlayStation GT Academy. Inspired, Lucas picked up a PlayStation 3 and a copy of Gran Turismo and practiced and practiced and practiced. This week, along with his teammates Franck Mailleux and Soheil Ayari, Lucas could not stop smiling as he stood on the Le Mans 24 Hours podium after taking second in class."

9 of 105 comments (clear)

  1. Re:I would be amazed . . . by MikeBabcock · · Score: 3, Informative

    Finishing a Le Mans is impressive enough.

    --
    - Michael T. Babcock (Yes, I blog)
  2. Re:I would be amazed . . . by chronosan · · Score: 5, Informative

    Yes, of 56 Teams, only 28 finished. The Signatech Nissan team came in 2nd of 11 in class, seems 9th overall.

  3. Re:Works for all games? by captainpanic · · Score: 3, Funny

    Worms Armageddon... I'm an expert at throwing sheep. It's only a matter of time until I need that in real life... I just know it.

  4. Re:Works for all games? by cpu6502 · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I wrecked my first model airplane.

    Then I bought a simulator and practiced for several days. I haven't wrecked a model airplane since. So YES simulators (videogames) can train you for the real thing, as any soldier can attest. It all started back when ATARI was asked by the army to adapt their "Battlezone" game to army tank training.

    --
    My AC stalker: " I personally agree with your posts most of the time, but that won't keep me from modding you troll"
  5. Re:I would be amazed . . . by MikeBabcock · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Unfortunately a lot of people will read this and not understand how grueling Le Mans is. Its a 24 hour endurance race. Its designed to be hard just to compete in, never mind winning.

    --
    - Michael T. Babcock (Yes, I blog)
  6. They missed the part about having rich parents. by KPexEA · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Be born rich, don't be poor. How do you make a small fortune in auto racing? Start with a large one.

    1. Re:They missed the part about having rich parents. by chemicaldave · · Score: 4, Insightful

      What does having rich parents have to do with being good at a video game, being invited to a racing academy on your performance in the game, and then being drafted by racing teams, and then actually performing well enough to compete in one of the three most prestigious racing events in the world? Since when does buying a TV and a playstation qualify as rich?

  7. Re:Er... by bhtooefr · · Score: 5, Informative

    Even finishing the 24 Hours of Le Mans is a huge achievement.

    (Completing any 24 hour sports car race is, for that matter, even if it's 3rd out of 5 in the class.)

    But, this was 2nd out of 11 in class, 8 classified as completing in class.

    And, it was 9th overall out of 56, with 28 classified as completing. All of the first seven places were taken by the faster LMP1 class (and all of the first five places were taken by the remaining diesel cars).

  8. Re:Works for all games? by tlhIngan · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Umm... actually some flight sims at one time DID qualify as flight hours for pilots...

    Still do actually. The FAA and many others allow use of approved flight training devices to replace some of the hours for flight training.

    Of these, X-Plane is about the only commercially available flight sim software that wasn't specifically made for training that's been approved for use with training. Earlier it required a special build of it, but I think the later ones are the same now - you need a special USB unlock key that puts it into "approved' mode though.