GT Academy – Gaëtan Paletou new winner

From his sofa to the tub. This is a bit of the story that Frenchman Gaëtan Paletou, 22 years old, new winner of the GT Academy, is experiencing. This operation, established by Sony / Playstation in collaboration with Nissan since 2008, allows players of the famous racing simulation Gran Turismo (now on PS3) to compete online before taking real tests on the circuit and start a real professional program under the leadership of the Japanese manufacturer. We can cite in particular the examples of the Spaniard Lucas Ordóñez or the Briton Jann Mardenborough (see our interview in AH n°1971), who today have great careers in Endurance and in Japan in GT for the first city, and in GP3 for Mardenborough.

After Jordan Tresson, the first French winner of the competition in 2010, the 2014 edition finally saw for the second time a Tricolore win at the end of an eventful final day, as evidenced by the collision in the first corner of the final with two cars out. If the final result does not depend solely on the last round, the victory won by Gaëtan Paletou undoubtedly weighed heavily in his success. After hours of online play (the qualifications took place from April 21 to June 16), the French final (six French representatives were in the final), hours of preparation now await the winner, who will participate in an intensive driving program with Nissan before taking part in various races around the world. And why not in a few years, see Gaëtan at the start of the 24 Hours of Le Mans ? That’s all the bad we wish him.