Lucas Ordoñez to Compete in 2012 Nürburgring 24 Hours

GT Academy Motorsport April 4th, 2012 by Famine

Announced this morning via Twitter, Lucas Ordoñez will shortly find himself driving a Nissan GT-R at the punishing Nürburgring 24 Hour race.

The 2008 GT Academy winner has been paired with Gran Turismo series creator and Polyphony Digital head Kazunori Yamauchi for potentially over 2,000 miles of all-condition racing on one of the toughest tracks in the world. The event marks Yamauchi’s third successive N24 race (with one class victory) while Ordoñez himself will be entering his fifth 24 hour race since his Academy win – with 2 class podium finishes in his four races so far.

The race weekend starts on May 15th with compulsory training while the race itself will start at 14.00GMT/UTC on May 19th.

GT5 Photomode image courtesy of Adrianf1.

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71 Comments

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  1. April 10th, 2012 at 4:41 am - #
    kotsiosx2010

    Good luck to everyone out there. Good luck to Lucas too!!!:)

  2. April 8th, 2012 at 2:24 pm - #
    m8h3r

    Well done on making it as far as being able to compete in the Nurburgring 24h. Hope the race goes smooth for him.

  3. April 4th, 2012 at 11:21 pm - #
    Jdm-Integra-R

    Best of luck to our fellow GT representatives!

  4. April 4th, 2012 at 6:02 pm - #
    mazdaman83

    Great news !!
    I wish them bothe the best of luck !!! :-)

    • April 4th, 2012 at 6:03 pm - #
      mazdaman83

      Both !!!

    • April 4th, 2012 at 11:57 pm - #
      VspecZR1GT2RS89

      Yes, both!! Good luck out there on the ‘Ring. :)

  5. April 4th, 2012 at 5:56 pm - #
    Rich S

    The hardest sports car race to compete in is Le Mans. :)

    But really the Dakar Rally blows both away for all out endurance….

    • April 5th, 2012 at 11:07 am - #
      Vortex1be

      I’m pretty sure the Nurburgring is much harder than Le Mans. Nurburgring at night is pitch black. They only see where there headlights shine. And the Nurburgring is bumpy and twisty all the way. One mistake usually ends in the barrier ending the race. Dakar, is just a totally different ballgame…

    • April 6th, 2012 at 4:34 am - #
      PIGBOY

      yeh yeh

  6. April 4th, 2012 at 5:51 pm - #
    kekke2000

    Soon there will be a GT Academy Team and they will rule the racing world! :D

    • April 4th, 2012 at 5:57 pm - #
      TokoTurismo

      They should rule the racing world. Just imagine how populer they’ll be, and be sponsored by everyone and everything. Gran Turismo for life. Do they by any chance do rally as well?

    • April 4th, 2012 at 7:14 pm - #
      R1600Turbo

      There’s a GT Academy Europe finalist that races in rally right now. Check my GT Academy thread in the Motorsport section.

    • April 4th, 2012 at 7:41 pm - #
      TokoTurismo

      Yes. :) Thank you R1600Turbo. Will check at some point. ;)

  7. April 4th, 2012 at 5:40 pm - #
    SuBMWaru

    That’s pretty cool, gotta say!! Haha. Good luck!

  8. April 4th, 2012 at 5:00 pm - #
    Doober

    this is really cool. i love how the developer is a race car driver too. he knows exactly what it is like and can do his best to portray that in his game.

    • April 4th, 2012 at 6:49 pm - #
      HKS racer

      The GT5 24h of Nurburgring feature… well, ehm, PROTOTYPES. There’s even a meme about this.

  9. April 4th, 2012 at 4:13 pm - #
    MustangCobra95

    Lucas and Kaz teaming up for the hardest endurance in the world?! That’s a dream-made match! I wish you both the best of luck!

  10. April 4th, 2012 at 4:02 pm - #
    chrishan

    Nice! Gonna be there again! :)

    • April 5th, 2012 at 3:43 am - #
      MarcoM

      me too! for the first time

  11. April 4th, 2012 at 3:26 pm - #
    tpark103

    That’s what’s up!!!!

    • April 4th, 2012 at 6:32 pm - #
      Froudeybrand

      Ok r-truth lol

  12. April 4th, 2012 at 2:43 pm - #
    another_jakhole

    I kind of expected it to happen, but this is a good surprise.

  13. April 4th, 2012 at 2:43 pm - #
    another_jakhole

    OMG! That’s Bootifull!

  14. April 4th, 2012 at 2:31 pm - #
    HuskyGT

    Not to sound rude or anything, but although I’m glad for these guys being able to race in real life and I wish them the best, I’m just being honest to say I don’t really care too much about this GT Academy thing.

    All I want is to do business with PD and buy some of their wonderful DLC content. A couple of days ago I bought Route X and the speed test even if I really didn’t want to from the begining. But even if Route X never was in my plans, I still bought it to show I’m faithful with the franchise.

    This silence wouldn’t be a problem if we were in the third or fourth year of the game’s life cycle. We are in the middle of the second year and most of what was expected has still yet to come. If this sudden silence is because they are giving their full attention to GT6′s development now, then it would be good that they told us. If that was the reason, then I would give PD all my support to stop working on GT5 and focus all of their creativity on GT6.

    So far I’m having a balst testing my cars in the Speed Test, but I’m not sure how long the fun is going to last.

    • April 4th, 2012 at 2:47 pm - #
      TokoTurismo

      I too will love PD to work on GT6 and do their very best with that one instead GT5. I wish for the GT Academy people the bestest luck yet as. But to be honest, I don’t care much about it either. What about the game, and the fans of the game? I ask this many times to myself everyday, and still haven’t gotten answer. Why must PD AND Kaz be quite for so long, say something damnit. Not trying to sound rude or anything but really, if they rather work on GT6, JUST SAY IT. I’m tired of guessing everyday of what they’re doing nowadays…

      And I really hope they’re using OUR FEEDBACK to improve in GT6 instead. And please, stop trying to be perfect, be yourself and do the best you can to make GT6 the bestest racing game alive. Show it at E3 this year. I hope…

    • April 4th, 2012 at 11:37 pm - #
      pantellica

      I agree to huskyGt and tokoturismo..maybe kaz didn’t visit this forum? I read a lot of same concern and complains in this forums but still we don”t get what we want..more real tracks and more real cars..and more modifications in gt auto options. If PD started to concentrate on gt6 they should atleast be good that they told us..or maybe because of business matter..that is why they are so silent.

  15. April 4th, 2012 at 1:24 pm - #
    BJ96

    we’ve got drift, the 2nd biggest thing is obviously drag racing, so forget about nascar and bring a bloody drag strip out! pre stage, stage and all 4 lights please!

    • April 4th, 2012 at 2:16 pm - #
      TomBrady

      Screw drag strips. You draggers got the damn route X, that’s enough.

      I don’t even do NASCAR but that needs more tracks more than we need a drag strip. A drag strip is just a straight piece of road, there’s plenty of those in GT5. We only got 2 ovals in this game. What they should do is add an oval creator, or at least another ovals. I can only imagine how boring it must get for NASCAR fans.

      Before all that we need REAL life tracks and maybe a few GT classics like Costa Di Amalfi and El Capitan. We definitely need some tarmac rally stages like costa, and citta di aria, then we need more dirt courses, THEN a drag strip would be in order. Drag racing isn’t nearly popular enough to warrant a strip yet. There may be a lot of draggers online but that’s because online is the only place you can drag race (besides split screen). The percentage of drag racers in the GT community is much lower than you think dude

    • April 4th, 2012 at 5:46 pm - #
      SuBMWaru

      Huh? There’s a massive drag community. Although it’s not my greatest interest, drag racing is still something and many others love to do online. And a dedicated drag strip would be fantastic. But, you’re both forgetting what we really need. More cars. All premium.

    • April 4th, 2012 at 8:50 pm - #
      MyFavoriteGame

      @Tombrady _ Omg dude you are the worst kind of troll. I just read your reply to comment about how i defended the “rampant whiney crying ” people on this site (completely misread what I said BTW) so its ok for you to have requests but no one else? Your lack of integrity is astounding. All i see you doing is disagreeing with everyone’s post and condescending to everyone who has a request for something you don’t care for.

    • April 4th, 2012 at 10:45 pm - #
      TomBrady

      @MyFavoriteGame dude it’s one thing to disagree with something. That is what I’ve done, so what. The drag community seems larger than it is because most draggers are only able to drag ONLINE. Think about it, unless you’re doing split screen, how can you drag race someone? you cant drag race that Ai, or at least you wouldn’t do that. So what I’m saying is because of that fact, the drag community isn’t as big as you might assume from scanning through the lobbies online everyday. How can you say I’m wrong in that?

      What you do is completely different. You attack GT5 with wild and ridiculously nit picky complaints, and you completely ignore what the game does so well. There’s so many positives to choose from I can’t understand how people like you can focus only on negatives, and even worse are the people that say this isn’t the best GT, or that it was a disappointment. I’ve heard you say that over and over again and it’s ridiculous. If it’s so disappointing, then move on. That’s just insane, they improved on every important aspect of it, and added key features as well as little additions that go a long way in making MOST people who play it happy with it. I don’t even play it that often, and there’s a lot of things I would change about it, doesn’t mean I go telling everyone, and occassionally go overboard with ridiculous criticisms like you do.

      Seriously man, you’re on a website called GTPlanet. This site is dedicated TO Gran Turismo, not against it. So if you don’t expect that most people are gonna get sick of people badmouthing the game as much as you do, then find another forum. You don’t make legitimate complaints, and nobody wants to hear them.

      Most people love GT5, it’s the most popular racing game in the world right now, but I guess you think MOST people are wrong and you’re right? And you say I don’t have integrity

    • April 4th, 2012 at 11:33 pm - #
      HarVee

      I find racing in a straight line to be more boring that racing on an oval.

    • April 5th, 2012 at 12:25 am - #
      MyFavoriteGame

      Not because I don’t kiss Kay’s ass like some of the people in this forum doesnt mean that I don’t like GT5, plus what you’re saying is completely unjustified, anyone who knows me on this site knows that I’m an apologetic , just no to the extent of fanboism. I’ve playing GT since GT2 on my psx, and I do understand where you’re coming from when u talk about the good the game does, but being better than GT4 is not enough, especially if you consider the gap. PD didn’t keep up with the times as far as features and race modes and over extended themselves in the graphics department…..and that’s a fact.

      Like many pple I bought my ps3 for GT5 and that’s what its mostly used for….on a typical week I game for about 5 hrs or so, and 4 of those are usually GT5. So I obviously enjoy the game. Just because this is a gran turismo forum does not mean a person here cannot voice displeasure or dissatisfaction with the game, constructive criticism is not the same as tolling , blind praise does not necessarily translate into support,….sometimes its harmful actually.

      There’s no offense in what you’re accusing me of, bit what I’m accusing of is your blatant disrespect for the opinions of others,

  16. April 4th, 2012 at 1:02 pm - #
    Mac K

    Wow its a GT dream team! Best of luck to the both of them! Any word on who else will be in the car with them?

  17. April 4th, 2012 at 12:43 pm - #
    Quakebass

    There’s too many comments asking about and for DLC here; PLEASE, comment about it in the “April Maintenance” news story, stop spamming it here in the GT Academy news…

    • April 4th, 2012 at 2:09 pm - #
      TomBrady

      It’s gonna be like that for a while man. Everyone’s expecting it, can’t blame them for talking about it as long as they don’t go overboard

    • April 4th, 2012 at 10:59 pm - #
      Quakebass

      They almost ARE going overboard… some people are saying that they’re leaving the GT franchise behind JUST because Forza 4 is receiving the 2013 Dodge Viper as DLC… (for May, I believe) It’s really sad, to be honest. I think the Forums needs a whole section for DLC and Update speculation.

    • April 5th, 2012 at 12:44 am - #
      MyFavoriteGame

      People who say they’re gonna “leave GT5 for Forza” are retarded, and I’ve said this many times before. To do that, a person most like has to already own both consoles for one, secondly trading in GT5 to Gamestop is gonna get you about $11(max), to Amazon $15(max)…..which is quite a waste actually. I think people just say that because they’re upset and think they’re hurting PD by doing so.

      I was in college and played GT prologue , GT4 , Forza 2 and Forza 3 all at once (they all kinda over lapped). Forza is a fun game, but the people who have actually played it know its no substitute for GT5, tho it has its strong points. and I agree Quakebass, people need to relax a little bit.

      Oh and Congrats to Lucas BTW! :)

    • April 5th, 2012 at 6:38 am - #
      TokoTurismo

      Who cares if “FORZA” is getting the new Viper, even though I love it myself but come on Big deal. I can’t believe people are saying they’re leaving GT5 just for one car, ONE CAR. Pff. I’m glad I own both consoles and both games. Why is it so hard to own beats me. >_>

    • April 5th, 2012 at 6:39 am - #
      TokoTurismo

      Own both….

    • April 5th, 2012 at 9:59 pm - #
      Quakebass

      @Toko: The main issue at owning both games is the cost; If I get a 360, I’ll be getting a used one off Ebay, most likely (hopefully $200 or less), and then I’d have to purchase Forza 4, ($20-30) and then Xbox Live… ($50) I need $280 to do that, and I can spend my money on better things; camera equipment, slot cars and slot car accessories… the list can go on. The most likely thing I’ll be spending money on in terms of gamin in the upcoming months an years are Car pack 3, (I haven’t had time to get a PSN card…) Dirt Showdown, Borderlands 2, and then either an Xbox 360 or PSOrbis (depending on release; Sony want to get the PSOrbis out around holiday 2013). It’s all about the money…

  18. April 4th, 2012 at 12:29 pm - #
    AnPrionsaBeag

    Excellent news for Lucas!

    • April 4th, 2012 at 12:38 pm - #
      TokoTurismo

      I agree. It’s great news for Lucas indeed. And we just go and sit on GTP waiting for our news to come. :) —– :’( —– X’( Which haven’t happened yet……..

    • April 4th, 2012 at 1:07 pm - #
      TokoTurismo

      ^ But who cares about that, best of luck. :D

  19. April 4th, 2012 at 11:30 am - #
    Lambob

    In all honesty, as much as I love the Nurburgring, and I could drive it straight for 4 hours easy, during the day, but even attempting to drive it at night, with all the adversaries around me, I have no idea how their mental strength is at the moment, but driving this at night over 12? dark hours, I don’t know, it’s high risk… isn’t it?

    • April 4th, 2012 at 2:08 pm - #
      TomBrady

      yea it is but they train like crazy for it. I always wonder if any drivers have fallen asleep at the wheel or if the intensity keeps them awake. Taking naps is not exactly the best thing for your body but what else can they do.

  20. April 4th, 2012 at 11:23 am - #
    danger23

    AND MAYBE SUM MORE CADDIES THEY HAVE SUM CARS TOO