Sixteen “Wildcards” Join Portugal’s GT Academy 2012 Finals

GT Academy July 19th, 2012 by Jordan

If you thought the 33rd “Racer X” wildcard position brought a dramatic twist to the U.S. GT Academy finals in San Diego last weekend, you’ll be very surprised to find out what the competitors in Portugal had to contend with!

For the Portuguese national finals, there were not one but 16 wildcard positions up for grabs at a live, public time trial event. All of those players joined the other top 16 finalists from the country who had set their fastest laps in the GT Academy 2012 mini-game, any of whom could be eliminated in the first round of the two-day competition.

On the second day, the final 16 competitors faced another round of virtual and real driving challenges, including physical fitness tests similar to those seen in other European finals. At the end, three competitors survived to represent their country in the European GT Academy Boot Camp at Silverstone next month:

  1. Raul Pereira
  2. Diogo Sousa
  3. Hugo Araújo

Our friends at GTOnlineRacing, a Portuguese Gran Turismo fan site, have done an excellent job documenting the wildcard competition, day one, and day two of the competition on their blog. Congratulations, gentlemen!

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15 Comments

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  1. July 27th, 2012 at 11:53 am - #
    staticguy

    Boa sorte p Silverstone ;)

  2. July 21st, 2012 at 7:29 am - #
    DR HASH

    Hey diogo I wish you all good, on your way to the top , do it like T.A.M
    nice greetings doc

  3. July 20th, 2012 at 3:16 pm - #
    Zuel

    16 WILD CARDS DIVERS……… WOW!!!
    Good luck to the top at Silver Stone.
    16 I still can’t beleave it.

  4. July 20th, 2012 at 10:16 am - #
    CJSpencer77

    T.A.M Leagues own Sousa on the 2nd spot, good luck buddy, following you all the way :)

  5. July 20th, 2012 at 8:09 am - #
    Hexalon9

    Carrega Portugal !!!

  6. July 20th, 2012 at 7:35 am - #
    Xtriko

    Great luck to you all! ÀS ARMAS!!! :D

  7. July 20th, 2012 at 7:31 am - #
    TOM CAT

    Just enjoy those moments at Silverstone, we will be supporting you guys, good luck Raul, Sousa and Hugo!!!!
    SEE ONE OF YOU AT DUBAI!!!!!

  8. July 20th, 2012 at 4:27 am - #
    ACL_13

    Go Portugal!
    We will have a winner!

  9. July 19th, 2012 at 9:23 pm - #
    ColiMatrix

    It was a great couple of days. Good luck to you guys.
    We have updated the section of vids.
    http://gtonlineracing.wordpress.com/gt-life-2/gt-academy-2012-forum/videos-gt-academy-2012/

  10. July 19th, 2012 at 6:02 pm - #
    taboaamassa

    It was definitely an epic event… The 1st online didn’t make it to top12, and the 2nd and 3rd overall arrived from Wild Card Event…

    I was 3rd overall and 20th online, and Diogo was second overall and 24th online !

    Come on Silverstone !!!!

  11. July 19th, 2012 at 5:31 pm - #
    pipi_r6

    Congrats to the winners racing4jsus, dsouza, and taboaamassa, good luck for Silverstone Guys!!!

  12. July 19th, 2012 at 5:23 pm - #
    Goruk

    Just to you guys have a idea how it was: first on the online time trial did’t make it to the top 12, two of the winners came from the wildcard event… Congratulations to the winners racing4jsus, dsouza, and taboaamassa…well done guys…

  13. July 19th, 2012 at 5:11 pm - #
    shawtyoner

    Viva Portugal!

  14. July 19th, 2012 at 4:11 pm - #
    drummermaniac

    Good luck to Raul , Diogo and Hugo , have fun at Silverstone guys !

    • July 20th, 2012 at 5:55 am - #
      OAB4nd1t

      Good job Diogo, we taught you well at the tam league.