Monday, April 18, 2016

NISSAN PHILIPPINES SET TO PARTICIPATE IN NEW SEASON OF NISSAN GT ACADEMY

What would you do to accomplish your dream? From virtual to reality. Real racing ground. I had always been fascinated with Car Shows and Car Racing (That's why I can watch all the movies of Fast and Furios over and over again).

For the first time since GT Academy’s inception in 2008, Asia held their very own GT Academy with hundreds of thousands of gamers vying to be crowned the overall winner and secure a professional race contract with Nissan Motorsport. For Japan, Philippines and Indonesia this was the first year that a GT Academy competition had been run in their territory, with both Thailand and India debuting as part of GT Academy International in 2014.

Budding racing drivers could qualify for Race Camp through two routes, either via an online Gran Turismo competition or through live events, with one hundred contestants winning a place at National Finals. National Finals were hosted in Chennai (India), Tokyo (Japan), Bangkok (Thailand), Manilla (Philippines) and Sentul near Bogor (Indonesia).

Only six lucky contestants from each territory would progress from the National Finals to make the long flight to the Silverstone Circuit in the UK. Once there, the competitors would be introduced to their respective country mentors to help guide them through the challenging six-day event. The mentors came from a variety of motorsport backgrounds and included Karun Chandhok (India), Hamish Daud Wyllie (Indonesia), Katsumasa Chiyo (Japan), Marlon Stockinger (Philippines) and Sandy Stuvik (Thailand).
Nissan Philippines Inc. (NPI) confirmed it's participation in the upcoming Nissan GT Academy 2016, which will be launched later this year. This was announced during an exclusive screening of the Nissan GT Academy reality show, produced by NPI's broadcast partner ABS-CBN, last April 11, 2016 at the Bonifacio High Street Cinema.

A virtual-to-reality racing competition, the Nissan GT Academy gives aspiring race cars drivers a chance to fullfill their dream of participating in a professional international race.
"The Nissan GT Academy is Nissan's way of democratizing motorsports, to make it more accessible to the general public." said SJ Huh, NPI General Manager for Marketing "By doing this, we help fast-track the dreams of more potential Filipino racers to reach the international racing arena."

First launched locally in March 2015, the Nissan GT Academy saw over 13,000 aspiring racers participate in over 20 live events held in key cities in the country within a four month period. Twenty players with the best race time in the game then advanced to compete in the National Finals, where they were subjected to physical, driving, media, and virtual challenges to determine the top six contenders.

From the 20 finalist, Luis Cachero, Rafael Lesaguis, Terence Lallava, Joward Policarpio, Joel Agojo, and Daryl Brady were selected to join the Race Camp at the Silverstone Racing Circuit in the United Kingdom in August 2015.
The entire event was overseen by long standing head judge, Rob Barff, who was immediately impressed by the fitness and preparation the GT Academy Asia competitors had gone to to prepare for Race Camp.

The challenges came thick and fast throughout their week at Race Camp with gamers being thrown into the action on their first day when they got behind the wheel of single seaters, Caterham racers, Nissan GT-Rs and JPLM cars at Bedford Autodrome. Throughout the week, various surprise challenges were given to the competitors, including the ‘GT Ninja’ assault course, an innovative army-style Gymkhana driving race, dune buggy racing, head-to-head timed shootouts on the Silverstone track and an incredibly eventful Nissan Micra stock car race which saw only two cars finish.
The Philippine Top 6 then underwent a 9-day competition against finalist from Japan, Thailand, India, and Indonesia to determine one winner.
"2015 was an excellent year for the first Nissan GT Academy in the Philippines, with Joward becoming the first Nissan GT Academy Asia Champion. Not only is he the first Nissan GT Academy Asia Champion, but he is the first Filipino to win the tittle." said Huh "We hope to continue this strong performance, as we look forward to launching the second Nissan GT Academy in the Philippines later this year."
The final event of Race Camp was determined by a thrilling ten-lap race around Silverstone’s International Circuit in Nissan 370Z NISMO race cars. Pole-sitter Andika Rama from Indonesia started the race well and led into the first corner, ahead of Jose Gerard Policarpio from the Philippines who had leapfrogged Takuya Takahashi from Japan. Policarpio quickly got on the tail of Rama and for the first four laps the pair crossed the line separated by under a second with Takahasi settled in third just under two seconds behind. However after patiently waiting for his opportunity, Policarpio then made his move on the fifth lap to incisively take the lead of the race. Unfortunately the fifth lap proved to be the end of Takahashi’s race as he limped into the pits with a mechanical problem. This left Policarpio and Rama to fight it out unchallenged at the front.

The drama was saved for the last lap when Policarpio exited Club corner extremely slowly. This allowed Rama to get in to his slipstream and after following him closely through Stowe he was poised to make a move into the final corner. Rama went for the inside line but some impressive defensive driving from Policarpio meant he held on and crossed the line just two-tenths clear of his rival.

After some deliberation from Rob Barff and the instructors, Jose Gerard Policarpio from the Philippines was crowned the first-ever Nissan PlayStation® GT Academy Asia champion.
Joward Policarpio with Mexican GT Academy 2014 winner Ricardo Sanchez. Photo by GT Academy
For more details and updates ont he upcoming new season of the Nissan GT Academy Philippines, please visit www.facebook.com/NissanPhilippinesInc.

About Nissan Philippines, Inc.
Nissan Philippines, Inc. (NPI) is the sole national company of Nissan in the Philippines. Since it began operations in 2014, NPI has become one of the fastest growing automotive companies in the Philippines, closing Fiscal Year 2015 with a 62% growth versus the previous Fiscal Year. NPI has also spearheaded the aggressive expansion of its dealership network, signing 11 new dealers in addition to the existing 28 Nissan dealerships which can be found in key cities nationwide.

NPI is committed to delivering Innocation that Excites to the Philippine market, through the introduction of new and exciting vehicles, innocative customer programs, and excellent customer service.

For more information on our products and services, visit our website at www.nissan.ph.

WHAT IS THE CONTEST?
Nissan GT Academy takes six(6) skilled Gran Turismo Players and gives them a chance to become professional racers in four stages.

First Gear: The Recruitment (April – June 2015)
Thousands of hopefuls will be narrowed down to the top 20 Players determined during all live events. Time trials will take place behind the wheel of Nissan gaming pods .

Second Gear: National Finals (July 10-11, 2015)
From the top 20 Players, the National Finals will trim down the competition to the top 6 Filipino Players based on their performance during challenges and tests. The top 6 Filipino Players who qualify for the next round will go bumper-to-bumper with the best Gran Turismo drivers in Asia during the Race Camp Week.

Third Gear: The Race Camp Week (August 21-30, 2015)
The Players will be tested on their strength, stamina, mental agility and driving skills against Asia's best at the Silverstone Racing Circuit in UK.

Fourth Gear: Driver Development Program
The emerging GT Academy Champion in Asia will join other GT Academy winners in a rigorous training under the wing of professional coaches and racers at the Silverstone Racing Circuit in UK.


HOW TO JOIN?
To join, Players must participate in the Live Events.
Various publicly accessible events will take place from April to June 2015 (the “Entry Period”), allowing members of the public to participate in live gaming competitions (each a “Live Event”) in order to qualify for the National Finals.

At each Live Event, Players will be invited to take part in a virtual race on Gran Turismo 6 (the “Game”) using Nissan gaming pods. Players will run five (5) laps or five minutes (whichever comes first) on the Silverstone Circuit (the “Track”) using a Nissan GT-R (the “Car”). Their fastest lap time will be recorded.

Players cannot change nor customize the Track and the Car, and all player settings will be set at default.

The twenty (20) Players who achieve the best performances during the Live Events (also “Qualifying Players”) will be invited to compete at the National Finals.

Nissan reserves the right to disqualify Players for unsportsmanlike conduct. Players who are caught cheating by any means, including cutting corners and exploiting glitches or any other unintended functionality in the Live Event, will be disqualified.

The decision of Nissan and/or that of the judge(s), as the case may be is/are final and no appeal thereof may be made.


WHO WILL BE QUALIFIED FOR THE NATIONAL FINALS?
GT Academy 2015 is open to residents of the Philippines who fulfill the entry criteria described below, except employees, agents, contractors or consultants of Nissan, their families, associated companies and anyone professionally connected with the competition.

In order to qualify, Players must:
be aged 18 years or over on the date of the National Finals. Participants of the Live Events below 18 years of age will not qualify for the National Finals. hold a valid Philippine passport and be capable of obtaining the appropriate visa to enter the country hosting the Race Camp Prize; (To be submitted 3 days before the National Finals) hold a valid Driver’s license with Restriction Codes either 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8, issued by the Land Transportation Office in the Philippines; (To be submitted 3 days before the National Finals) have not been convicted of any criminal offence or is the subject of or a part to a criminal, civil or administrative proceeding as a party litigant; be in good general health, physically and mentally. All Players will be required to complete a medical questionnaire and shall be required to sign a “Participation Agreement”, and return such signed Participation Agreement to Nissan Philippines, Inc. Nissan reserves the right to disqualify any Player who fails to comply with this requirement at any stage of the Competition, or who, Nissan reasonably considers (based on the contents of the medical questionnaire), has a physical or mental condition which would make them unsuitable to participate in any part of the GT Academy 2015 or Race Camp Prize or could prevent the Entrant from holding a competition license for motor sports not have an existing competition driving contract with any motor sports team, body, agent or management company that conflicts with his/her ability to accept the Race Camp Prize; not previously held a National A or superior MSA license or equivalent in another Federation Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) recognised National Sporting Authority (ASN) or internationally or locally recognised motorsport body; not have competed in any form of 4 wheeled motorsport at a national championship level for more than one full season (the Promoter reserves the right to judge what classifies as national level motorsport); and
not have previously or concurrently competed at the GT Academy Race Camp stage (or equivalent or similar stages) in any previous GT Academy competition or GT Academy competition held in different countries.

By entering the GT Academy2015 season, each Player promises he/she fulfills the above entry requirements. Nissan reserves the right to verify the eligibility of Players at any time during the Competition or the Race Camp, which shall include but is not limited to requesting copies of passports, Driver’s licenses, government issued IDs, competent proof of identity and proof of residence or nationality and by requesting that the Player undergo a medical examination.

Failure to comply or pass any verification procedure undertaken by Nissan will result in the immediate disqualification of the Player from the Competition and/or forfeiture of the Race Camp Prize. In the event of any dispute concerning the eligibility of the Player to participate in any stage of the Competition, Nissan decision shall be final and no appeal thereof may be made.

Players advancing to the National Finals and beyond may not be eligible to enter any future GT Academy competition.


WHEN IS THE ENTRY PERIOD?
Live events are scheduled to be held but not limited to the following dates:
April 10-11 2015 - 10AM-10PM, Glorietta 5 Activity Center
April 12, 2015 - 10AM-9PM, Glorietta 5 Activity Center
April17-18, 2015 - 10AM-10PM, Glorietta Activity Center
April 19,2015 - 10AM-9PM, Glorietta Activity Center
April23-26, 2015 – STV Test Drive Event, MOA Parking Grounds


THE PRIZE

THE NATIONAL FINALS

1.   All Qualifying Entrants Players will be contacted by Nissan Philippines, Inc. through the contact details submitted by the Entrant Player at the time of entry to a Live Event, as soon as practicable after the end of the Entry Period, and invited to take part in the National Finals.

2.   Each Qualifying Entrant Player will receive an SMS, call, email and registered mail and they must claim their place in the National Finals by SMS, call, email and registered mail within three (3) days from  receipt of  notification letter, or they will cease to be a Qualifying Entrant Player in concurrence with DTI.

3.    Each qualifying player must submit their passport and NBI clearance to Nissan three (3) days before the National Finals to ensure that all qualifying players will have the capacity to participate in the Race Camp Week. Failure to submit the aforementioned requirements will lead to the Player’s disqualification in concurrence with DTI.

4.   The substitute Entrant Player shall be chosen from those pool of Players who achieved the next best performance in the Live Events; and Nissan shall repeat this process until the number of Entrants required to participate in the National Finals is reached.

5.   National Finals will be an event that will take place in a location, date and time to be identified by Nissan and shared to the Qualifying Entrants / Players by email and registered mail at least five (5) days before the National Finals take place. It is intended that the National Finals will take place during June or July 30, 2015, at the Clark International Speedway or Subic Bay International Airport; Nissan will provide overnight accommodations for Qualifying Entrants Players if the National Finals takes place over more than one (1) day. Qualifying Entrants will otherwise shall be responsible for any expenses they incurred in attending the National Finals (such as, but not limited to e.g. travel and food expenses).

6.   Prior to the start of the National Finals, Qualifying Entrants / Players may be invited to provide videos that may be used in any GT Academy Program. Each Qualifying Entrant / Player grants to Nissan Philippines, Inc,. a worldwide non-exclusive, royalty-free license to use such videos, regardless of how they are provided, for promotional purposes and for all the purposes related to the GT Academy 2015 and/or the Gran Turismo series of games, in perpetuity, across all media including any online platforms under Nissan Philippines, Inc.’s control. Such videos must not contain any pornography, nudity, or sexually explicit imagery; abusive, offensive or hateful imagery or language; harassing or defamatory content; content that compromises the privacy or safety of yourself the Qualifying Player or others; content that demeans a particular gender, sexual orientation, disability, religion, ethnicity or nationality; violent or dangerous behavior; and/or spam, advertising or other commercial activities.

THE RACE CAMP WEEK

1.   GT Academy 2015 is being held simultaneously in the Philippines, Japan, Thailand, Indonesia and, India during the Entry Period (each called a “Territorial Competition”)

2.   The National Finals Winners from the aforementioned the Philippines countries will be notified by Nissan Philippines, Inc. via SMS, call, email  and a registered mail provided by them in the Participation Agreement, as soon as practicable after all competitions have taken place, and invited to take part in the Race Camp, a residential “GT Academy Race Camp” event (which may be up to 10 days in duration), together with winners from the Territorial Competitions, . The GT Academy Race Campwhich will take place at Silverstone England UK (or any other European venue, as Nissan may select at its sole discretion) at a date and time to be selected by the Nissan at its sole discretion.

3.   Philippine National Finals Winners will be informed of the date, time and venue of the Race Camp at least thirty (30) days before the Race Camp Prize takes place.

4.   Philippine National Finals Winners will receive an SMS, call, email, and registered mail confirming their eligibility to the Race Camp Week and must confirm their participation the Race Camp Week within four (4) days from the receipt of the notification letter.

5.   In the event that a Philippine National Finals Winner does not wish to continue participating in the Competition, or fails to claim their place and confirm their participation their in the Race Camp Prize within the relevant deadline,or is disqualified from the Competition in accordance with these Terms or for failure to comply with these Terms, Nissan Philippines, Inc., in concurrence with DTI may at its discretion, select a substitute Qualifying Entrant Player to become a Philippine National Finals Winner. Such substitute Qualifying Entrant Player should have participated in the Philippine National Finals and shall have achieved the next best overall performance in the challenges and assessments in the Philippine National Finals.

6.   The following shall be arranged for each Philippine National Finals Winner:
(a)         economy class flight from Manila to London and vice versa;
(b)         assistance and cost of getting the appropriate visa to United Kingdom
(c)         transfers to and from the Race Camp start and end locations to and from the relevant airport, train or coach station (as the case may be);
(d)         on site accommodation at the Race Camp; and
(e)         meals and refreshments during the Race Camp Event.

7.   Philippine National Final Winners are responsible for any expenses they incur in attending the Race Camp, which are not included and specified in Rule 6.  Securing travel documents and other related expenses shall be shouldered by the winner. (i.e. health insurance,terminal fees, transpo and etc)

8.   Philippine National Finals Winners shall be responsible for such costs for their transportation to and from their homes and the international airport in the Philippines.  Philippine National Finals Winners are strongly recommended to secure up-to-date health card and travel insurance at the Philippine National Final Winner’s own cost.

9.   During the Race Camp, Philippine National Finals Winners will be tested on their strength,stamina,mental agility and driving skills against Asia’s Best at the Silverstone Racing Circuit in United Kingdom.

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