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Nissan GT Academy Team Takes First at Dubai 24 Hours Race

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Dubai 24 Hours

NISMO’s four newest athletes—all gamers-turned-pros who achieved their dreams through the Nissan Playstation GT Academy 2013—joined inaugural GT Academy winner Lucas Ordonez at the podium at this past weekend’s Dubai 24 Hours.


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The Dubai 24 Hours raced marked the first appearances for GT Academy winners Miguel Faisca (Europe), Florian Strauss (Germany), Stansislav Aksenov (Russia), and Nick McMillen (US). Each has only had three months’ worth of preparation for their first race, which makes their victory all the more sweet.

“We came here to gain racing experience and our goal was to finish the race so it is amazing to win,” said European winner, Miguel Faisca, in Nissan’s press release. “We have all learnt a lot as it was a tough race with so many cars.  There wasn’t a single lap where you didn’t have to overtake or be overtaken. It was a great pleasure to compete in our first 24 hour race.”

The veteran, Ordonez, added: “In the last three years I have finished third, then second and now in first place at the Dubai 24 Hours. It is always a very important event for me and of course for the new winners. This is their first international race so to win it is a dream for them.”

Ordonez won the GT Academy competition back in 2008, becoming the first gamer-to-race-car-driver produced by the collaboration between Sony and Nissan.

The quartet piloted the No. 123 Nissan 370Z NISMO to a handy victory in the SP2 Class, but they weren’t the only team enjoying success. In a further victory for Nissan, the group consisting of Karun Chandhok, James Moffat, Tor Graves, and Ashley Oldfield carried the No. 126 Nissan 370Z to a third place podium finish at Dubai 24 Hours after staving off some issues with their vehicle earlier in the race.


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