Aussie PlayStation hopeful out of GT Academy

Dan Holland, the young Australian hopeful who made it to the international shootout of 18 "gamers" who are trying their luck at becoming a full time race driver, is out of the contest after missing a press conference on the first day of the five-day GT Academy.

He was among the first 8 drivers to be expelled at the end of the day, while 10 were due to be expelled at the end of day three, before organisers focus on the two best drivers. 

Jet-lagged, having arrived at the Silverstone race track in England only just in time to start the competition on day one -- which was a series of written tests -- Holland found himself so exhausted that he missed the press conference later that evening.

"Missing the conference ... despite people trying to find him wasn't clever," explains former F1 driver Johnny Herbert, one of the Academy's judges along with GT racer and Nurburgring ace Sabine Schmitz, and chief Silverstone instructor Rob Barff.

His driving impressed judges on day two (he was fastest in the morning session in wet conditions driving a Nissan GT-R) but it seems it was Holland's performance off the track that didn't sit well with the judges.

"He performed very well [in the car] but you have to communicate in this game and that was lacking for him," says Herbert.

"He was fast this morning, but we're trying to find someone to race in European series and represent major sponsors. Missing the conference didn't sit well with that. If a driver's ill, or can't make an engagement, the team needs to know".

Holland (pictured), 25 years of age, was gutted but says he'll try again.

"I'll go back to the drawing board when I get home, take a break from Gran Turismo for a few months. I need to forget this disappointment first.

"I'll be back. I just hope there's another academy, because if there isn't, I'm going to be regretting this for a long time".

Holland has been playing PlayStation's Gran Turismo since 2004.

"I was addicted," he said. "I would play 25 hours a week. I knew right away I was better than most people and that just drove me to play even more."

But Holland hasn't owned a car in five years after he crashed his Ford Falcon.

"I went into a roundabout a bit too hot, understeered and hit the kerb. The impact bent the steering column and that was the end of my car."

Holland was one of the 18 people plucked from 1.4 million players worldwide to make the grade, having outpaced every other gamer in Australia.

The GT Academy is a contest like no other, with the world's best "gamers" given the opportunity to test their skills in a real race car. The winner gets a full season as a GT racer.

Herbert believes there is a link between virtual skill and real skill.

"A few years ago, a competition like this just wouldn't have been taken seriously by the motor racing fraternity. But with all top F1 teams now using their own simulators -- massively advanced versions of the games the drivers here have all learned their craft on -- virtual driving is now much more acceptable within the sport as a whole".

Herbert was the one who gave Holland the bad news and it was delivered in a cruel blow.

On centre stage Herbert read out the eight names of who will go on to compete for the coveted drive. With seven names gone, Holland was still uncalled. "And the final driver to go through… will be… Daniel…" Herbert pauses, the room is silent, "Collins". Daniel Collins, from Ireland, is through. Daniel Holland, from Australia, is out.

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