'Gamer to Racer' search begins again soon

More than six million gamers have enrolled in the Nissan PlayStation GT Academy over the last eight years. And the only one Australian has ever won.

But the competition could be just a bit tougher in 2016 as a new version of the world's most popular driving simulator, Gran Turismo, is introduced for the latest PlayStation 4 gaming console.

GT6 has been superseded by Gran Turismo Sport game, which will make its Australian debut at the live qualify events (in beta form) around the country from August, months ahead of the game's global launch on November 15.

In 2015, Queensland courier Matt Simmons qualified strongly via the GT6 video game on PS3, then blitzed the physical and mental tests to win his way to the London final. He then achieved victory at Silverstone as part of the international academy, breaking the Aussie drought.

And now Simmons has ditched his delivery job and is racing a Nissan GT-R GT3 in Europe in the Blancpain series, having scored himself a million-dollar race contract with Nissan's global NISMO team.

Will another Australian gamer step up to the top of the podium and make it two-in-a-row?

It all starts again in August, when the Nissan Playstation GT Academy 2016 begins in earnest.

Pitched as the "gamer to racer" competition, the 2016 event is once again a global competition, with winners being plucked from obscurity and trained to compete in the world's toughest racing series.

A handful of global regions, expected to again comprise Europe, North America and other areas including the 'International' region (of which Australia is a part), will offer money-can't-buy race contracts to the three or four winners.

Australian gamers will be lumped into a group that includes hopefuls from Mexico, North Africa (Algeria, Egypt and Morocco), Indonesia, Philippines and Thailand. The fastest racer from these countries will snaffle the race contract.

The 'Live Recruitment Events' will also allow gamers to test the all-new PS4 racing game, Gran Turismo Sport, roughly three months ahead of its release. It's possible Nissan Australia will once again use Movie World in Queensland for the final live qualifying session, in which the fastest lap times earn gamers the chance to vie for a spot in the international finals.

"Live events will be hosted at shopping malls, universities, Nissan dealerships and theme parks with permanent residents of participating territories able to turn up to a scheduled live event to set their best time," said Nissan today.

"The 20 fastest drivers will then go on to qualify for a territory final, to take place between August and September, where their real world skills will be tested in fitness, communication and driving challenges."

Then, each country, including Australia, will send the six best entrants to Race Camp at the Silverstone GP Circuit in the UK in October.

Matt Simmons, winner of the 2015 International GT Academy, has this advice for those seeking to win.

"GT Academy is an opportunity to make your racing dream come true. To make the most of it, you have to believe in yourself and your abilities but most of all, enjoy the experience."

Go here for more details on the 2016 GT Academy.