Buckle up and hit the racetrack – Nissan Playstation GT Academy is live in Australia

The time has come, your challenge awaits. The 2014 Nissan GT Academy is open for business – this is your chance to make it to the big time as a genuine race driver all via your Playstation 3.

After a much hyped launch, the chance to get involved is finally here – and the first round will surprise you.  Nissan is the car brand behind the whole thing – with its racing tentacles stretching across the globe it not only has the race teams to slot you into but it has the cars to practice in.

So, you’ve got until June 16 to get the Nissan Leaf electric car around Brands Hatch raceway in a flat-out pace – yep, you heard me – Nissan Leaf.

The first round challenge sees you hitting speeds of around 140km/h in the all-electric Nissan Leaf.  This little fella will screech around corners and is not that easy to get around in the “gold medal” time – let alone the crazy times being set by drivers on the Playstation Network.

Already at the time of writing this an Aussie (GTP_DHolland) sits in Second place with a  1.03.148 – the Gold Medal time is 1.05.500 – I’ve watched his lap in replay and let me tell you, it’s a cracker.

Using every part of the track, every curb and every authorised run-off area he’s almost literally flying.

The idea isn’t to throw you into a F1 car, or even a GTR – not yet.  To get through to the next round you need to show skill, composure and the Nissan Leaf is that challenge.

Reading the round instructions gives you ever hint – minimise deceleration and use all of the track.

A Nissan Leaf – lets hope its straight into the GTR for round two later in the year, and then perhaps a sports car or enduro car after that.