Brothers
pull out all stops
to qualify in
screen-to-road race
SOFTWARE engineer Jacobus Volschenk set the fastest time at
activation of the GTAcademy Challenge at the Gateway Theatre of Shopping in
KwaZulu-Natal last weekend.
The GT Academy challenges keen drivers with virtual races that
require all the split-second reactions of a real race, lacking only the
neck-wrenching G-forces generated by a car moving at speed around corners.
Volschenk (28) set a blistering record of 1:32.189 around the
Nürburgring GP/D in the GT Academy’s Tuned Z34 Fairlady ’08 riding on Sport
softs, with skid recovery on and ABS set at 1.
Shaun Welman placed second at 1:32:438 and Deon Reddy third in
01:32:711. Just two seconds separated the top eight drivers.
After the virtual race, Volschenk was honing his skills in a Fiat
Grande Punto 1,4 T-Jet around the short, technical track of Zwartkops Raceway
near his home in Fourways. He had travelled all the way to Durban to take part
in the activation with his brother Conrad — who set the fourth-fastest time
1:32:826 — as he was worried that his work may take him to Kuwait when the GT
Activation arrives in Johannesburg and Pretoria for the next two weeks.
Volschenk’s win will send him to the regional challenge against
eight other live event winners and 16 online winners. His brother Conrad aims to
improve his time in upcoming activations in Gauteng to join him there.
Out of these 24 digital racers, only the top eight will qualify to
go to the race camp in January.
Volschenk, who states on his Twitter profile “I don’t like
motorsport … I LOVE IT! And now I’ve got the chance of a lifetime to become a
race driver!!” told The Witness that his is doing everything in
his power to be among the national top eight racers.
Contrary to what most people expect, Volschenk said spending hours
playing Gran Turismo (GT) did not form part of his exercise regime. He only
plays four hours a week.
“GT is only about 25% of what is required, fitness is very
important, so is dealing with the media and of course, racing in a real car,” he
said.
Showing the other competitors the level of dedication required,
Volschenk said he had started to run 10 km per day and also exercise to
strengthen specific muscles in the gym.
Thabo Smouse, product communications manager at Nissan South
Africa, said Volschenk’s dedication and enthusiasm goes a long way in showing
just how exciting the GT Academy can be, and how seriously some competitors are
taking it.
An elated Volschenk later commented: “I was extremely excited to
hear that the GT Academy was coming to South Africa.
“Ever since I was a young boy growing up in Sasolburg I dreamed of
one day becoming a racing driver!
“The presence of the Nissan GT-R in GT Academy colours made it
clear that the competition would be tight, the stakes high and the opportunity
real.
“The electric vibe and tangible excitement were overshadowed by the
virtual rubber burning on the track, and setting the fastest lap moments later
took a while to sink in amongst the euphoria! I want to thank Nissan SA and Sony
for giving the dreamers out there this chance of a lifetime.”
• More information
about the competition, participating Nissan dealerships and live events can be
found on gtacademy.nissan.
