What was the name of the Nissan-backed driver development program?

The Nissan-backed driver development program was called Nissan GT Academy. It combined Gran Turismo competition with real-world driver training to identify skilled virtual racers and help them pursue professional motorsport careers.

GT Academy was created through a partnership involving Nissan, Sony Computer Entertainment, and Polyphony Digital. Competitors generally began with time trials in Gran Turismo, progressed through national selections, and then faced physical, driving, and racing challenges at Race Camp. The final winners entered an intensive driver development programme supported by Nissan.

The programme’s purpose was to convert gaming ability into real racing skill. Winners trained in fitness, racecraft, vehicle control, and competition procedures, often working toward the licences needed for international events. Lucas Ordóñez, the inaugural European winner in 2008, later competed for Nissan in endurance racing, helping demonstrate the concept’s potential.

The programme is sometimes called Nissan PlayStation GT Academy or NISMO PlayStation GT Academy. Those names describe the same Nissan-supported initiative, while the shorter name, Nissan GT Academy, is the standard answer. The competition operated internationally from 2008 to 2016.