Lucas Ordonez: From Gamer to Racer

Lucas Ordonez was the first winner of the NissanNissanJapan, 1932 > present159 models
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GT Academy that begins as a series of competitions in the Gran Turismo 5 Playstation 3 videogame. The 27-year-old Spaniard was a university student when he won the GT Academy competition in 2008.

The GT Academy first tests the drivers in the game, then for one week at Silverstone. The drivers are put through the paces in GT-RsNissan GT-R Gen.2Japan, 2009 > present25 versions
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, 370ZsNissan 370ZJapan, 2008 > present2 series
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and open-wheel cars to determine who is the best. Two drivers are finally selected as the winners. 

Since winning, Ordonez has been climbing up the ranks of sports car racers in Europe. His first professional race was for the RJN Motorsport team in the 2009 FIA GT4 European Cup in a 350ZNissan 350Z GT4Japan, 2005 > present3 photos
. The GT4 series that year had 12 races at six circuits in Europe, and Ordonez had six podium finishes and two wins. He was tied for second in the points championship with British driver Alex Buncombe. He returned to the series for 2010 and tied with the second winner of the GT Academy, Jordan Tresson, for fourth place in the drivers' championship. He also raced in the 2010 1000km of Silverstone in a Judd-powered Lola B08/47 for the KLM team and finished ninth in class. 

For 2011, Ordonez did a variety of racing including at Le Mans. He raced for the Signatech Nissan team who finished second in class and ninth overall in the 2011 24 Hours of Le Mans.

He also raced for Signatech later in the year at Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta in the US where the team finished third in class and 22nd overall. 

Ordonez started 2012 with success. At the Dubai 24 Hours, his team RJN Motorsport came third in class and 26th overall. Then at the Nürburgring 24 Hours his team was first in class and 30th overall. He is also racing in the European Le Mans Series for the Greaves Motorsport Team. After one race, the 6 Hours of Castellet, Ordonez and his team are in fourth place with 12 points. He will be driving for the team in the 24 Hours of Le Mans with ex-Formula 1 driver Martin Brundle and his son Alex Brundle as his co-drivers. 

Also in 2012, he got to have a bit of fun by driving the Juke-R in the Desert Nemesis promotional film. 

Ordonez is 27 years old but has only really been racing for about three years. To come in second at Le Mans after just two years of racing is unbelievable. It will be exciting to watch this young man get better over the next several years.