A BROMLEY man has made it through to the UK national finals of GT Academy 2010 at Brands Hatch next Wednesday.

James Hudson, 27, will battle it out against the 19 other fastest gamers from the UK on a PlayStation.

Only the top two will progress to the next phase of the competition, the GT Academy at Silverstone, where they will join other international finalists for a five-day drivers’ boot camp.

GT Academy is an initiative of Nissan and Sony Computer Entertainment Europe (SCEE), who have joined forces to unearth a real racing driver from the virtual world of the hugely successful Gran Turismo® race simulation game.

From February 26 until March 3, their virtual driving skills will be tested on a real race track in the search for the next motorsport star.

The stakes are high, with the two best drivers heading for an intensive race training programme, while only one will be selected for the ultimate prize – the chance to compete in a full season of racing in the European GT4 Cup, driving a race-spec Nissan 370Z.