Most people who play Gran Turismo have wishes of success behind the wheel. But the question is, does virtual success translate directly in to the real thing? For one lucky gamer, Lucas Ordoñez, winner of The Nissan-Playstation GT Academy contest, he had the opportunity to score one for the couch potatos.

The GT academy was a competition in which players of the real driving simulator, Gran Turismo, vied for the oportunity to prove their abilities behing the wheel of a racecar. Lucas recently raced in the European GT4 round at Silverstone. His team’s 350Z started 11th and moved up to 4th before pitting for the driver change that would put Ordoñez in the driver’s seat.

Continued after the jump.

The GT Academy team began the first outing in the GT4 series at Silverstone in 11th place, then moved to 6th position, then 4th and first before it was brought in, the 350Z entered the pits and Ordoñez sat behind the wheel.

After battle with the race leader, that ended in a crash, the Gran Turismo trained driver finished 3rd overall. One spot up from where he started. Although this novice didn’t take the checkered flag, this does show that anything is possible.

The team will be in Italy for next weekend’s race and are planning on competing in four more rounds of the Championship before the year ends.