GT Academy is a real life racing driver development project of Gran Turismo. Its first year winner, Lucas Ordonez, has attained second place in his class in the 2011 Le Mans 24 hour race (LMP2 Class), making it to the podium of the world's premier racing event.

Lucas entered the first ever GT Academy held in 2008, and overcame 25,000 other participants to become its winner. In the following year he completed the Dubai 24 hour race as a racing driver, and went on to participate in the FIA GT4 European Cup, where he succeeded in achieving 2nd place in driver standings and a 1st place win for the team.
In 2010 he stepped up to participate in the European endurance series, and debuted in the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup (ILMC). And this year, he finally attained his childhood dream of participating in the prestigious Le Mans 24 Hour race.

His car was the Signatech Nissan number 26, a top of the line LMP2 machine with an Oreca made chassis. It was powered by a Nissan VK45DE, an engine proven in Japan's Super GT series. The car marked the fastest lap time in its class during the qualifying, and started the final race from a good position. But plagued with frequent weather changes and repeated flat tires, the team was tense throughout the 24 hours. Overcoming the challenges was only made possible by the steady performance of the car throughout the race, and the strategic teamwork of the crew. The winner of the LMP2 Class was another car with the same model engine, and for Nissan this meant a 1-2 finish in the class.

Lucas who stood on the podium with a Japanese flag along with his team mates, commented; "This is the greatest moment in my life. 3 years ago, I won the GT Academy, but I did not imagine that it would lead to the podium of the Le Mans. My most sincere gratitude goes to PlayStation and Nissan."

The overall winner of the race was the Audi R18 car number 2. Drivers Andre Rotteler and Benoit Treluyer registered as "Japanese" drivers having spent much of their careers in Japan. Together with Marcel Fassler they overcame a close struggle against the Peugeot 908 for their victory.