Luca Lorenzini

Age: 26
Nationality: Italian
Home town: Mosio di Aquanegra near Mantova (Lombardia in Northern Italy)
Occupation: Mechanic

With a name like Luca Lorenzini, this super quick Italian seems destined for a career in motorsport! At his second attempt at GT Academy, Lorenzini's speed, adaptability and determination shone through to impress the judges. He was consistently fast in any car, and while his fitness did let him down occasionally, he never gave up.

A mechanic who works in the family business, Luca is ready to swap his overalls for a racing suit to fulfil his lifelong dream of becoming a professional race car driver. He joins fellow GT Academy winner, Frenchman Jordan Tresson, to live in a house at Silverstone for the next two months. Both drivers will compete in a series of races that will allow them to gain enough 'signatures' to qualify for an 'International C' competition licence (one race finish equals one signature).

Under the expert tutelage of RJN Motorsport team manager Bob Neville, Luca and Jordan will undergo an intensive race training programme. However, only one driver will be chosen at the end of two months to race for a full season in the European GT4 Cup in a Nissan 370Z GT car.

A participant of the 2008 GT Academy, Luca failed to progress when his physical fitness let him down. He returned over a year later having worked on both his English and his fitness. A full eight kilograms lighter on this trip to Silverstone, he showed a renewed determination to triumph over the 17 other competitors and progress onto stage four of the process to turn a virtual racer into a real one.

A gamer since he was a young child, Luca is a massive fan of the 'Grand Valley Speedway' fictional circuit on Gran Turismo. His older brother also shares Luca's passion for gaming and motorsport and was a national finalist for Italy in the 2008 GT Academy.

Away from his PlayStation, Luca enjoys autocross, volleyball and playing the keyboard.

Luca's all time hero is the legendary motorcycle and race car driver Tazio Nuvolari. In keeping with all things Italian, car enthusiast Luca is the proud owner of both a Ferrari 318 and Alfa Romeo 156 Crosswagon 94.If he could choose one actor to play him in a film, it would be Gone in 60 Seconds star Nicolas Cage, because, in Luca's words, "he usually plays characters that have to work hard to reach their dreams and goals like me in the GT Academy".

During the GT Academy at Silverstone, Luca's best moment was when they called out his name on the final night. He also loved driving the Nissan GT-R, which he feels is an incredible car because: "It's so easy to drive considering its speed. Its power and grip are amazing, plus the chassis, engine and transmission all work so perfectly."

Luca is now looking forward to gaining his race licence and being "faster than Jordan!" Luca has his eye firmly on the prize - a season long drive in the European GT4 Cup in a Nissan 370Z.

Jordan Tresson

Age: 21
Nationality: French
Hometown: Villers La Montagne, Lorraine (Northern France)
Occupation: fourth year Automobile Engineering masters student at Estaca University

Super-fit Jordan Tresson breezed through the physical challenges of GT Academy 2010. He also proved to be quick in a car and remained among the front runners throughout the five-day Silverstone 'boot camp'.

Having won the competition alongside Italian Luca Lorenzini, the pair will now return to Silverstone to share a house on-site. This will be their base for the next two months while they compete in a series of races that will allow them to gain enough 'signatures' to qualify for an International C' competition licence (one race finish equals one signature).

Under the expert tutelage of RJN Motorsport team manager Bob Neville, Jordan and Luca will undergo an intensive race training programme. However, only one driver will be chosen at the end of two months to race for a full season in the European GT4 Cup in a Nissan 370Z GT car.

Like his laid-back hometown, Jordan is also very relaxed. But behind this calm and cool exterior lays a determined and focused young man who has his heart set on a career in motor sport.

Jordan is currently in his fourth year of a Masters of Automobile Engineering masters degree at the prestigious Estaca University (Ecole Supérieure des Techniques Aéronautiques et de Construction Automobile) near Paris. Prior to entering the GT Academy at Silverstone he had discussed putting his studies on hold, in the event that he takes the overall prize.

Jordan has been an avid Gran Turismo gamer since the age of twelve. His favourite track is the renowned Nürburgring circuit.

Away from his PlayStation, Jordan enjoys relaxing with his friends, listening to heavy metal music and karting. His level of fitness in GT Academy impressed the judges and he maintains this by running around the city of Levallois-Perret, where he is based for university.

Jordan's racing hero is the late, great Ayrton Senna. If he could chose one actor to play him in a film it would be Ewan McGregor, who he became a big fan of after seeing Trainspotting and the Star Wars movies.

During the GT Academy at Silverstone, Jordan most enjoyed driving the Nissan GT-R, because of its power and grip - in his words, "it's a truly amazing car".

Jordan is relishing the driver training and race experience he will now receive. He expects a healthy rivalry with Luca Lorenzini as they continue to improve their skills in the lead-up to one of them winning the ultimate prize.