“This is a great moment,” said Ordoñez. “We have really proved that GT Academy works as to get four gamers to a podium finish at this race is amazing. I am very impressed with my new team mates who have only been racing for six months. They came here and were fast, consistent and didn’t make any mistakes.”

“It was pretty tough in the car and 24 hours is a long time to have to hold it all together,” said second GT Academy winner, Jordan Tresson. “If any of us had made just one slip at any point during the race it could have been game over for us. I want to say well done to Jann and Bryan who were still bedroom gamers just one year ago.”

The GT Academy car did not just have on-track success, the gamer car provide to be very popular at the event as well with plenty of photographers & camera crews following every stop of the car and MotorsTV & Radio Le Mans devoting a big part of their race coverage to the team.

But the GT Academy is not just making a splash in terms of exposure, the concept also manages to give its winners a solid foundation for a racing career. While Mardenborough & Heitkotter are just at the start of their way up, Lucas Ordonez has smoothly progressed through the ranks, clinching the LMP2 title in the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup last year. For 2012, Tresson will join the Spaniard in the prototype ranks, giving another GT Academy winner the chance to shine on one of motorsport’s biggest stages.