Q: What were you first - a racing fan or a gamer?
A: A racing fan.
Q: What sort of car do you drive?
A: A BMW 3 series.
Q: Do you have the full driving set-up - with the steering wheel and so on - on your home PlayStation?
A: Yes, I have a Logitech steering wheel with a custom-made stand.
Q: What's your favourite car on Gran Turismo 5?
A: The F2007 - it's the 2007 Ferrari Formula 1 car.
Q: What do you think makes you a good gaming driver?
A: Natural talent and the ability to concentrate.
Q: What was the experience of the GT Academy boot camp like?
A: It was amazing.
It was a money-can't-buy experience meeting some very high-profile motorsport faces.
We got a first-hand look at what top-level motorsport is all about: the glamour, the hard work, and the non-stop action.
Silverstone was our playground and we had all the toys we wanted.
I got to drive a $150,000 Nissan GTR around the track in the rain with nobody telling me to slow down.
The whole experience was like a dream.
Q: Who were some of the people you met?
A: I met Formula 1 stars Johnny Herbert and Eddie Jordan, Lucas Ordonez - the previous academy winner - Sabine Schmitz and loads of other European racing champions.
Oh, and I also got to take Colin McRae's old driving instructor for a spin in a 370z.
Q: What is the biggest difference between racing on a PlayStation 3 and racing a real car?
A: The level of confidence you need.
Anyone can do 200kmh on a game, but in real life it's absolutely terrifying.
You need to be fearless and be 100% committed, because if you get it wrong in real life, there's no restart button.
