TOKYO -- Nissan Motor is bringing its video game-based scouting program for race car drivers to India, aiming to burnish its image in a growing market.

     The GT Academy finds promising young candidates using Gran Turismo, a highly realistic driving simulator for Sony Computer Entertainment's PlayStation 3 console. The best are then trained to become professional race car drivers.

     The first qualifying round in India was held this month at the Auto Expo near Delhi, and additional rounds using game consoles will take place in such major cities as New Delhi, Mumbai and Chennai.

    The top 14 competitors will be selected, then whittled down to six through fitness tests and other measures. The finalists will participate in a training camp with real cars in the U.K. and compete with candidates from all over the world.

     Nissan has trained nine professional drivers through the GT Academy over the past six years. Their ranks include such success stories as Spain's Lucas Ordonez, who has ranked near the top in the famed 24 Hours of Le Mans endurance race.

     Nissan now has a roughly 1% share of the Indian market, but hopes to boost this to 10% by the end of fiscal 2016 by rolling out 10 new models, including cars under the Datsun brand aimed at emerging markets.