How Jann Mardenborough went from Gran Turismo gamer to real-life racer
Subject
Jann Mardenborough; Gran Turismo; Video Game
Description
A gamer went behind the wheel more than a decade ago and turned into a race car driver. Now his story will play out on the big screen in the movie “Gran Turismo.”
Can a video game franchise that sold over 90 million units as of last year turn a gamer into a professional race car driver? Jann Mardenborough, whose real-life story has been taken to the big screen in “Gran Turismo,” said he’s living proof of it. “I know it can be done, because 12 years ago we did it. I had zero experience. I never did go karting,” he said in a video interview, referring to racing open-cockpit, four-wheeled vehicles called go-karts or shifter karts. “And I’m still racing to this day but reaching highest levels outside of Formula One.” The movie “Gran Turismo” premieres nationwide Friday, with Archie Madekwe as Mardenborough, David Harbour as the chief engineer who trains him and Orlando Bloom as the marketing executive who pitches the idea to turn gamers into motorsport racers.
Creator
By Arturo Conde
Source
Publisher
nbcnews.com
File

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- August 3, 2026
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