From Gamer to Racer: Jann Mardenborough’s Extraordinary Journey

We Got the Inside Scoop on the Gran Turismo Movie from Jann Mardenborough

If you’re a fan of the Gran Turismo series, you won’t want to miss the upcoming Hollywood movie based on the incredible life of Jann Mardenborough. We had the opportunity to chat with Jann about his experience in GT Academy, the training process, and his involvement in the film. Here’s what he had to say:

A Surreal Journey

Jann admits that the entire experience, from being considered for a film to now seeing it close to release, feels surreal. He never imagined that his story would be immortalized for future generations to see. The thought that his grandkids can look back on it and be proud is truly humbling.

The Road to GT Academy

Jann always dreamed of being a racing driver, but coming from a “normal” family, he didn’t see it as an attainable goal. It wasn’t until 2011, after dropping out of university, that he saw an opportunity to pursue his racing dream. He decided to enter GT Academy and put all his eggs in one basket.

Adjusting to Real Track Racing

One of the biggest adjustments Jann had to make when he first started racing on a real track was his vision. Playing Gran Turismo on a small screen had conditioned him to focus on the floor instead of looking ahead down the track. It took months of reprogramming and adjustment to break this habit. However, overall, Jann felt surprisingly comfortable behind the wheel of a real car, thanks to the realistic simulation experience provided by Gran Turismo.

A Testimony to Gran Turismo’s Realism

Jann believes that Gran Turismo’s realistic simulation was the key to his success. Without any professional racing experience, he was a blank slate and could fully embrace the game’s instructions without any preconceived ideas about how to race. Gran Turismo allowed him to skip the expensive and time-consuming process of traditional racing training.

Stunt Driving and Involvement in the Film

Jann had the incredible opportunity to perform stunt driving sequences on behalf of the actor who portrayed him in the film. He saw this as a fundamental aspect of the story and couldn’t pass up the chance to be involved. He also got to learn from legendary stunt drivers who were part of the production team. Jann has been involved with the project since its early stages, offering input on script drafts.

Future Career Goals

Jann’s immediate goal is to participate in the Le Mans race next year. He also hopes to return to Japan and compete in Super GT. However, he remains flexible and wants to continue racing as a professional into his late 40s. Jann believes that he hasn’t reached his peak as a driver and is still hungry for more.

Inspiring Others to Chase Their Dreams

Jann hopes that his story in Gran Turismo will motivate people to pursue paths that bring them satisfaction and purpose. He wants others to realize that anything is possible if they set their minds to it. Jann considers himself lucky to have had this opportunity at a young age and hopes others will be inspired by his journey.

Rapid Fire Questions:

• Favorite Game: Jann is torn between Gran Turismo 2 and 3, both of which had a profound impact on him.
• Favorite Car in Gran Turismo: The Toyota GT-One in Gran Turismo 2.
• Favorite Car in Real Life: The Nissan GTR GT500 car that Jann drove in Japan.
• Favorite Racetrack in GT: Grand Valley Speedway, a beautiful track with an incredible atmosphere.
• Favorite Professional Racetrack: Sportland Sugo in Sendai, which Jann describes as a miniature Nürburgring.
• Favorite Music Track from GT: “My Favourite Game” from GT2 and “Moon Over the Castle.”

Gran Turismo 7 is now available on PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4, and you can catch the Gran Turismo movie exclusively in US theaters starting August 25.

Sources: playstation.com, granturismo.movie