Computer gamer headed for Formula 1

THE WINNER of a computer game competition is now headed for the real world of Formula One with World Champion Sebastian Vettel’s Infiniti Red Bull racing team.

Jann Mardenborough won Nissan’s competition to find a new racing driver by beating his rivals on a racing simulator game. His prize was a seat in a variety of racing cars since his victory in 2011 and now he will race in the GP3 series, which is the recognised route to Formula One.

As part of his latest climb up the racing ladder, British-born Jann will enter an intensive development programme for young drivers. He said: ‘I feel ready for GP3. I’ve prepared well and I have all the right people around me to help my development so I can fully focus on my racing. Formula 3 has taught me so many things, both in the car and out of the car, both mentally and physically. It was a great stage in my development and I’m sure the skills I've learnt there will help me in GP3 and beyond.’

Jann is yet to race the GP3 car, but he will be following in the wheel tracks of Daniil Kyvat, who raced with the same team in GP3 and is not stepping up to Formula One with the Torro Rosso team for 2014.

Red Bull Racing’s driver development manager Andy Damerum said: ‘We’re delighted to welcome Jann onto our programme. We have been tracking Nissan’s innovative approach to motorsport and in particular GT Academy that challenges the status quo of motorsport. The traditional route to F1 of karting and single-seaters is a tried and tested success but Nissan and PlayStation have gone down a very different road and started to find some very talented drivers who have been doing all their practicing on a games console.’

By Press Association reporters