Jann Mardenborough's Career Highlights
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Jann Mardenborough is a British professional racing driver who rose to prominence in 2011 after winning the GT Academy competition, beating out 90,000 other entrants to earn a professional racing contract with Nissan despite having no prior motorsport experience.
Mardenborough's Early Life and Upbringing
gtplanet.net
Jann Mardenborough was born on September 9, 1991, in Darlington, County Durham, England, to parents Steve and Lesley-Anne Mardenborough.
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His father, Steve, was a former professional soccer player who made over 300 appearances in the Football League.3
Growing up in Cardiff, Wales, Jann developed an early passion for racing.4
At the age of 8, he visited a local go-kart track with his father and impressed the owner with his natural ability.5
However, due to the high costs associated with karting, Mardenborough had to give up on pursuing it further.5
Instead, he turned to playing racing video games, particularly the Gran Turismo series, as a way to live out his racing dreams.4
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Mardenborough's shy nature and love for gaming kept him largely at home, honing his virtual driving skills.5
5 sources
GT Academy Triumph
hotcars.com
In 2011, at the age of 19, Jann Mardenborough became the youngest winner of the GT Academy competition, a joint venture between Nissan and the developers of "Gran Turismo" that aimed to identify potential racing talent through online racing events.
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Mardenborough emerged victorious from a field of over 90,000 participants, earning a professional racing contract with Nissan despite having no previous real-world motorsport experience.1
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His triumph in the competition marked the beginning of a remarkable transition from virtual racing to professional motorsports.1
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3 sources
Nürburgring Crash and Aftermath
kotaku.com
In 2015, Jann Mardenborough was involved in a tragic accident during the VLN endurance race at the Nürburgring Nordschleife. While competing in a Nissan GT3 Nismo, Mardenborough's car left the track at the 'Flugplatz' section, vaulting the catch fencing and landing in a spectator area.
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The incident resulted in the death of one spectator and injuries to several others.1
Mardenborough was taken to the hospital for routine checks after being assessed at the circuit's medical facility.1
The race was halted following the crash, and both Nissan and the VLN organizers released statements expressing their condolences and cooperating with the investigation into the incident.1
The challenging nature of the Nordschleife circuit and concerns over safety were highlighted in the aftermath of this tragic event.1
1 source
Mid-Career (2016-2020) Super GT and Super Formula
us.motorsport.com
From 2016 to 2020, Jann Mardenborough focused his racing career in Japan, competing in the Super GT and Super Formula championships.
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In his debut Super GT season in 2016, he clinched a victory in the GT300 class at the Fuji 500km race and narrowly missed out on the title, finishing fourth overall.1
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Mardenborough also impressed in Japanese Formula 3, securing four wins and eight podiums to claim the runner-up spot in the championship.1
His performances demonstrated his ability to adapt to new racing environments and compete at a high level.1
However, Mardenborough's stint in the top-tier GT500 class of Super GT from 2017 to 2020 coincided with Nissan's decline in form, limiting his results.1
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In his sole Super Formula season in 2017, he showed promise by qualifying on pole position but finished 14th in the standings.2
2 sources
Related
what was the outcome of the investigation into the tragic accident at nürburgring in 2015
how did jann mardenborough's tragic accident affect his career
what was jann mardenborough's experience like competing in the super gt and super formula championships
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