Another Class Victory for GT Academy Winner Jann Mardenborough

Jordan Greer · · 38 Comments

European GT Academy 2011 winner Jann Mardenborough had another amazing weekend on-track, recording a notable first in class, third overall, finish at the Donington Park round of the Production Touring Car Trophy. More importantly, the weekend’s results have moved Jann another step closer to qualifying for an international race licence, necessary to compete at the next 24 Hours of Dubai. With the 19-year-old from Cardiff collecting valuable signatures at Donington, his licence has now been upgraded from National ‘B’ to National ‘A’, and his motor sport CV now reads; two race meetings, two podiums.

Jann had a good start to the weekend, with his class win coming in the first of the races that supported the World Touring Car Championship round at Donington Park. A racing incident led to retirement in the second race, following a broken wheel and subsequent puncture. The retirement saw Jann starting the final race from the back of the grid, but he courageously fought his way through the field to finish sixth overall, whilst recording the fastest lap of the race.

Having coached Jann through the Donington race action, PlayStation Nissan team boss Bob Neville said: “Jann performed very well throughout the weekend, and I was particularly pleased with his performance in the final race, when he did an impressive job working his way up the field on slick tyres on a very tricky, damp track. Ultimately it proved another successful race meeting, as he secured the signatures required to qualify for a National ‘A ‘licence.”

“We set out what we wanted to achieve, get the results and race finishes to qualify for the licence upgrade,” enthused Jann Mardenborough. “It was great racing for the first time on a track like Donington where I could test myself against similar level of cars. It was a bit different from my first races at Pembrey. Here at Donington you had to perfect your race craft and it was an amazing feeling to overtake cars because you earned it.”

Jann’s next competitive outing in the Nissan 370Z race car will be at the Castle Combe round of the Britcar Production Cup on July 23rd and 24th. Once again, congratulations!

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Comments (38)

  3. Dj smurph

    Motors tv for the racing and channel 4 weekend mornings for the official gt academy programming

  5. Joe J.

    Wait, so all that National A, National B, Int. C licence jazz is real?! Wow, I always thought it was just made-up as part of the GT series!

    1. R1600Turbo

      Anyone else see that the results in the race report, and the results in the press release are different? Or am I missing something?

    1. MatskiMonk

      Unlikely,

      I was perched next to the Eurosport cameramen for much of the day, and between the WTCC races they weren’t following the action.

  8. matrix88mole

    If only i knew they were coming to my home town of Pembrey.
    I hope jann can become a high profile welsh racing driver god we need one lol.

    1. CHRIS

      Great reults guys, I was there friday had lunch sitting next to you both, was great to listen in.

      As for the cars, very evenly matched and a great series for you to be in.

      All the best!!!

    1. Butters

      Sorry. No idea. Anyone know of any kind of experience Jann has had before GT Academy? It would be remarkable if these are his first times around a track. 19 years old. Barely legal. Sorry lol

    2. Vortex

      I play alot of GT5 and I don’t have any experience on a track, but I went karting a week ago for the 3rd time EVER (last time was over 2 years ago) and I was very consistant and I had great lap times on a circuit I’ve never been on before and i didn’t spin or crash at all (I did drift alot).

      If you play GT5 with a wheel the switch to real is relativly easy I think. I do have to go racing with a car in real life though so I’m not sure. I’m only 20 years old so age is comparable.

  13. SANGBYUNG

    i don;t really know but their car seems to be the best out of all in the picture. other cars seems like are not in the evenly match comapared to gtacademy cars.

  14. luie

    Gt5 TV should be covering these races cause it represents the game . Please bring the race to the enthusiasts.

    2. R1600Turbo

      Hey Jordan, have you been getting any updates for Bryan? Seems like the US GT Academy folk are lacking a bit in the news release department…

    3. Jordan

      I have not. SCEA/Nissan PR never sends me emails or press releases about his progress, and now it seems even their Facebook page is falling behind. Were it not for your comment above, I wouldn’t have even known Bryan was in this race. A shame, really.

    4. R1600Turbo

      Actually, I believe they are training together right now so every race that Jann is in, Bryan is there too. As a matter of fact, Bryan placed 1st overall at Donington in the Invitational class and finished 4th overall.

    5. MatskiMonk

      It was a supoprt race for the FIA WTCC, I went along and took a few pics down in the garage, and took a few pics of the car on track.

  20. new_soul

    The Nisan looks like in a different league. I wonder how the cars compare, I deafeningly would prefer to race in a Z.

    1. gtfan

      I thought the same. We all know that half of the result is basically having a car that is competitive. I wonder whether the 370z is the best car on the grid.

    2. Tvensky

      Latvia isnt even supported by SONY, I cant even register my country in the PSN.. will not start to talk about GT5 support for me…. :(

      they have to think about that more for sure…

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