Before the latest Gran Turismo World Series live event kicked off in Amsterdam, the city hosted the premiere of the Gran Turismo movie, which tells the story of Jann Mardenborough and his experience in GT Academy.
The premiere took place at the famous Pathé Tuschinski theater in the heart of Amsterdam and was one of the more unusual and unique events in the history of the Gran Turismo brand.
With a red carpet and an army of photographers crowding the sidewalk, invited guests and onlookers spilled out into the street in front of the Tuschinski as police and security did their best to keep the crowds under control. The movie’s actors did not attend due to the SAG-AFTRA strike, but there were still plenty of VIPs to go around.
NL Beeld / David Heukers
Of course, Kazunori Yamauchi and Jann Mardenborough were the most relevant stars on hand, and I was pleasantly surprised to see other GT Academy champions had also been invited. It was a rare reunion for some of the previous winners, including original 2008 champion Lucas Ordoñez, 2010 champion Jordan Tresson, 2013 champion Florian Strauss, and 2014 champion Ricardo Sanchez.
NL Beeld / David Heukers
The rest of the guest list was eclectic, to say the least.
Notable attendees included head of PlayStation Studios, Hermen Hulst, and Formula E champion and former F1 driver Nyck de Vries.
Another surprising attendee was 2021 F1 Esports Champion Jarno Opmeer, who actually drove in a head-to-head race against Jann Mardenborough on some of the Gran Turismo 7 driving rigs available at the event (though it wasn’t clear who won). Other attendees included a wide range of Dutch racing drivers, social media influencers, and reality TV stars.
For the most dedicated Gran Turismo fans and followers, the most surprising guests were none other than Mr. and Mrs. Yamauchi.
The parents of Gran Turismo creator Kazunori Yamauchi made their first appearance at a major public event and got to enjoy the full red carpet experience as they supported their son.
Clive Rose – Gran Turismo/Gran Turismo via Getty Images
Although rarely mentioned, Kazunori’s parents played a significant role in developing his curiosity and creativity as a child, hanging paper on the walls of their home for him to draw on.
As explained in KAZ: Pushing the Virtual Divide, Kazunori would venture into the woods near his parents’ home to collect insects. He would join his father, who worked as a traveling salesman, on long road trips, exposing him to a wide range of cars and igniting a passion that would influence the rest of his life. I had the distinct honor of meeting Mr. and Mrs. Yamauchi, an experience I will always cherish.
After mingling in the foyer, complete with a DJ, driving rigs, Gran Turismo-branded cupcakes, and champagne, the crowd made their way into the theater where a Q&A session was held with Kazunori, Jann, and the attending GT Academy champions.
During his responses, Kazunori again reiterated that Gran Turismo’s original working title was “Sim-Racing”. He also stated that as he watched the evolution of GT Academy, he discovered that “video games are a form of art that is not complete until a player actually plays it, and I discovered that human beings are incredible, and by making these games I had the opportunity to meet all these incredible people.”
Kazunori went on to suggest that GT Academy will likely not return in the future, having passed the torch to the esports-based GT World Series. “GT Academy happened 15 years ago and lasted 10 years, so I consider that to be the first era. The Gran Turismo World Series, that we run now, I consider it to be the second era of competition in Gran Turismo,” he explained.
After the screening, attendees mingled in the foyer for more drinks and snacks, sharing their thoughts and impressions about the movie. Much like the critical reception of the film, opinions were mixed, with most praising the visuals and cinematography but disappointed by the shortcuts and inaccuracies of the story itself.
Of course, avid motorsport fans took issue with the movie’s creative license and repeated use of the same real-world tracks and circuits, such as the Hungaroring performing double-duty as both Silverstone and Circuit de la Sarthe. For more, be sure to watch GTPlanet’s full review below:
In my 22 years of covering the franchise, what took place at the Pathé Tuschinski was unlike anything I have seen before.
It was a mix of old and new, as GT Academy stars from decades past took the stage in front of the GT World Series’ fresh-faced stars. It was a bridge between nostalgia and the future, as the GT brand extends beyond the gaming and automotive worlds and into the mainstream, as Kazunori Yamauchi’s parents mingled with reality TV stars and Formula 1 drivers.
We don’t know what impact the movie’s launch will have on the game or the franchise over the long term, but for a night in August in Amsterdam, it gave us a fresh perspective on just how far Gran Turismo has come — and how far it can go.
See more articles on Gran Turismo Movie, Jann Mardenborough, and Kazunori Yamauchi.
