After The Last of Us and The Super Mario Bros. Movie, the next video game adaptation is racing towards us. Gran Turismo is the name of the film by District 9 director Neill Blomkamp. However, the fast-paced action thriller starring Lord of the Rings star Orlando Bloom and Stranger Things cop David Harbor has an unexpected twist: Gran Turismo is based on a true story. However, some backgrounds were twisted for the film…
In this article you will learn:
Warning, this article contains spoilers for the Gran Turismo plot.
Which is correct in Gran Turismo: Jann Mardenborough really became a racer
Gran Turismo largely follows the life story of Jann Mardenborough (played by Archie Madekwe in the film). The Welshman took part in the so-called GT Academy in 2011. He emerged victorious and was given a chance by Nissan to race in several series, which he did. He even got a podium finish in some big races.
The young man pulled off an impressive feat, considering that professional racers are often part of the racing circuit from an early age. Mardenborough didn’t start until he was 19.
Sony
Archie Madekwe and David Harbour
The central twists of the film are based on true backgrounds. However, many details have been changed for Gran Turismo. This also applies to the podium that Jann drives into the film’s finale in the most important car race in the world: the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
5 things invented or changed for Gran Turismo
1. Jann Mardenborough wasn’t the first GT Academy winner
In Gran Turismo it is presented as if Jann Mardenborough was the first GT Academy winner. Instead he was the third. Spaniard Lucas Ordóñez won the competition in 2008.
Ten years ago there were even plans to make a GT movie about him, as reported by our GamePro colleagues at the time.
2. He wasn’t the first gamer with a Le Mans podium either
GT Academy winner Ordóñez finished second in his class at his debut at Le Mans in 2011.
The year Mardenborough finished third, as in the film, he shared the car with Ordóñez. The Spaniard doesn’t appear in Gran Turismo at all.
3. The fatal accident happened two years after the film’s plot
The emotional low point of Gran Turismo is Jann’s accident on the Nordschleife, also known as “the Green Hell”. His car takes off and is thrown off the track, causing a spectator to lose his life. The description of the accident corresponds to the facts (via Top Gear). In reality, however, the accident happened two years after the Le Mans triumph.
In the film, the accident is brought forward in time and used as a narrative motivation to bring gamers to Le Mans in order to salvage GT Academy’s reputation. That has nothing to do with reality.
4. The finale is extremely unrealistic (but exciting)
Sony
The real Jann Mardenborough in the car
The finale of the film springs from the screenplay fantasy. Jann uses a “gamer trick” in the film. He deviates from the ideal line that all drivers take in the corners, thereby gaining time and places. As a result, he made it onto the podium in Gran Turismo. Every professional racing driver knows this “trick”.
Jann couldn’t make up as much time as in the film with this, not to mention the consequences that a deviation can have. Outside of the ideal line, the track is often dirtier.
5. The Le Mans success had a catch
Gran Turismo ends with the triumphant Podium celebration – which did not exist in this form. The reality was less cinematic (via evo.co.uk). Mardenborough finished fourth in his car class (at Le Mans several car classes with different speeds compete in the same race).
Later, the third-placed car was disqualified due to an illegal fuel tank. This is how Mardenborough got his Le Mans podium without champagne.
Find out more about Gran Turismo and the real story in this FILMSTARTS video:
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What is Jann Mardenborough from Gran Turismo doing today?
Today the GT Academy no longer exists. Mardenborough remained one of their most successful graduates, taking podiums and victories in other racing series. After Nissan finished its Le Mans program, he went to Japan where he raced in the Super GT Championship until 2020. In 2023 he made a small comeback in the Super Taikyu racing series.
According to his own statements, Jann Mardenborough has been busy advising on the filming of Gran Turismo for the past few years. He also sat behind the wheel as Archie Madekwe’s stunt driver, effectively playing himself.