SPEEDWAY, Ind. — We know it takes race car drivers years of practice behind the wheel and on the track to be a success.
But for one driver who stopped by the Indianapolis Motor Speedway this month, his route was way different then all of those before him.
You may not know his name or his face, but if you are a race fan, you probably know his life story.
That story started in 2011 when Jann Mardenborough told his family he was entering the contest.
"I said, 'Look...there is a competition and the winner gets a chance to become a race car driver.' And they kind of looked at me and went, 'Yeah, right,' and then continue to watch the TV. And then, I went into the kitchen...I told my mother same thing and she was like, 'Fantastic. Let me know how you get on,'" Mardenborough said.
At just 19 years old — and a passionate gamer from Cardiff, Wales — Mardenborough earned his spot on Nissan's professional driving team.
His story was so unreal that Hollywood came calling and released "Gran Turismo" in 2023 — complete with stars like Orlando Bloom and David Harbour.
Mardenborough visited IMS for Rev ahead of the Indy 500. He met other drivers and IMS President Doug Boles during the IU Health fundraiser.
"I've just been on the actual track, and I've touched the bricks with Doug. And it's just as a special place. I've been here nine years ago for a test day of the Indy 500 ... never seen the race myself in person," Mardenborough said.
But if his next dream comes true, he hopes to break into the American racing market and eventually race to a checkered flag at the greatest track in the world.
"It's what I believe I was put on Earth to do. My purpose is to race a racing car, and I feel now I have a duty to show the world again that you can follow your dreams," Mardenborough said.
Mardenborough is still racing today, and a fun fact, he drove as a stunt driver in the "Gran Turismo" movie.