Who Won The First Real GT Academy (It Wasn’t Jann Mardenborough)

While Gran Turismo makes it seem like Jann Mardenborough was the first winner of GT Academy, it was actually someone else. The new racing film from PlayStation Productions describes itself as being “based on a true story,” but like many films inspired by real life events, Gran Turismo takes its creative liberties. The film creates a relatable underdog narrative about a gamer with dreams of becoming a professional racer. Nissan marketing executive Danny Moore (Orlando Bloom) simultaneously creates the Gran Turismo Academy in an effort to sell the dream of becoming a real race car driver, establishing the player base of the Gran Turismo game as a new Nissan market.