FOUR years ago a 19-year-old gamer beat 90,000 people at the Nissan Sponsored GT Academy competition – winning the chance to step up from virtual competitions to real-life professional racing.

Now, 23-year-old Jann Mardenborough, has taken another step forward towards his dream of driving in F1 after being called up to make his GP2 debut.

Mardenborough, currently racing in GP3, will deputise for Carlin Motorsport’s Indonesian driver Sean Gelael this weekend at Monzo.

Speaking to Sky Sports, the English driver said: “I’m very excited. I got told about the opportunity on Monday and I am using it to gain experience as I am hoping to step up into GP2 next year with Carlin and Nissan.

“I am really excited to drive a GP2 car for the first time at what is the fastest track on the calendar.

“It is going to be pretty exciting to do over 320kph in a GP2 car.”

The GT academy competition, won by Mardenborough in 2011, pits fans of Playstation’s Gran Turismo against each other to win the chance of a racing career with Nissan.

The competition, broken down into four phases, sees the gamers tested on not only their virtual skills, but their real driving skills too.

They also undergo a series of personality and physical tests.

Jann Mardenborough is the only British entrant to win the competition since it launched in 2008.

Since winning, the Darlington-born driver, has gone on to race in British Formula 3, GP3 and 24 Hours of Le Manns.