Jann Mardenborough Moves to Open Wheel Racing

GT Academy Motorsport January 6th, 2013 by Famine

As the rest of us settle back for the New Year, with our copy of GTPEDIA in-hand, GT Academy winner Jann Mardenborough is gearing up for a very busy winter indeed.

After a European summer of racing, Jann has joined New Zealand’s top open wheel competition, the Toyota Racing Series. The series consists of 15 races over 5 rounds in successive weekends of January and February 2013 and Jann will be driving the traditional Nissan #23 car for ETEC Motorsport.

Round 1 – 10th-13th January – Teretonga Park, Invercargill
Round 2 – 17th-20th January – Timaru International, Timaru
Round 3 – 24th-27th January – Taupo Motorsport Park, Taupo
Round 4 – 31st January – 3rd February – Hampton Downs, Waikato
Round 5 – 7th-10th February – Manfeild Park, Feilding

Although it’s not well known in the Northern Hemisphere, the Toyota Racing Series is an established route into higher formulae. The chassis themselves are built in Italy to FIA F3 specification and previous participants have graduated to Formula Ford and Formula Three. It also marks the first time a GT Academy winner has driven a major race series without Nissan power – the series using 500kg Toyota chassis with 200hp Toyota engines.

This open-wheel experience and a series of tests with Carlin at Oulton Park, Valencia and Barcelona has lead to rumours of a 2013 F3 seat for Jann and the first steps towards an open-wheeled career – amongst Carlin’s former drivers is Max Chilton of Marussia F1. However it’s likely to be a “wings and slicks” experience for him ahead of joining other GT Academy winners in LMP2, along with Carlin’s GP3 driver Alex Brundle who has driven the Greaves car with Lucas Ordoñez.

In the meantime, Jann has been getting to grips with the British GT and F3 safety car – the Nissan Juke-R:

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20 Comments

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  1. January 11th, 2013 at 5:14 pm - #
    carracerptp

    Good luck!

  2. January 9th, 2013 at 3:48 pm - #
    Amac500

    When I think of the mark of a true race driver the first quality that comes to mind is diversity. I’ve always said the real race drivers are the ones who prove themselves across multiple platforms. Believe it or not some people out there actually think that success in F1 is what dictates the greatest race driver, but those people are what I like to call “F1 elitists” and also what I call “wrong”, lol. Respect to Jann for branching out, best of luck to him in his open wheel adventures!

    • January 9th, 2013 at 11:35 pm - #
      magsolid

      F1 drivers were okay. It is very difficult to know who is actually the best race driver in the world, same thing with other sports. Not everyone has a chance to become a professional with just their skills alone. They need money and luck to reach their dreams.

    • January 14th, 2013 at 4:44 am - #
      dalmaximus

      That’s why roc is such a great way to show who is the best. In my opining, rally drivers are the best drivers, just look at the last two F1 drivers who attempted rallying.

  3. January 8th, 2013 at 5:05 am - #
    05XR8

    Sony undergoing maintenance?

  4. January 7th, 2013 at 12:24 pm - #
    dalmaximus

    F1 is a bit different from GT Racing jann and there is only one Lewis Hamilton. Sorry mate
    If you prove me wrong then i’ll eat my words.
    You have done well though

    • January 8th, 2013 at 10:52 am - #
      Pit Crew

      Did He mention somewhere that he wanted to be the next Lewis Hamilton? Maybe he just wants to be a better Jann Mardenborough. Do you Jann and bypass the haters.

    • January 8th, 2013 at 12:59 pm - #
      R1600Turbo

      Who said anything about F1? Way to pick your way through the article. Maybe you should read the whole thing.

    • January 8th, 2013 at 1:06 pm - #
      dalmaximus

      I was just going by what dan said at the bottom.
      I’m not hating, I’m just pointing out that even Lewis is mega amongst his f1 rivals, let alone as a skilled driver.

    • January 9th, 2013 at 11:40 pm - #
      magsolid

      Lewis Hamilton is an okay race driver.

  5. January 7th, 2013 at 10:31 am - #
    researchALLwars

    go get em, technique!

  6. January 7th, 2013 at 8:00 am - #
    Raggadish

    That is a great looking R35.

  7. January 7th, 2013 at 5:44 am - #
    TOUGE_MONSTER

    going to the hampton downs race

  8. January 7th, 2013 at 2:24 am - #
    UrieHusky

    Nice to see NZ getting some attention :) hopefully GT Academy is available here this year

  9. January 6th, 2013 at 5:20 pm - #
    Rushton1996

    OMFG!!! The Timaru race is only about an hour drive from my house!!! Although I personally think FIA GT1 in Europe is much more prestigious than open wheel racing in NZ, Good luck to you and i might even turn up to say hi (;

    • January 6th, 2013 at 7:45 pm - #
      Louie_Schumii

      Make sure you ask Jann to put in a good word about bringing GT Academy back to NZ ;)

  10. January 6th, 2013 at 4:29 pm - #
    Pit Crew

    GodSpeed to ya Jam :tup

  11. January 6th, 2013 at 3:08 pm - #
    TokoTurismo

    Awesome!! I wish all good luck to Jann. Gonna be exciting! :D

  12. January 6th, 2013 at 2:23 pm - #
    dan0543

    I remember he said a while ago he fancied his chances as the next Lewis Hamilton. I know open wheel racing doesn’t just mean F1, but i’d bet thats what he’s going for. would be a great advertisement for GT academy.
    Good luck Jann

  13. January 6th, 2013 at 2:15 pm - #
    Ginjaninja7797

    Good luck Jann. Hope it goes well for you!!