Winner of the award-winning Nissan/Playstation GT Academy programme in 2011, Jann Mardenborough, has started making serious steps toward a possible career in Formula One – now that he’s signed to compete in GP3 for 2014 and has joined the Red Bull Racing development programme.
After winning GT Academy out of 90 000 other hopefuls, the 21-year old Briton made a strong impression on his superiors with his GT Racing stints, but has found particular success in single-seaters – having finished 2nd in the New Zealand-based Toyota Racing Series in 2013, managing a podium finish at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in the same year in the LMP2 category, and finishing 6th overall in British Formula Three.
Now, Mardenborough has signed with Arden International Motorsport, defending champions of F1 feeder series, GP3. The team is run by Infiniti Red Bull Racing team boss Christian Horner, and their 2013 champion Daniil Kvyat has graduated to F1 with Red Bull junior team, Toro Rosso.
“I’ve prepared well and I have all the right people around me to help my development so I can fully focus on my racing. Formula 3 has taught me so many things, both in the car and out of the car, both mentally and physically. It was a great stage in my development and I’m sure the skills I’ve learnt there will help me in GP3 and beyond. I’m excited to work with Arden,” Mardenborough said.
Mardenborough has also been signed to an intensive driver development programme with Red Bull – something which will greatly add to the skills he’s built up with the Nissan driver development programme.
“This season is my opportunity to impress more people in the sport who make the decisions on who makes it into F1 and who doesn’t, and I’m going to give it my best shot,” he added.