(This article was originally posted to Darren’s LinkedIn profile. It has been re-posted with his kind permission.)
The Gamer to Racer Crossover is complete. But will ‘gaming’ ever become a real and equal alternative to karting for young drivers?
I’d argue it has to.
William Byron winning the 500 for Hendricks Motorsports this week has once again vaulted the #GamerToRacer story into the headlines.
And the content around the win, promoted by NASCAR and Netflix to name but two could not be clearer on the journey from Virtual to Real.
The reason the Gran Turismo the movie was subtitled very clearly ‘Based on a True Story’ is that people just could not believe this transition could happen, even after all this time.
The research of the story post viewing is strong with a-lot of ‘shoulder content’ being consumed to understand what ‘really’ happened. And despite the ‘True Story’ disclaimer, age of the project and assets around the movie people are still disbelieving that the skills are transferable.
In the video above (click on the photo to view), once again, it is highlighted how drivers ‘normally’ get into racing. But that route has been changed for a long time.
Max Verstappen and Lando Norris are Gamers who Race. Or Racers that Game.
As I said, the lines are already blurred.
Having checked in on testing coverage of Formula 1 this week I have been struck by the amount of chatter about the importance of simulators. I really can’t recall the subject having such high share of voice.
With Anthony Davidson having a prominent role this week in the comms box as well as in the sim at Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS Formula One Team perhaps the balance has been tipped.
I know for certain that Rudy V. is busy this week in Milton Keynes at Red Bull Racing & Red Bull Technology effectively running a second (virtual) car in the testing window.
So perhaps at last people won’t be shocked by the amount of blurring of the virtual and real worlds – evidence continues to be presented to the non believers in may different formats.
The next big jump has to be a new push to (re)establish the virtual world as an equal to karting as a starting point for a career, so that Byron and Jann Mardenborough are not the exception that proves the rule.
I’d argue it HAS to.
Why?
To deliver the stated aims of diversity in the sport.
Just from a geography and cost point of view we are losing millions of potential racing talents because they have no access to a kart track or can’t afford to race karts.
Maybe the Next American F1 driver will start on line because their local kart track is 5 hours away and maybe her family can afford a pc but not a karting season.
Whatever the case we as an industry should really use this new wave of interest and proof point to expand our ‘intake’ into the sport. And to diversify the talent pool.
Author: Darren Cox
Darren Cox is the creator of GT Academy (now a Hollywood film ‘Gran Turismo’) as well as an Advisor, Speaker, Innovator and Founder.