Because often there is nowhere for kids, especially those who are low-income or have limited access to resources, to practice racing, recruiters are now turning to video games in order to get the top recruits.

This is why Nissan worked with Sony to create GT Academy, in which the top competitors get to compete for a paid sponsorship to race with Nissan in the big leagues.

In order to qualify to race in the finals, participants must complete a series of steps. First, they must become the top 20 people playing Gran Turismo on Playstation. Then, they have made it to the national finals, where participants compete against people from the US as well as undertake a fitness exam. After that there is an international week long competition to weed more people out. Finally, if you make it through that you have the chance to compete in Dubai at the 24 hours race.

Many people were skeptical about this program and if someone could actually go from playing a video game in their bedroom to driving a sponsored race car on a track.

Jann Mardenborough is one of the people who won GT Academy, beating over 90,000 particiapants. He loved racing as a kid but was unable to continue due to the high cost. Until he learned about GT academy.

Now, Jann Mardenborough is a professional racer. He has won the Germany GP3 race and was able to set the fastest lap within that race. Most recently Mardenborough was training in Japan to race the Super Formula.

GT Academy is great because it allows the wealth barrier to shrink. Often it is referred to as the “back door” or shortcut into motorsports and a way to equalize the playing field, regardless of someone’s family income.