Kazunori Yamauchi, played by Takehiro Hira, is the visionary behind Gran Turismo, hailed as the most precise racing simulator ever created. His aspiration is to make the world of racing accessible to everyone. After a bold proposal from marketing executive Danny Moore, the motor-sport division of Nissan, known as Nismo, launches the GT Academy. This innovative initiative aims to transform skilled Gran Turismo players into real-life racing champions. Danny is convinced that with 80 million youths engaging with Gran Turismo, the potential to identify a champion from this pool could revolutionize the way people view their physical race cars.
To spearhead the training, Danny recruits former driver-turned-mechanic Jack Salter, who initially expresses reluctance to take on this challenge. His hesitation stems from the perceived arrogance of his team’s driver, Nicholas Capa. Jack is deeply concerned about the risk involved in transforming a novice gamer into someone who could handle the dangers of racing at 200 mph, while Danny argues that these gamers possess more track time than many professional racers.
On the other side of the story is Jann Mardenborough, a passionate teenage gamer and part-time employee at a clothing store in Cardiff, Wales. Jann is eager to pursue his dream of becoming a professional racer, despite the disapproval from his father, Steve Mardenborough, a former footballer who believes racing has no future. Jann firmly believes that racing is where his true talents lie.
His journey takes an exciting turn when he learns he is qualified for a race that can secure his spot in the GT Academy. The night before competition day, he decides to attend a party with his brother Coby, where he also meets the charming Audrey, played by Maeve Courtier-Lilley, igniting a romantic interest. However, the night spirals out of control when police arrive, prompting Jann to speed away from a confrontation. His father later finds out, leading to a stern lesson in responsibility, but Jann ultimately prioritizes his passion for racing and successfully wins his place in the Academy.
Once at the GT Academy camp in Silverstone, UK, Jack rigorously tests the competitors, including Jann, Matty, Antonio, and others, to pare down their numbers. During one test, Jann surprises Jack by crashing and revealing the car’s glazed brakes, which he had initially thought to be unlikely. Ultimately, Jann impresses everyone by narrowly winning the final race against American contender Matty Davis, despite Danny’s initial inclination to select Matty for his marketability.
With a chance to earn a professional racing license within his grasp, Jann learns that he must finish at least fourth in any of the qualifying races. His path to success is rocky, starting with a last-place finish in Austria after a collision with Nicholas. With each race, Jann gradually improves, moving into the crucial qualifying race in Dubai, where he finally secures his fourth-place finish and an official license. Following this victory, he travels to Tokyo with Danny and Jack, where he shares a momentous signing and begins a relationship with Audrey.
Jann’s debut race at the Nürburgring Nordschleife starts on a high note, but it quickly turns tragic as he crashes into a spectator area, which leads to a fatality. The weight of this incident haunts him, causing him to withdraw from the sport as he grapples with guilt. To support him, Jack takes Jann back to the scene, where he shares his own harrowing history with racing—the loss of a fellow driver in a fatal accident.
Despite an official inquiry clearing Jann, public perception shifts against sim drivers, leading Danny to assemble a team of competing drivers, including Matty and Antonio, to represent Nissan at Le Mans. On race day, Jann’s father expresses his remorse for not supporting his son's ambitions earlier. As the race unfolds, Jann's resolve is tested after witnessing a catastrophic crash but finds motivation in the tunes that Jack plays through the car's communication system.
Despite several obstacles, including mechanical mishaps during pit stops, Jann defies the odds and sets a new competition lap record. In the final stretch, he faces Nicholas, culminating in a nail-biting finish that secures him a third-place podium standing, establishing a historic win for Nissan.
In the moving epilogue, viewers learn about the real Jann Mardenborough, who has gone on to race over 200 times and has shown remarkable resilience, even serving as his own stunt double in this inspiring film.
