Jann Mardenborough will race in GP3 after being signed by motor racing giants Red Bull Racing.

Mardenborough, 22, learned to race on games consoles, beating 90,000 other hopefuls in the virtual gaming Gran Turismo Academy programme run by Nissan and Sony.

His virtual prowess saw him earn the opportunity to learn real racing with Nissan and now he will race for Arden International, who are run by Red Bull team principal Christian Horner.

"I feel ready for GP3," said Mardenborough. "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.

"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."

It is the first time that Red Bull have taken on a gamer rather than someone who has followed a more natural path into the sport.