From lockdown video games to pro racing driver

August 23, 2026 - 13:37

A young driver from Witham is proving that a childhood spent with a controller in hand can lead to a professional career on the track. Twenty-year-old Jack Thompson, who first started racing competitively during the 2020 lockdown, credits online simulators for giving him the skills and confidence to make the jump to real cars.

Thompson began with popular racing games, spending hours honing his craft in virtual championships. What started as a way to pass the time quickly became an obsession. He joined an online league, won several titles, and caught the attention of a local motorsport team. Within two years, he was testing a real Formula Ford, and last season he secured his first podium finish in a national series.

"It sounds strange, but the fundamentals are the same," Thompson said. "Braking points, racecraft, tyre management. The sim teaches you to think ahead, and the physical side you can train in the gym. The transition was smoother than I expected."

He now splits his time between virtual practice and track days, using the simulator to learn new circuits before he ever arrives. While he acknowledges that real racing requires a different level of physical endurance, he believes the mental preparation from sim racing is unmatched.

Thompson's next goal is to move into GT racing, and he is already in talks with a team for next year. He hopes his story encourages other young gamers to see their hobby as a potential first step, not just a pastime.