Josh, 20, on track for life in the real fast lane

Josh Martin, 20, has been racing cars on computer games since he was about 11, but now the psychology student at Dundee University has signed a contract to professionally drive a BMW 3 series race car next year.

Incredibly, Josh has never raced in a real car before, having only practised on his computer game simulator.

He has competed in online competitions against the best racers around the globe and even scooped the Assetto Corsa Scottish Championship this year.

Now he is set to take his skills on to the race track and will be competing across Britain and perhaps even Europe after attracting attention from ProRace UK.

Josh, whose favourite driver is F1 legend Fernando Alonso, said: “I started playing with friends when I was 11 or 12 and I turned out to be really good at it.

“I thought I needed to start taking things more seriously.”

Based in his Perth Road flat, Josh can spend up to eight hours a day practising in his bedroom, and he is confident he can mix it with other drivers who have been racing for many years in go-karts and other formats.

He said: “The next thing is getting in training to build the muscles in my neck as the one thing the game doesn’t replicate is the G-forces you experience.

“Dundee University has good facilities so I’ll be able to do weights, run and cycle.

“I’ll have testing to do and I also need to look for sponsorship, but luckily Dundee is a good place for that.

“It’s well-known for its gaming industry and being the first person to move from racing online to the real thing, I’m hopeful it will work out well.

“I will be looking to compete in maybe six or seven events.

“My aim is to win, but the first thing will be getting used to the car and trying to compete with the guys at the front.

“There will be a lot of pressure on me given where I’ve come from, but I’m looking forward to it.”

Josh will be competing on famous race tracks such as Scotland’s premier circuit, Knockhill, as well as Brands Hatch and Silverstone, where the Formula 1 British grand prix is held every year.

But Josh reckons it won’t take long to acclimatise as he’s already driven some of the circuits on his simulator.

A DUNDEE student is set to make the world’s first-ever transition from virtual racing in his bedroom to the real thing.

Josh Martin at the wheel. The 20-year-old has signed a contract to drive professionally next year.

Racing cars in the virtual world.