On the topic of movies, earlier this week I went to the Regal LA Live and saw “Gran Turismo.” Following the story of Cardiff native Jann Mardenborough, the film recounts his journey from playing “Gran Turismo” 1 on the Playstation to racing for Nissan in international circuits such as Le Mans, Silverstone, Hockenheim and Nürburgring. The movie is a refreshing contrast to the previous film of discussion, “Ford v Ferrari” (2019), which mainly focused on mechanics and the innovation of engineering, and lacked evident diversity.

With the heavy publicization of and high anticipation for the film, Mardenborough joins the likes of Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton, who is coincidentally his idol. Hamilton is a seven-time world champion and seven years older than Mardenborough. Both drivers hail from the United Kingdom.

The translation of events isn’t without discrepancy, as is the nature of scene-to-screen adaptations. For one, a scene depicts young Mardenborough out late, drinking with friends around a bonfire. Startled by law enforcement, the group extinguishes the fire by pouring their beverages on the flames. Another discrepancy is the timeline of events. In the film, Mardenborough’s deadly 2015 GT3 crash at the Flugplatz section at Nürburgring — which killed one spectator and injured many — was positioned right before his podium at 24 Heures du Mans (Le Mans). In real life, the crash occurred two years after the podium.

Needless to say, critics have contended considerably on the accuracy of the movie. Yet, Mardenborough pointed out that it is a movie, not a documentary.The film’s main premise isn’t mechanics, but rather, to be a source of inspiration for audiences and a reminder of possibilities and limitless opportunity. After all, without Nissan’s 2011 GT Academy, we may have never gotten Mardenborough or further representation. Though Mardenborough was clocking in countless hours behind a screen, prior to the Academy, he wasn’t racing on a track. The cost of Karting, entry-level motor racing, was just too high.

It is worth noting, however, that in the film adaptation, Mardenborough’s cohort was split among women and men drivers. In reality, the inaugural class was entirely composed of men. While the balance is a pleasant addition to enhance visual representation for youth and racing hopefuls, it’s still just that — a discrepancy. It’s a reminder of the difference between scene and screen, and that achieving true equity and representation is one for the long haul.

Mardenborough recently raced for Nissan and McLaren as a test driver in Formula E (electric single-seater motorsport racing championship). Initiatives like FIA’s Girls on Track and the Hamilton Commission exist. However, efforts should get to a point where representation on-screen is the same as in real life. In terms of representation, there shouldn’t be a need to exaggerate.

In the context of motorsport’s history, lack of diversity makes sense — male European enlistees in World War II, returning to civilian life, felt the need for the same adrenaline rush they got flying jets and consequently turned to motorsport.

Despite creative liberties with film and cinema, as motorsport is still developing and advancing (i.e. in sustainability), Diversity, Equity and Inclusion practices should be as well. It shouldn’t be Mardenborough or Hamilton as the sole face of motorsport — but one of the many faces of motorsport inspiring younger generations to pursue their passions as well.

“Gran Turismo” is a nice accompaniment to Netflix’s “Drive to Survive,” and builds off the history of “Ford v Ferrari.” All installments shed light on the systems and stories of motorsport, and serve this to audiences in a digestible format.

But as great and impactful as they are, that’s all they should be — accompaniments, jumping-off points. With the acceleration of screen adaptations, DEI initiatives, and role models, actual representation and tangible change should be advancing as well with those directly impacted in the drivers’ seat of conferences, negotiations, events, programs and cameras.

Victoria Lee is a sophomore writing about diversity and representation in sports. Her column, “The Chairlift,” runs every other Wednesday.