James Baldwin has become the first ever Team UK athlete to win a Gold medal after triumphing in Esports at the 2022 FIA Motorsport Games.

The 25-year-old proved to be the class of the 60-strong field of drivers assembled at Circuit Paul Ricard over the two days of running, qualifying on pole position before taking a lights-to-flag win in the quarter final, semi-final, and the main event itself.

He was kept honest throughout by his nearest challengers, Chris Harteveld (Netherlands) and Alberto Garcia Gomez of Spain, throughout the 60-minute race, but held his nerve to steer his McLaren 720S to an eventual 2.9-second winning margin.

Baldwin was presented with his Gold medal on the podium by 11-time Formula 1 ® Grand Prix winner Felipe Massa, an achievement that puts his name in the history books as the first British athlete to take the top prize at the FIA Motorsport Games.

“Wow, what a day,” exclaimed Baldwin after stepping from the podium. “I’m over the moon to bring back the Gold medal for Team UK at the FIA Motorsport Games.

“It was such an intense final race; I feel knackered now. Assetto Corsa Competizione is my favourite game, so it was really good to race on that. I hope to come back in the future.

“A huge thanks to everybody at Team UK and Veloce, it’s been a fantastic event and I’ve really felt the support.”

Baldwin’s efforts added to Team UK’s medal tally, after an earlier Bronze in the GT category courtesy of Ian Loggie and Sam Neary.