Bryan Heitkotter

Bryan Heitkotter, born on January 13, 1981, is an American racing driver who took an unconventional route to professional motorsports. Hailing from California, Heitkotter's passion for racing began with video games, specifically the Gran Turismo series. He honed his skills in virtual racing before transitioning to real-world autocross events and track days. His racing career truly took off when he won the 2011 Nissan PlayStation GT Academy USA competition, beating over 53,000 other virtual drivers. This victory provided him the opportunity to train and race professionally.

Following his GT Academy win, Heitkotter earned his FIA license and began competing in various racing series, including the Grand-Am Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge, Pirelli World Challenge, and GT4 America. He has achieved notable success, including multiple wins, podium finishes, and pole positions. In 2012, he secured a pole position at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway during the Brickyard 400 weekend. Heitkotter has driven for teams such as Always Evolving, AIM Autosport, Doran Racing, and TechSport Racing, primarily racing Nissan vehicles like the 370Z and GT-R.

Throughout his career, Heitkotter has embraced both virtual and real-world racing. After his formal relationship with Nissan ended in 2016, he continued to race as a hobby. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he participated in SRO esports events, further solidifying his reputation as a versatile driver. As of 2023, he was competing in the Pirelli GT4 America series with TechSport Racing, driving a Nissan Z GT4.