The first time I joined an official Mazda Cup race, I felt like a castaway in the middle of a storm. From the moment the green light lit up, chaos broke loose. Cars spinning in the first turn, crashes, voices shouting in the chat. I was convinced I could overtake three, maybe four, drivers on that first lap. Reality hit harder: a preventable crash, a penalty, and a dose of humility.
What I didn’t know at the time was that this race would teach me much more than how to brake late or take a proper racing line. It taught me that in iRacing, just like in many areas of life, it’s not only about skill — it’s about how you use that skill under pressure. I learned that overtaking doesn’t mean “just get by at all costs,” but understanding timing, space, and the driver in front of you. And above all, understanding yourself.
Over time, I realized the Mazda Cup is the perfect environment to learn. Everything is controlled: the car is the same for everyone, there are no magic setups or power advantages. If you run a good lap, it was you. If you mess up, also you. This environment removes excuses — and that’s what makes it so educational.
I raced many times. Lost and gained positions. I started to understand that the opening laps are a dangerous territory, especially for those who believe everything is decided in the first five minutes. The irony is that the more I learned to wait, the more positions I gained. At first, it felt boring to pass on “visually obvious” chances. But with experience, I realized they weren’t real opportunities. The other car was slightly off-line, but not enough to avoid contact. Was it worth risking my race — and theirs — for a forced overtake? Almost never.
One time at Summit Point, I was behind a clearly slower driver. Every corner tempted me to dive. But something told me to wait. Three laps later, he made a braking mistake on the straight. That was it. Clean. No contact. No drama. That’s when I understood: in the Mazda Cup, you don’t overtake with the car — you overtake with your mind.
That kind of patience not only improves your Safety Rating — it improves your experience. It keeps you on track and, even more valuable, starts to build your reputation. As I raced more often, I began recognizing names. They recognized mine too. They knew whether I was clean or reckless, whether I defended hard or yielded smartly. That collective memory creates an invisible, yet very real, community.
In time, I realized that every overtake is a silent agreement between two people who want to keep racing. It’s not about winning at any cost — it’s about finishing the race knowing you did it with respect, with control, and with that patience that, at first, felt like a waste of time… but ended up becoming my best tool.
- Remember, you can join iRacing clicking here.
See you on the track!
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