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!
This website uses affiliate links which may earn a commission at no additional cost to you.
Great write up, my sentiments exactly.
Should be in a rule book somewhere, but then of course you remember that the majority of people don’t care how they win, especially in a racing game with people they don’t know.
And nice guys actually very rarely finish first.
Agree entirely. If more iRacers had this attitude, it would take iRacing to another level. It’s much more fun to have a good race battle than to have a crash.
This attitude will serve you well when you get to the big endurance races. It’s all about survival 1st in big team races, where you are not just finishing for yourself, but your team mates as well.