A couple of weeks ago, the Dutch driver Giedo Van Der Garde, hinted on his twitter that “simracers are not real drivers” with a cryptic tweet where he says: “For all simracers: This is the moment when your balls shrink and you feel the difference”, accompanied by an image of the LMP2 with which he competes in the WEC, facing the famous “Eau Rouge” turn of Spa-Francorchamps.
To all the sim racers: this is the moment you feel your balls shrimp and feel the difference. @RacingTeamNL @FIAWEC @wtf1official pic.twitter.com/I9CCOembYe
— Giedo van der Garde (@GvanderGarde) April 30, 2021
And the question is why, why take the time to try to throw “darts” to the simracing community? In the current F1, we have many drivers who are dedicated to simracing to improve the skills and compete, as is the case of the current championship leader Max Verstappen, and the other two drivers who joined him on the podium in Monaco, Lando Norris and Carlos Sainz. Do they lose credit for being simracers as well as being F1 drivers and not devoting 100% of their time to racing in reality? On the contrary, it is something that fills us all with joy to see how people who share our hobby can go so far in real competition as well.
Max Verstappen races with Team Redline in virtual competitions, where he has already been able to win several prestigious endurance races within iRacing, and is one of the drivers with the highest iRating of the entire platform. On the other hand, Lando Norris also races constantly on the platform (although now a little less than before) and broadcasts on Twitch, which allows the new generations to have first-hand information on how the world of simracing and real racing moves.
Undoubtedly, that on the podium of the most prestigious Grand Prix of Formula 1 are 2 of the greatest exponents of simracing worldwide, is something that will add more participation to the world. And demand attracts offers, and the variety of offers generates competition, and competition only helps to have better services.
On the other hand, we also have Romain Grosjean supporting and promoting Simracing much more. A driver with many years of experience in Formula 1 who now competes in Indycar in the United States and has achieved his first Pole and podium in only his third race in that category. In his spare time he is often seen racing in iRacing and doing Twitch broadcasts, as well as sponsoring the 2021 Predator Simracing cup in Assetto Corsa.
And if that wasn’t enough, his opponent, the Spanish Alex Palou, who has achieved 1 victory and 1 other podium this season, also runs a lot in iRacing and does constant live broadcasts on Twitch.
If we add to that the fact that Motorsport Games has bought Studio 397 (owners of rFactor 2) and are putting a lot of effort into developing the NASCAR Heat franchise on their side, we will also have a strong contender in the oval section, or at least that is what is expected.
Despite the fact that a few would like to say the opposite, Simracing can only continue to grow.
See you on the track!
