HOW SIM RACING HAS FOUND ITS PLACE AS A REAL MOTORSPORT DISCIPLINE
S im racing has proven to be far more than just a temporary substitute for real-world competition. It is now a discipline in its own right. When Max Verstappen made his endurance racing debut last year, his choice to race with a member of his Verstappen Sim Racing esports team rather than an experienced on-track driver delivered huge kudos to the reputation of virtual racing.
Briton Chris Lulham was a junior kart champion before switching to esports, where he quickly became an on-screen superstar. He won the British F4 iRacing Trophy ahead of Luke Browning in 2020, signed for Verstappen Sim Racing and went on to win virtual 24-Hour races at Le Mans, Nürburgring and Daytona. Aside from one British F4 race, he had only started racing on track a year before he joined up with Verstappen.
“ A lot of people just don’ t realise that sim racing is another discipline of motorsport in its own right,” says Motorsport UK’ s Head of Esports, Paul Crawford.“ It’ s not a game and it’ s not just an add-on to real world racing. At the top level, the professional teams operate a lot like the teams in real world racing – and people can now make a career out of it.”
THE VIRTUAL LADDER Motorsport UK runs a selection of sanctioned community championships for high-level hobby racers which are just as professional as real-life racing, with stewarding, broadcasts and prizes. This is where entry level racers cut their teeth.
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