For anyone who thinks the transition from sim racing to the real thing is impossible, last weekend's results at the 2024 Nurburgring Endurance Series prove otherwise.
In a big statement, seasoned sim racers Jimmy Broadbent and Steve ‘Super GT’ Brown secured victory at the Nurburgring during the first event of the 2024 Nurburgring Endurance Series.
The real deal
Many see transitioning from sim racing to a real race car as a pipe dream. It’s easy to negotiate the Carousel of the Nurburgring in Assetto Corsa Competizione with no consequences for getting it wrong, but doing it for real with more at stake is a very different proposition.
Recent examples prove, however, that making the move from sim rig to real racing is entirely possible. Cem Bolukbasi traded a virtual Formula 1 car for an F2 drive in 2022, while Lucas Blakeley famously defeated four-time F1 World Champion Sebastian Vettel in the Race of Champions in the same year.
Perhaps the most famous example, however, is Jann Mardenborough.
The British racer started out playing the Gran Turismo racing series before using that sim racing experience to win the GT Academy series in 2011. From there, Mardenborough went on to race professionally, with his story adapted into the Gran Turismo movie released in 2023.
Despite the success of sim racers in real-life racing, the phenomenon still has its doubters. Recent results, however, may help sway public opinion once again.
Broadbent and Brown achieve victory at Nurburgring
At the first event of the 2024 Nurburgring Endurance Series, held over the weekend of 6-7 April, Gran Turismo World Series commentator Jimmy Broadbent and well-known GT streamer Steve ‘Super GT’ Brown helped secure victory in the GT4 Class.
Joined by Nurburgring streamer Misha Charoudin and former N24 winner Manuel Metzger, the pair turned a disappointing Saturday into a successful Sunday, with Brown snatching a crucial overtake on the penultimate lap to take the win.
Racing in a GT4-category BMW M4 Gen II for Black Falcon, all four drivers will compete in the entire six-event season, as well as the Nurburgring 24 Hours and its qualifying races. Fans can watch all the action via the official Nurburgring YouTube channel.
With one win already under their belts, Broadbent and Brown continue to fly the flag for sim racers in the racing community. It’s results like these that will eventually win over the naysayers. Even three-time F1 World Champion Max Verstappen believes there’s a place for sim racers out on track.
Did you enjoy seeing Broadbent and Brown charge to victory at the Nurburgring? Let us know in the comments below!
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