Solid Start as F1 Esports Adventure Underway
Team Norse Thunder’s venture into the world of F1 Sim Racing got underway in dramatic fashion at the weekend as the team’s new driver claimed a 9th place finish in the Austrian Grand Prix.
xRedz2k became the first ever Sim Racing driver to represent the organisation after signing a contract with the team earlier last week. The British-based driver has a seat racing for Ferrari in the Amigos Racing Sunday Cup - a weekly league open to drivers from across Europe and beyond.
The Austrian Grand Prix leg of the league had 18 drivers competing with more than six different countries represented. xRedz2k had targeted himself with a top ten finish - a position that would have earned him a championship point.
xRedz2k started brightly, but an unfortunate spin during the sprint race meant he would be starting from the back of the grid for the main race. However, a spirited drive saw him quickly reel in the pack and overtake driver after driver until he got himself back into contention for a top ten finish.
Safety car conditions in the mid-race compacted the field and xRedz2k found a way to take advantage with a manoeuvre that saw him move up into third place. However, another unfortunate spin and then wheel-to-wheel racing knocked him off the track in the final lap, agonisingly close to the finish.
When he rejoined the race he was in 9th, a position he held onto until he crossed the finish line. The finish, one better than the initial target, earned two championship points.
Speaking about his performance, and his new home with the team, xRedz2k said: "Thunder is a great opportunity for me. The team has proven themselves in other esports so to be the first driver signed for Sim Racing is very exciting because it allows me to help shape what I'm sure will be a very successful racing team in the future.
"The race at the weekend... I feel like I drove great, but unfortunately, I didn't get the mid race decisions right, so going forwards I hope to keep up that level of performance because I know I can get the decision-making right. It's just about bringing it all together to get the results both myself and the team are looking for."
Meanwhile, the team's owner, Dave Scotford said: "It was brilliant to have the race up on the big screen at HQ and go through the highs and lows of race day. xRedz2k has probably been a bit hard on himself because he was in touching distance of a top-three finish... considering he started from the back of the grid, that's a really solid performance!
"We're really excited about venturing into Sim Racing and the first steps felt positive. There’s the makings of something that’s going to turn out to be great here and we're looking forward to the drama of many more race weekends!"