Kyalami took the stage as the deciding race for The Sim Grid World Cup by Thrustmaster, and it really couldn’t have been any better. It is a tough track that requires great patience to be quick and make up positions, so coupled with the most difficult conditions of the cup to date, it produced an amazing finale to such a prestigious championship.
After three of the most action-packed races in Sim Racing history, GTWR Simulator Giantruck took the pro class championship of The Sim Grid World Cup as they drove yet another perfect race despite the unpredictable conditions. The series has contained some of the most talented eSports drivers ever to turn a wheel in Assetto Corsa Competizione, and not one of them left anything behind after a total of fifty-five hours of racing.
Our final podium
Taking its third win of the series was the #1 GTWR Simulator Giantruck Audi, who led every single one of 300 laps at Kyalami. Rain or shine, they were the team setting the pace at the front of the pack – and there was no better race for them to take the championship win.
After emerging victorious at the first-ever Spa 24 hours one month ago, they were looking to carry that momentum into the final round. They led the pack away for the first time, and led the pack around for the final time nine hours later. Whilst their compatriots fell away in the rain, they however showed no such weakness. Truly nothing the sky could produce could stop them.
Second place on the road, and in the championship, was the #123 FFS Racing Nissan. They were the only Nissan on the grid, but this factor came to play to their advantage when the rain came down. Just like multiple other rounds in the series, their dry pace was up there with the very best, as they sat sixth for the first portion of the grueling race. But, as the heavy rain came, the team truly came into their own. The car’s characteristics coupled with the drivers’ pace was the perfect recipe for pace. They played the wet weather strategy perfectly, as they sailed past the top five to take second place, where they remained for the rest of the race.
Taking the third and final step of the podium was the #23 Jenson Team Rocket RJN McLaren, who entered the race as a wildcard team. They are representing the official team of the Formula 1 world champion Jenson Button, and featured two of the team’s real-life drivers, being Michael O’Brien and his teammate and World’s Fastest Gamer, James Baldwin. As expected, this team along with Tobin Leigh, had a mightily impressive race. They started in the lower end of the top ten, but after starting well they went from strength to strength, despite the McLaren not being the best car in the rain, or at Kyalami. Their race turned out to be quite quiet after their battle with the #2 YAS HEAT Ferrari in the first half, but showed brilliant consistency to take third.
Final Standings*
- GTWR Simulator Giantruck #1 – 173pts
- FFS Racing #123 – 122pts
- Like and Subscribe Team #56 – 114pts
- Racing Line Motorsport #194 – 110pts
- YAS HEAT – 109pts
*Standings are reflected prior to any penalties and/or adjustments.
The big pro class players
Just like in the silver class, the rain tipped the order on its head, as big players such as the Like and Subscribe Mercedes that were looking to bounce back after a tough race at Spa struggled. However, one teams’ pain is another team’s gain and that proved to be the narrative of the class.
From the very outset one thing was made perfectly clear; that the GTWR Simulator Giantruck Audi was the one to beat. After qualifying on pole and with their past performances being very much of high standards, they had it all to lose, but no such issues arose.
Taking fourth fourth overall was an unlikely team, the Carbon.eSports #225 Porsche. You would think that a Porsche would be one of the cars that would not suit the wet conditions, but the Carbon.eSports drivers miraculously managed to make it work. Just like in the 90 minutes of Kyalami a few weeks ago, the 991 Porsche GT3 came into its own as the race went on. They showed their true pace in the wet as they moved up to the edge of the top five and as the #2 YAS HEAT Ferrari made a mistake in the final hour following multiple crashes, the #225 Porsche managed to make a move and secure fourth.
Another of the cars that gained so much in the rain was the WheelSpin-esport Aston Martin, as they secured a series best sixth. Just like in the silver class, the Aston Martin was the car that had the advantage in the rain and they really made the most of it.
The silver class’ stars
Heading into Kyalami, the Silver class championship was still completely undecided. There were only three points separating the #123 SRJ Motorsport Aston Martin and the #995 KEK Sim Racing #2 Aston Martin, making the fight for the class championship victory a case of whoever is first to cross the line, will take it.
Coming home in sixth place overall and first in class to take the silver class championship was the #995 KEK Sim Racing #2 machine. Kyalami was another of their signature races: dominant and without a foot wrong. They actually started outside of the top twenty, with the class polesitter second, making their victory even more of an incredible achievement.
For much of the early hours of the race, the #995 team were driving well, sitting just outside of the top ten as they engaged in multiple battles to move their way up the order, but the rain was really what flipped the silver class on its head. Suddenly multiple silver class drivers saw themselves inside the top ten as their Aston Martins shone in the treacherous conditions. During this period, the #995 only moved further up the field, as the #125 SRJ Motorsports team suffered a crash that put them an entire forty seconds behind their rivals. From then onwards the pressure was on the #125 to close the gap, but they couldn’t make it as the #995 took the championship win.
Yet, neither of these teams were looking to emerge as class winners as the lights went green. In fact, all eyes were on the #36 GT Omega RPM Esports Endurance Audi. The team were in fact keeping within a respectable margin of our overall race leader, but disaster struck seven hours in, as they suffered a full disconnect which forced them out of the race.
Final Standings*
- KEK SimRacing #2 – 184pts
- SRJ Motorsport #125 – 180pts
- Connection Lost Racing #404 – 156pts
- RevolutionSimRacing Red #70 – 128pts
- Team Fordzilla UK #8 – 126pts
*Standings are reflected prior to any penalties and/or adjustments.
Kyalami’s top performers
One of the teams which emerged from the nine hours of grueling racing as one of the best performers was the Racing Line Motorsport 194 team. As the sole Bentley on the grid, they, just like the FFS Racing Nissan, had some stereotypes to battle this race more than ever, due to the track really not suiting the car. Just like the Nissan though, they showed that in the right hands, it can be as good as any other car. They also gained big time in the wet, but backed up their progress through the field with solid pace in the dry, rounding out a strong season for the team.
Another of the best performing teams was the #44 RevolutionSimRacing Blue squad, who came from twentieth on the grid to eighth by the end of the race. Despite showing great pace to win the Bathurst 12 hours, they have not had the pace to challenge for a victory since, but at Kyalami, they showed their class. At the beginning of the race they slipped back and it was looking like they might be in for a tough race, but against the odds, they carried their Mercedes bak through the field to secure a respectable handful of points.
Reflecting on the season
The first season of The Sim Grid World Cup has been a massive success, as it has starred one of the most competitive grids and sim racing hence has provided arguably the best races in Assetto Corsa Competizione. There has been thrills and spills throughout, and Kyalami could not have been a better finale to such an incredible series.
Make sure to check out our title sponsor Thrustmaster for all of the best sim racing gear and our series supporter, Coach Dave Academy for the best setups and coaching available.
