Brief Summary
Sebastian Job, a sim racer for Oracle Red Bull Sim Racing, is undergoing an experiment to determine if his virtual skills translate to real-world racing. He tests a Porsche Carrera Cup car at Snetterton, aiming to prove his competence for driving a Formula 1 car. Coached by James Wallis and supported by race engineer Joe Naugthon, Sebastian quickly adapts to the car, setting impressive lap times and demonstrating consistency. The day culminates in exceeding initial targets, highlighting his potential and adaptability, though physical fitness remains a key challenge for future steps.
- Sebastian Job, a sim racer, is testing his skills in real-world racing.
- He drives a Porsche Carrera Cup car at Snetterton, coached by James Wallis.
- Job sets impressive lap times, demonstrating consistency and adaptability.
- Physical fitness is identified as a key challenge for his progression.
Intro
Sebastian Job, a sim racer for Oracle Red Bull Sim Racing, believes the virtual world is increasingly mirroring reality, with detailed simulations allowing for precise car adjustments. He highlights that iRacing is now accurate enough to measure performance, raising the question of whether sim racing skills can transfer to real racing. This experiment aims to assess his ability to transition from sim racing to real racing, testing him in a Porsche Super Cup, Formula 4, and 3.5, to determine if he has the aptitude to drive a Formula 1 car. Sebastian acknowledges the difference between virtual and real-world consequences, noting some scepticism about the transition but emphasising that his progression to a Formula 1 car depends on his performance in these tests.
Arriving at Snetterton
Sebastian expresses his nervousness upon arriving at Snetterton but aims to manage it. He meets James Wallis, his coach, who has extensive experience with the Porsche Carrera Cup car. James is a Porsche Carrera Cup junior driver. Joe Naughton, Sebastian's race engineer for the day, refrains from setting strict lap time targets initially, suggesting a 1:53.000 would be a good benchmark. Sebastian remarks on the similarity between the real car and the sim. James will warm up and dial in the car for Sebastian.
Setting the benchmark
James completes his first lap to set a reference time for Sebastian. His primary focus is on his own racing career while assisting Sebastian throughout the day. Sebastian has thousands of hours driving this car on iRacing and is curious to see how accurate the real car feels. This experience is entirely new for Sebastian, transitioning from sim racing in his bedroom to driving a real, fast race car. He admits to feeling on edge with adrenaline and is eager to start.
Seb's first session
Sebastian describes his initial experience driving the Porsche Carrera Cup car, noting the impressive acceleration, braking, and responsiveness. He attributes the responsiveness partly to the G-Force, which immediately pushes him into the side of the seat. Unlike the sim, where he feels the rear through the steering wheel, in the real car, he feels the entire car shifting beneath him. He expresses his excitement about transitioning from sim racing to the real experience.
First feedback
Sebastian describes his first session as awesome and natural, noting its similarity to the sim. He mentions a minor lock-up that he noticed through the light indicator. Following the session, Sebastian, James, and AJ debrief in the truck. The initial lap time is 1:53.420, which will be used as a comparison point. James expresses surprise at the good lap time, indicating they can start working from there. He advises Sebastian to brake less, gain more confidence, and carry more speed into the corners, echoing Sebastian's own feelings.
Building confidence
After each session, insightful debriefs help Sebastian translate his sim racing knowledge to the real car. The new target is 1:52.700. The initial goal was to gradually build speed and get used to the braking, but Sebastian immediately got into it, which was impressive. During one lap, Sebastian locked up for a significant amount of time. He was exploring the limits of braking, causing the front wheels to lock up easily, especially with slight steering. He is advised to be cautious with the brakes to avoid wasting tyres. Unlike the sim, where tyre management is less critical, here, it requires careful attention.
Consistency
The team plans a long run to test Sebastian's consistency, aiming for lap times within the target range for professional cars. This involves running with more fuel and weight to assess his ability to repeat lap times, demonstrating his understanding and control of the car. James notes that few people can get into this car and be fast immediately. He expected Sebastian to be within a second of his time, but being within half a second was surprising.
Final lap times
Sebastian achieves a lap time of 1:51, which could be a P1 pace. James expresses his initial doubts but is now very happy with Sebastian's performance, considering it impressive based on his experience coaching other drivers. Sebastian exceeded the initial target of 1:53.000, achieving a 1:50.440 with race fuel. James highlights the quickness with which Sebastian adapted to the car, demonstrating bravery on a challenging circuit. He believes this experience will benefit Sebastian in future steps, though the increased physical demands of single-seater cars are a concern. Adapting from a GT car to a single-seater will be a significant challenge, and physical fitness is crucial for making the most of this opportunity.
