Simracing: Master in all fields 🎥
TITLE TO THOMAS SCHMID Thomas Schmid secured an SM title for the fourth time. Just like on real tracks, the man from eastern Switzerland also beat his opponents on the virtual track at the Swiss simracing finals. In the short video, shot before the final, Thomas Schmid introduces himself and explains how he came to simracing and what it means to him for the real [...]
In the short video, shot before the final, Thomas Schmid introduces himself and explains how he came to simracing and what it brings him to real racing.
His palmarès includes winning the Swiss Autocross Championship in 2015, and three years later he achieved the unique double in 2018 with the Swiss Junior Mountain Championship and the Swiss Junior Rally Championship.
And since last Sunday, Thomas Schmid is also the Swiss champion in simracing. The 25-year-old from Jonschwil had already won the virtual Rallye du Chablais during the lockdown in May.
Decision after the start
The 37 finalists of the Swiss Simracing Series 2020 were distributed among the four racing centers of Horgen, Hinwil, Basel and Kerns. The virtual venue for this year's finals was Laguna Seca Raceway in California.
In qualifying for the standard class, simracing specialist Enrico Di Loreto put his digital Porsche 911 GT3 Cup on the best grid position. Close behind were Thomas Schmid and Julien Apothéloz, who had already been successful on real asphalt.
After the starting lights went out, Schmid showed the best reaction, sat next to the pole setter and took the lead in the third turn. Together they quickly pulled away from the rest of the field. When the duo was around 16 seconds ahead, the chaser launched his first attacks on the leader.
Four SM titles in four disciplines
But the rally driver knew how to defend himself and won just ahead of his strongest rival. He received active support in the run-up to the event from the previous champion Fredy Eugster, who decided against defending his title despite his qualification and prepared his successor for the final.
Thomas Schmid: "I knew I had to take Enrico by surprise right at the start. After that, he put me under enormous pressure for 25 minutes. Somehow I managed not to make any mistakes and to consistently turn my laps. Respect and congratulations to Enrico, who always remained very fair. Unbelievable to be able to celebrate my already fourth Swiss Champion title in a fourth discipline! Many thanks to the organizers and sponsors who made this great championship possible for us."
More racers in front
The bronze medal was also secured by Lukas Eugster, an eastern Swiss with experience in real racing. Like Schmid, the man from Herisau sat in a simulator from the Racing Center Hinwil.
Internationally experienced racer Yann Zimmer, most recently competing in the 2019 Alpine A110 Eurocup, had to settle for a thankless fourth place. Julien Apothéloz, overall winner of the 2018 Young Driver Challenge and third in the 2020 ADAC GT4 Germany, slipped to ninth.
Three more winners
In the women's race, Danica Brönnimann was the measure of all things. The 29-year-old surgical nurse already indicated her title ambitions with the best time in qualifying and left her six opponents no chance from the start.
In the Ü40 category, 15 simracers over the age of 40 competed for the championship crown. Ljubomir Djuricic took the crown with another impressive performance. GT3 driver Nikolaj Rogivue came out on top in the VIP race without SM predicate.
The complete results of all categories can be downloaded from this Link can be taken.
