Challenge Grid: Winner takes it all

Swift Siggy

This advantage ensures the Slovenian sim star has an insurmountable lead in the table– meaning he’s certain to line up on pole position for the finale.

"My experience in the Race at Home Challenge up until now has been really good," said Siggy, whose performances in the Challenge so far have helped him secure a seat in the 24 Hours of Le Mans Virtual.

"It’s a really tough field out there and it’s hard to stay on top every time. The biggest high for me was Round 6 when I won by more than 12 seconds as well as being three-tenths faster than everyone else in practice. 

"The biggest low for me was the qualifying for round two when I missed pole by 0.001 seconds which was mentally hard to accept, but all the wins covered that one up.

"It's been super competitive between many of the sim racers, especially Lucas (Mueller) and Petar (Brljak). They are two consistent nightmares for me every round, but in a good way as it makes it more satisfying and fun to win races versus them.

"It would mean a lot quite frankly, because I don't really get many chances at driving real race cars, so winning this would be an amazing achievement as driving a real Formula E car would be insane to try out.”

The battle behind

It’s all to play for in-behind Siggy, though. Peev, Mueller (Mahindra Racing) and Brljak (Panasonic Jaguar Racing) are second, third and fourth in the charts as it stands, with just five points between the three of them.

Grid position will be all important for the winner-takes-all final, and every berth behind Siggy is subject to intense competition.

The prize – a drive in a Gen2 Formula E car around a Formula E street circuit - could scarcely be a bigger incentive for a field of sim racers whose dream is making it as a professional racing driver. There’s also a place for the winner in the BMW SIM M2 CS Racing Cup Finals within the BMW SIM Live 2020 competition at BMW Welt Munich.

“I have had a great experience so far in the Race at Home Challenge, I always enjoy racing the Formula E car in rFactor 2," said Peev. "It’s very unique, in terms of driving style required to race on the limit and with the street circuits.

"I don't need to say what it will mean to get in a real racing car, especially in Formula E, where the future is heading. That's a chance that comes few times in a lifetime and I'm quite disappointed that I haven't managed to deliver.

"I hope the future holds more chances and opportunities like this. Bringing sim racing and real racing closer and closer, with more crossover competitions and better simulation. This is the direction professional motorsport is heading.”

Mueller meets Wehrlein

Mueller's record so far, largely unblemished save for a zero last time out in Round 6, includes a victory and multiple podium finishes. Barring that blank, he'd be right up there.

An opportunity to race against his hero Pascal Wehrlein, thanks to Mahindra Racing, earlier this week was all the warm-up he'd need as he aims to put himself front-and-centre for the Grand Final and the overall prize.