Romain Grosjean's sim racing passion was reignited during lockdown in 2020 after a 10-year spell away from the scene, and the IndyCar driver and former Formula 1 star - who formed his own esports team R8G eSports back in December - is getting as involved as he can in helping his drivers from the sim seat into the cockpit.
The Frenchman's team compete across a number of competitions from Gran Turismo Sport to iRacing and rFactor 2, and R8G has supplied drivers Risto Kappet and Erhan Jajovski for NIO 333 and ROKiT Venturi Racing's Formula E: Accelerate squads - with North Macedonian Jajovski currently top of the Drivers' standings.
"I’ve been super busy with sim racing," says Grosjean. "I got really involved last year during the pandemic and lockdown and we’re now working with many drivers across a lot of different categories and I’m super proud of them. Risto and Erhan are both doing amazingly in Formula E: Accelerate.
Incredible to see @RGrosjean set a lap of the New York circuit ⚡️
— ABB FIA Formula E World Championship (@FIAFormulaE) March 11, 2021
He set the time in single player from his own sim rig so we can’t count it on the studio leader board, but impressive FE street racing skills from Romain!#FEAccelerate#Allianzpic.twitter.com/T4rL5WwyPi
"I get involved as much as I can and I’m trying to learn from them so I can beat them but they’re so fast! When I do something, I want to do it 100 per cent and so when I decided to come into sim racing, I knew I was going to spend hours in the sim."
The costs of getting involved at motorsport even in karting and junior series' can be prohibitive for many climbing their way through the ranks. Grosjean's a champion of esports as a means of opening the door for drivers to cross from the virtual into the real racing world.
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"It’s a really great tool and I want to make more of the bridge between reality and the virtual world and enable that transition," he says. "It’s happening more and more and I want to give the younger racers the chance to live the same dream I have in motorsport. We’ve already seen it with one of our drivers Gordie Mutch, who’ll race in Britcar this year. It’s a step in the right direction but I want to see more."
Back on track
Grosjean made his return to the cockpit recently, testing in the USA as he preps for his jump to IndyCar for 2021 after a decade-long stint in Formula 1. The Frenchman's rehab is going well after that horrific accident in Bahrain back in November, and he's more than looking forward to getting behind the wheel once again - chasing silverware.
"It felt very good to be back behind the wheel of a racing car at my first IndyCar test in the USA the other week," added the 34-year-old. "My recovery has been great and there are some days where the injury’s hard to notice already. The hardest part is behind me and every day it gets better.
"I’ve made my time in Formula 1, had an amazing career and I don’t regret anything. I think I got to the end of my journey and I’m excited about my new challenge. Formula 1 is amazing, but you want to win races and my last win was in 2011 at Monza in GP2 Series – and I like champagne so I want to be back on the podium as soon as I can! I’m excited for my next adventure!’
"Testing has been mega so far. It is a completely different mindset, and the cars are wild. I was happy with the progress I’ve made but despite my career, I feel like a rookie again!"