There is no doubt Jake Burton will be a championship contender! He is fast, un-compromising, smart and brutal.

The sim racing world knows Jake Burton, he is heavily featured at the front of the field in anything he races. He has been around for years, and has utilised his sim racing career to make it to real Supercar tests, and raced competitively in the Toyota 86 Series. Jake takes us through what will make him one of the ones to beat.

Jake, are you confident you can make your presence felt and possibly take some wins in the inaugural Logitech Pro Invitational Supercar series?

I’d like to hope so! I think everyone is pretty excited about the idea of a new Australian championship in the Supercar, so I am sure the competition will be tough, and wins won’t come easy. With that being said, I have been lucky enough to win in SCOPS and Supercars Eseries, so my expectation on myself will be to do the same here. I like to race aggressively, and that won’t change in this series, so I hope to have some hard racing and earn some results.

You are one of Australia’s top iRacing Supercar drivers, and your one of a few that has driven the real thing, what are some lessons you have learnt in the real Supercar you can apply in sim?

Driving the real Supercar for the first time was a really humbling experience. I am fortunate to have been really competitive in just about everything I’ve raced, real and virtual for the last 5-6 years at least. I was surprisingly fast in the Supercar, but still a second and a half off Nick Percat on my first test, and the whole experience taught me that there is still much to learn and my driving technique has plenty of room to grow. This has changed my mentality and encouraged me to keep searching for pace and improve, even when I think I’ve given it everything, I can still find more.

You are representing your own team, VRS, do you have any alliances to help you this season or will you be competing as a single car operation?

Unfortunately, I will likely be riding this one solo. That being said, I have some incredibly strong teammates at Vendaval Sim Racing who I am sure would be willing to lend a hand, and have been lucky to be teammates with Jarrad Filsell, Madison Down and Josh Rogers in the past. I feel like that experience, along with all the tools we have available to us in modern sim racing (VRS, MoTeC etc), will allow me to self-coach and identify where I can improve intrinsically.

You are one of the toughest competitors on track and you have pushed the limits racing your competitors right to the very edge, Watkins Glen 2018 SCOPS comes to mind, are we going to see this intensity this year from you?

I think over the years I have changed as a driver. 2018 Watkins Glen Is still one of my proudest victories, I felt mentally stronger at the time and honestly, I think I just wanted it more than Jarrad. With that being said, I feel like I was fast, but my aggression was fueled by emotion and that emotion didn’t always lend itself to good decision making. After 2020 Eseries, I saw a sports psychologist (and continue to see them), to try and work on my in-race decision making and ensure that I ‘race smart’ (a quoted I have permanently engraved on my steering wheel that was advice from my Supercars Eseries engineer, Andrew Edwards (He moved to Red Bull this year to be SVG’s lead engineer)). So to answer the question, yes I will bring the same intensity, I will still push the boundaries of how aggressive you can be and bend the rules, that’s how I race, but I think compared to 4 years ago, I’ll be a bit more selective with which fights I want to take.

Which drivers do you think will be ones to watch in this series and do you think we will see any surprise results? And do you have any messages for your rivals?

I think Jarrad and Madison are still the clear stand outs. Perhaps there might be races where they lack pace, but they’ll always be the top two on the leaderboard headed into the last race. With that being said there are some emerging drivers who have really found their feet recently, Brady Meyers comes to mind. My message simply though is that whoever I am racing I’ll race as hard as I can, and I look forward to some hard fights with you all.

What is it about the Supercar Pro Invitational that has you most excited this season? 

For me just the idea of a set of new faces and fresh ideas running a series was super exciting. I am part of the club that has raced V8SCOPS every season since it’s test season back in 2014, and I think most in my position felt like they had had enough of the same old people and same old problems. For me, I am just stoked to see someone new backing a series, with the same top level drivers competing, it should be epic.

Thanks to Jake for taking the time to talk with us about the upcoming season. We wish him all the best when drivers take to the track for Round 1 at Sebring. For all the information about the first round of the championship make sure to check out the Sebring Event Details page at the link below:

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The Festive season just became the silly season for the Logitech G Pro Invitational Series.

Griffin Gardiner can now be considered a veteran of the Australian Sim racing Community. Active since 2017, he has had his fair share of success with both Australian, and international teams. With a second place overall in the 2024 Logitech G Pro Invitational season, Griffin's venture with the Lobs Esports team has come to a sudden halt, after receiving a message from Lobs driver Jarrad Filsell at 3am on Sunday morning.

Griffin, who was on night work saw the unexpected message and immediately contacted fellow Lobs drivers Dylan Rudd and James Scott. It was soon after that the trio realised that the copy and pasted message was the end of their journey at Lobs.

Dylan and Griffin only joined the team this year and brought immediate success by coming first and second in the championship, and with James Scott, a Lobs team original and the current SCOPS Champion, the three of them were constantly battling at the pointy end of the field.

The series admin was lucky enough to speak to Griffin on the day that the news became public. Needless to say, there was a bit of emotion from his side. Griffin said “We had no notice at all, we were speaking with them all the night before, there was no indication this was coming."

Griffin stated “They should be embarrassed. There was a complete lack of respect for the three of us that had given our all for the group, and helped push it to get the results we had as a collective." "No one else involved at Lobs has even bothered to reach out to us. At the end of the day, they got rid of the three guys they were least friendly with, the same three guys that produced a championship win and multiple race wins this year. They aren't a real team anymore, just a boys club."

Griffin was “very surprised” that the three of them had been effectively kicked from the team where they had an instant impact, and helped form an incredible debut season for the team in the Logitech G Pro Invitational Series. Generally, on average the three drivers would contribute approximately 30 hours a week in testing to ensure that they were capable of delivering the desired results for the team.

Championship Winner Dylan Rudd is amongst the drivers no longer at Lobs Esports

Griffin was of the opinion that their feedback was respected, and they certainly assisted with the setups and the success of the team. The three drivers have spoken to other teams, however, there is a thought that they could start their own team. A decision between the three of them is likely to happen within the next few weeks. A new team on the grid carrying the numbers 1 and 2 would no doubt add that much more excitement and drama to the front of the grid.

We spoke to Lobs Esports team representative, Jarrad Filsell, who shared that “There's no side to the story, we have decided to downsize our roster, that is all” With the 2025 season launch coming soon, no doubt this will add some spice to what will be an intriguing season ahead.

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The 2024 season has been a weird one thus far. We’ve just come off the back of the biggest tire saving race in the history of the series. Every comment I’ve heard from anyone has been along the lines of “man that was tough, that race challenged every ability I had”.

Within that though lies an opportunity to really showcase your talents. One driver in particular has really started to move forward as the season has been progressing. 19th - 11th - 5th - 3rd. That's a string of results that suggests confidence, and to get some understanding into the driver behind that I needed to chat to none other than Andrew Gilliam.

This year has a huge opportunity to seize the upper hand in the early stages of the championship. Last year we probably saw your more aggressive side seeking that race win, and it paid off. Are you driving a bit differently this year?

Last year was my final year of Uni and on a few occasions that bit me with poor preparation. I wasn’t consistent enough and so I drove for individual results whenever I was well prepared enough. Now that I’ve graduated and have some stability, I’m really looking to the bigger picture knowing we can put our best foot forward every race. With how ridiculously tight the field is this year; I don’t want to take any top 5 results for granted. If you lose your rhythm, it might be hard to get back to the front pack for a few rounds.

The drive from Jerez was long and arduous, and had an amazing time battling away with Marcello Rivera as well. Walk us through your emotions crossing the line in 3rd and getting that first podium in the series for Vermillion Motorsports.

That race honestly felt as big as my win at Detroit last year. With only 1 pitstop and a shorter race, less could go wrong and I could rely on the genuine pace we had. At Jerez, we had to learn how to manage the tyres better than we ever had before. Curtis studied our data to give me clean air, half a litre at the line, and a tyre advantage over Marcello. If anyone in our team had dropped the ball that podium wouldn’t have been possible. I had so much support behind me, and coming up to the last few corners knowing a move wasn’t possible, I can’t express how thrilled I was to reward everyone’s huge efforts.

Wednesday night we’re off to Watkins Glen, a race that is touted as the “Bull Ring” race of the season. Last year’s result was good enough for 4th position. How's the preparations for this year’s event looking, and can you go one better this year?

I agree it’s a tough event. If you can’t nail qualifying you’re locked into a tough night with how difficult the overtaking is, especially once we settle into a draft train. Preparations are looking good and I’m confident we can build on the momentum of the last few rounds to stay in that top 5 pack.

Something that's going to become relevant later in the year is the co-drivers for the 3 round endurance cup. Has your co-driver been locked in as yet, and can you fill us in on who it is? How’s the rest of the Vermillion crew looking? I’d imagine that would be a bit of a challenge with a new team building out the co-driver roster.

We have a decent idea of who will be with who at this stage, but nothing is locked in yet. We have a strong line up of drivers who are developing their skills in V8SCOPS and East Coast and practice with us eager to perform when we need them.

Last year you picked off a race win on the streets of Belle Isle in Detroit. Can we finally see that round win this year and do you have a track in particular you think is your best shot?

I genuinely believe that I can come into any of the remaining rounds with a shot at the round win. I have plenty of experience racing at the rest of the circuits, so I have a good idea of what’s expected to be performing at the top. If any though, I would love to break through for a result at Bathurst. I’ve had 3 V8SCOPS poles in a row and started alongside James in the Pro Invitational Series round last year but have suffered some bad luck and always had to switch to recovery mode.

What I get from Andrew is that sense of self belief, both in his own abilities and those around him. The Vermillion crew are starting to put all the right pieces of the puzzle together.

This is going to be a big year, a big opportunity, time for Gilliam to reach out and grab it.

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by Scott Rankin

Beau Albert's ascent in the Qualifying Series gained momentum during Round 2 at Magny-Cours, where he delivered a masterful performance, clinching an impressive third-place finish.

This remarkable achievement propelled him into the upper echelons of the standings, currently resting comfortably within the top 5 in the overall rankings. While not a household name in Supercars circles, Albert's journey through the 2024 Pro Invitational Qualifying Series has been nothing short of impressive, defying expectations along the way.

"It's where I wanted to be that's for sure, but realistically, no, this is much higher up than I'd have expected. Of course, it's only the halfway mark in the season and plenty can still happen in the remaining two rounds but it's a great confidence booster for me to run so strong against such a talented field."

"Getting a Podium this week was a huge shock to the system though! I expected to be fighting inside the Top 10 most weeks, maybe challenging a Top 5 on a good day, but to snag a Podium so early on is just mega"

The Logitech G Pro Invitational Qualifying Series, comprising four high-stakes races, serves as a gateway for aspiring drivers aiming to secure invitations to the main series scheduled to kick off in March. With only the top 20 in points earning coveted spots in the main event, the competition is fierce, demanding nothing short of excellence from its participants.

What sets Albert apart from his peers in the series is his diverse portfolio of successes within the realm of sim racing. While not necessarily renowned as a Supercar driver on iRacing, Albert boasts an impressive track record in other disciplines, including being a multi-time iRacing Rallycross Pro World Championship driver and a Top Split iRacing Daytona 24 Hour winner.

His pedigree in these other forms of sim racing establishes him as a dark horse in this year's series, bringing a wealth of experience, skill, and adaptability to the table. 

"There are absolutely lessons I've learnt from all kinds of racing that I've done that help me become a better driver overall. Competing in several Endurance events and championships over the years has helped me develop tyre-saving techniques and learning how to fall into a nice consistent rhythm; The Rallycross side of things has helped me a lot with car placement and also 'Car Combat' so to speak, like how much you can lean and bump a driver in a battle without crossing the line etc. So absolutely I think there is a lot I can take from that racing into the Qualifying Series."

Despite his relative inexperience in the Supercars ranks, Albert's proven track record in other competitive arenas positions him as a formidable contender, capable of challenging the established order and reshaping the narrative of the Series.

"When it comes to the Supercar though, it really is such a unique beast that requires a whole new skill set. It's such a technique-heavy car, particularly when it comes to your footwork on the pedals and that's been one of the more difficult aspects for me to pick up. For everything that I've raced over the years, Porsche Cup, Rallycross, GT3, none of it has required rev-matching and blipping the throttle, so learning the timing of that has been quite a challenge for me."
 

Albert during Pre Qualifying at Phillip Island

When asked what inspired him to take the dive and commit to making the Pro Invitational Series in 2024 Beau said;

"It's a chance to prove myself against the best in the country. It's as simple as that..."

"I had a good attempt at competing on the world stage, and I had a hell of a run and I'm proud of what I achieved but after six years of chasing it, I finally came to terms that I'll never win a World Championship. I'm a great driver, but perhaps missing that last 1 or 2% to compete at that level. I guess I see myself as one of the drivers that aimed for Formula One, but came up short."

"Now I'm looking forward to competing in an equally challenging series with a whole new end goal for me to chase and most importantly, no more midnight race starts! This series is an exciting challenge and that's certainly re-lit the competitive fire in me. I've never dedicated myself fully to this car before, so I really don't know quite how big my potential is. This series is the perfect measuring stick for that so giving the 2024 Series a run was only natural."

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Over the last 14 months of being in the Logitech V8 Pro Invitational, the combination of both Vermillion Esports and Zachary Rattray-White have been on the move.

Rattray-White’s first result in the series back at Sebring in 2024 followed on from a strong run of pace in the Qualifying Series in a car that he was still coming to terms with. Since then, he had improved in just about every race to finally grab his first ever top-five finish at Spa in the final round of that season.

2025 started with a bang for him, back at the pointy end of the order and very nearly putting his name onto the podium in what would have been the first for Vermillion in the series as well!

It seemed the partnership was not far away from seriously placing their names under the spotlight.

However, in a sport where you can’t afford to be sitting still, Rattray-White has made a move all of his own.

I’d been passed whispers that something was due to change in the near future at Eclipse Simsports, but with no real context to what was about to unfold; it was going to be a ‘watch this space’ for the near future.

It's a new look for Rattray-White after only two rounds of the 2025 Season

The announcement would finally break cover on Friday morning: Rattray-White would be moving to the white, red and black liveries that adorn the Eclipse Simsports team.

Moving over to become part of the Eclipse quintet of drivers to feature alongside Damon Woods, Kody Deith, Dylan Birse and Kobi Williams; Rattray-White would be joining as the current highest placed driver in the championship. At the moment, he sits 5th in points, with the next best Eclipse driver being Damon Woods - who is currently in 8th.

It’s important to note that Rattray-White has unfinished business with Vermillion outside of his Gen3 commitments. Looking at the GT Pro field, Car #17 was the Vermillion Esports entry driven by Jamie Christison alongside of the departing Rattray-White.

Ben Faulkner offered the following comments on Zach departing the team and the #17 car for GT Pro.

“Well Zach was one of our top drivers so when we got the message saying that he was parting ways with us we were a bit disappointed. We did see it coming over the last few months however. Just maybe not so soon, although we do wish him the best of luck, we will support his journey for the future and beyond.”

“The #17 car for GTPro will no longer run under the Vermillion Esports branding, at this stage we are uncertain of what that car will be run as.”

Rattray-White offered the following regarding his reasons behind the move.

“I just needed to go somewhere to further improve myself. The team has always been extremely supportive, and has given me everything I’ve ever asked for. However, I was just missing the extra bit that I wanted to learn from.”

Another move, another change. With the next round before the end of April, keep your eyes peeled to see if this comes as a bonus or detriment to all involved!

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by Scott Rankin

Dylan Rudd continued his rich vein of form during round 2 of the Logitech G Pro Invitational Qualifying Series at Hockenheim, securing a well earned victory come the end of the 44 lap encounter.

After failing to secure automatic acceptance into the 2023 Logitech G Pro Invitational series over the course of the 2022 season, Dylan has returned, showing exactly why he deserves his place to race against the very best. Although a consistent top ten contender in 2022, missed rounds and bad luck hampered Rudd’s campaign.

Speaking in the post race press conference, Dylan, currently sitting 2nd in the championship standings, was asked about his focus moving forward.

“I’m more focused on securing a promotion into the series, but come the final round, If I find myself on top of the points it would be a cool bonus”.

The second round of the championship was also highlighted by a wonderful battle between Rehan Liyanage and Dylan, when speaking about the battle, Dylan would go on to state he felt it was a fair battle against the Pursuit Sim Racing driver.

“The battle against Rehan in the closing laps was a very hard but fair battle. It Was very enjoyable to battle and race against Rehan as there was respect given from both sides to run side by side for majority of the final lap”.

As proceedings were being wrapped up at Hockenheim, conversation moved towards Sandown. Having already hosted an event last year which saw Dayne Warren & Jarrad Filsell take the prestigious Sandown 500 crown, Sandown will be a great equaliser for some who have already had a taste of the Victorian circuit during the 2022 endurance cup campaign including the likes of Dylan Rudd. When asked about Sandown, Rudd seemed quietly confident he could get the job done.

“Sandown is a track I enjoy driving at. I’ll be shooting for a top 5,anything can happen on the night and there are plenty of fast guys out there”.

Dylan Rudd’s recent form should be cause for concern for the drivers in the Logitech G Pro Invitational qualifying series, A driver who is seemingly on his game, will be hard to beat come race day at Sandown.

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The best 40 supercar drivers from Australia and New Zealand, the best teams with the biggest name drivers. It is no mean feat to bag a top ten in that company! And that exactly what Dylan Rudd did at Monza.

Qualifying a jaw dropping sixth, Rudd made up for him embarrassing grid crash at Red Bull by bringing home the teams first top ten result.

Rudd looked fast all night, his car balance and set up traits made the most of the unique Monza layout, having healthy speed trap numbers whilst maintaining good low speed traction out of the slow chicanes and great kerb control. 9ine 5ive Sim Sport has been knocking on the door in recent rounds, one of the smaller teams beginning to really challenge for results more consistantly.

Rudd engaged in a battle for seventh late in the race, where he smartly decided to bring the car home rather than risk it, he knew this breakthrough would be a big moment for the team. Were looking forward to see Rudd and McNamara come enduro time, as both have real endurance credentials and a strong pool of drivers to choose from internally. 9ine 5ive Sim Sports are on the up and up, follow their socials to hear all the latest and follow their progress.

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When the year started no one expected to be where we are right now in terms of results. That's been covered at length. The real key to this story, as it unfolded, has been the new names placing themselves into contention.

“Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.”- Roman philosopher Seneca

The next steps on this path are then governed by the adjustment from the driver, and today’s driver in question is none other than the current series leader Dylan Rudd.

First off Dylan, there’s been this constant build in speed over the last 12-18 months. Then the opportunity to work with James Scott and Jarrad Filsell comes along. Walk me through that moment and how that came about? That's a huge opportunity, but it also meant moving away from a great friendship with Shawn Mcnamara and the team at 9INE5IVE.

I received a message from James at the end of last year asking if I would be interested in joining Lobs, the opportunity to work with the best drivers. I couldn't turn it down. Obviously it was hard to leave 9INE5IVE as I had been there for so long but you don't get an opportunity like this everyday.

Was there a goal you had in mind for this year’s championship?

I hadn't set any goals for the championship this year, just see where I end up at the end of the year.

Was there a moment where you noticed the points after Sebring and a lightbulb clicked on that you were going to be a championship threat this year?

No not really, I think it's a bit early to be talking about being a championship threat as we are only at Round 3 of 12 and still a long way to go, see where we are at, come the pointy end of the year, and hopefully we are still in the hunt.

You’ve got 2 Queensland State Titles to your name in karting. Understanding and dealing with pressure naturally comes with that territory. Have you changed your mindset about the races?

Mindset is still the same, drive as fast as possible with minimal mistakes, there are a few extra things to think about in the sim like strategy etc.

Tire fall off late in the stint was an issue last time out at the Red Bull Ring. Did you have a look back at the data and feel confident you know the next steps? Was there a setup difference to Scott and Filsell or was it all driving differences?

No setup difference between the cars, it was all driving differences and after going back through the data I know what I need to improve on for future races.

What's the team environment like in the Speedcafe Lobs Esports team?

The team vibe is good, everyone is working well together and will only be getting better as the season goes on.

There’s a lot of race experience and some of the highest Racing IQ’s to bounce off in the background. Has there been much of a change in the way you go racing as a result? Heck…. I’ll take a tip or 5 if you have them!

Not a great deal, the most beneficial thing has been their knowledge for driving technique, tyre life etc which all helps during races.

What's the goal for the race at Jerez?

Winning is always the goal.

Finally, the most important question. Does Pineapple belong on Pizza?

Pineapple does not belong on pizza.

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by Scott Rankin

Ethan Grigg-Gault will be preparing to do battle as he heads to Bathurst on Sunday with the Evolution Racing Team, still well and truely in the hunt for the 2023 Motorsport Australia Logitech G Pro Invitational Cup title.

Grigg- Gault’s form has been nothing short of impressive in 2023. 3 podiums along with pure consistency finds the Victorian in sight of the championship lead, just 67 points adrift.

With a bank of 400 points still available at Bathurst, this title fight is well and truely alive. And Ethan Grigg-Gault, is in for the fight.

We sat down with Evolution Racing Team’s Ethan Grigg-Gault to talk about all things racing, his title battle, Bathurst success & more.

Reporter: Your still well and truely in the battle for the championship, only 67 points from the lead. What for you personally, will be the key to maintaining your championship challenge across not only Bathurst, but the final few rounds following?

Ethan: I think the most important thing at the moment is to stay focused. We've had a really good run this year, apart from a couple of the early rounds. But just staying on top of my testing routine and maintaining the run of form we've been having. Hopefully we can close in on the championship through Bathurst, but it'll definetly be a tough job clawing back points from the likes of Madison Down and James Scott. There's also a posibility I wont be able to make the round at Road Amercia as i'll be driving to Perth for the Excel Nationals that week, which is a bit of a shame after the year we've had, but there's not much you can do about date clashes.

Reporter : You’ve tasted success in multiple series around Mount Panorama Bathurst, including a podium in last years Bathurst 1000 event alongside Bradley Vaughn. What are your thoughts & feelings heading into this years event alongside the experienced Ian Ford? Do you think you both could prove to be a winning combination?

Ethan: I think both me and Fordy will head in with a lot of confidence. It's a track that both of us seem to click with and we've always had really good results there. But Bathurst always throws up its own challenges through the race. If we can keep the car clean throughout the day and really get on top of the setup, I definetly think we are a genuine contender for sure.

Reporter: Vs 2022, this year has proven to be a return to form for yourself in the Motorsport Australia Logitech G Pro Invitational Cup. What do you think has been the difference for yourself in 2023 that has allowed you to consistently be in contention for wins and now of course the championship?

Ethan: I made quite a few changes to my sim in the off season. I had a very old Direct Drive base that was made before simucube was even a thing, so I think that may of been holding me back a little bit. Decided to bite the bullet and upgrade to a Simucube 2, and to be fair, it doesnt feel a whole lot different, but small improvements especially at this level can be very beneficial.

But I would say the biggest factor would be car setup. I was still stuck to the old way of building setups that I had gotten used to during the VF and FG era, and I hadnt really done much work with this car prior. We started the year pretty much the same as last year. We we're in the back half of the top 10 at Sebring, but were still lacking car pace during the race, and then I built what I thought was a good setup at Phillip island only to get completely obliterated in the race.

After that, Brad Ryan and I started working out what the car actually wants to be fast, and not my previous mentallity of what should be fast. And ever since then we've been pretty damn close to the ballpark most of the time. Still a bit of work in the setup and my own driving itself, but what we've been able to manage this year has been really promising.

One of the greatest drivers Australian Sim Racing has seen, there is no doubting Ethan will perform in this years edition of the Bathurst 1000. Can Ethan get the job done at Bathurst & chase down the championship lead?

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Vermillion Motorsports, a team on the rise in the Supercars arena, has found a gem in Zack Rattray-White. Despite being a relatively new face in the series, Zack has already demonstrated exceptional skill and composure behind the wheel, propelling himself to the forefront of the 2024 Qualifying Series.

With the Main Series grid for 2024 within tantalizing reach, Zack's performance has been nothing short of impressive. Currently positioned at P12 in the standings, he sits comfortably within the top 20 cutoff, marking a significant achievement for both himself and Vermillion Motorsports. The final race at Fuji looms large, presenting Zack with a chance to solidify his standing and cement his place among the elite drivers of the series.

Zack's journey to prominence reached a pivotal juncture at Hockenheim, where he delivered a breakout performance, crossing the finish line in an impressive P7, he showcased his ability to compete at the highest level, earning the respect of his peers and admirers alike. It was a statement race that underscored Zack's potential and hinted at even greater accomplishments on the horizon.

On his performance at Hockenheim for Round 3 Zach stated:

"By far one of the better races I’ve ever completed in the Supercar. Our strategy really made our race in the end, we knew when to fuel save and when to push. Our stops were really well executed. Overall a really good way to clap back at a mediocre round at Magny Cours due to a wheel disconnect."

It has been a fast start for Zach in Supercar competition who has only been actively working on his craft in these unique cars for a seemingly short amount of time.

"Started driving the Supercar competitively in late 2022 [...] In 2023 I started to get a decent tempo with the car and started to understand it a bit more in the setup department scoring some solid finishes. Then in late 2023, I joined Vermillion Motorsports and yeah, our V8 program now is doing alright."

Vermillion Motorsporst has shown a strong presence so far in the Qualifying Series with Jacob O'Reilly and Connor Nixon both also showing some competitive pace to this point. When asked about how the team has helped him in the Qualifying Series Zack commented: 

"Just good vibes, not much more than that really. We put in a lot of practice and really push each other, but at the same time we don’t try to take it too far and make it a painful process. Overall just a lovely bunch of people that I really get along with. Very happy that I can say this is my home for now in the sim racing world."
 

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Griffin Gardiner had become a staple of top ten results so far this season, featuring at the front part of the field in all rounds up until Monza. 

But Gardiner will be ruing a more conservative approach to setup by running more rear wing than most which hampered his speed trap numbers.

After Qualifying, Gardiner was still within striking distance of retaining his perfect record in the top 10, but it would ultimately slip away after an early race battle with Gilliam, neither happy to let the other lead their pack. The battle left their draft pack too far back from the cars in front, and when Griffin lost the draft, his straight line speed was insufficient to maintain his lead.

Once the Vendaval driver had to battle at the end of the race, his straight line speed really hurt his ability to finish stronger than 16th. Still maintaining a strong sixth in the title chase, Gardiner will be looking to resume his mortgage on a top 10 result when the series resumes at Spa on August 31st!

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Its been a tough start for Jamie Dike in the Logitech G Pro Invitational Supercar Series, but there has also being encouraging signs. Qualifying 27th at Winton, but also having a pair of 24th finishes at Winton and Red Bull Ring is nothing to sneeze at considering these are the best 40 Supercar drivers anywhere. What makes it even more likely that the potential is there is that at Red Bull Ring, he suffered an equipment malfunction mid race which brought the safety car out and still finished 24th. That may have been a top 20.

Tell us about what it has been like being a single car entry in the series, what are the difficulties and what is the team doing behind the scenes to back you?

Fishy is a great little team, they have plenty of potential talent. Do you think we will see more Fishy cars enter the draft series and try to get a place in next years Pro Invitational?

After racing consistently against some of the best drivers in this car, what are some areas you are working on, or that you have identified you would like to improve on?

What is your team doing behind the scenes to help you set the car up each week? Have you started to use VRS or Motec or any other systems to help improve your car and how is that benefitting the team overall?

What do you think you can achieve this year in the series, what do you think is possible?

Finally, we thought we’d be cheeky and ask, is there any word on who might partner you in the endurance races? Your team has done a lot of endure racing, it looks like it will suit you guys, you must be looking forward to it?

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A best finish of 20th at Spa, Greg has searched to improve and well and truely break into the top half of the field. Although results of late have been lean, the pace has definitely improved with Greg slowly moving more consistently into the mid field.

Most notably the performance of Greg and his Co Driver Rehan Liyanage at Bathurst was a standout, running deep inside the top 15 until a late race mishap put an end to their Bathurst result, nevertheless the potential didn’t go without notice.

Although Favelle’s season has been faced with many hardships he’s ability to stay persistent and keep adapting and improvising is a credit to both Greg and Tiapan Esports.

With automatic promotion to the 2023 series no longer possible, Greg’s attention will turn to 2023 and the Qualifying series set to begin on the 1st of February at Phillip Island. With one round remaining in the Logitech G pro Invitational Series, Favelle and Tiapan Esports will be looking to end the season with a solid result, taking their momentum into the 2023 Logitech Pro Invitational Qualifying series.

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It was only a few rounds ago and we were hailing the success of Vendavals Griffin Gardiner. He was Mr. consistent, sitting neatly in 6th championship position. Only a few short rounds later we find Griffin languishing down in 19th. We speak to Griffin to see what is going on and how the wheels have fallen off in the last couple of races. And more importantly, we find out if he can get back to where we all know he should be and is capable of.

Griffin, simply, what has happened? Where has your season come undone?

The last 2 rounds have definitely not gone to plan, but following an intense Eseries season, I just needed a break from the sim. I’ve also just finished building a new rig and that transition is taking a while.

We head into the endures and your co-driver Damon Woods is someone we don’t know a lot about, but how confident are you of returning to the top 10 at Sandown?

I am really confident heading into this Enduro Season. Damon is a really talented driver who I think has a big future ahead of him. He impressed in the Eseries Draft with limited seat time and I think we will be pushing the Top 5 at Sandown.

We know you and Jake Burton both drive for Vendaval Sim Racing in some capacity, do you guys work together or are you two singular teams operating independently?

When Jake joined Vendaval at the start of 2022, I quickly realised it was a golden opportunity to learn from and work with one of the quickest drivers in the country and since then, we have worked well together as a pairing.

What area do you think you need to improve on either with car or driver to return to your former solid and consistent performances?

I think I am still driving at a high enough level to get good results, its just a matter of time until I can get to grips with my new equipment, which Im hoping will lead to even better pace from myself.

Thanks for the insight but one last question, the top 20 get through to next season, you are currently 19th. Do you have any fear of dropping outside of that top 20?

Obviously its not a good feeling to be on the bubble, but I showed I have the speed in the first half of the season, so im confident Ill be able to get back up the championship standings and avoid the qualifying series.

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Richard Hamstead's start in the 2024 Logitech G Pro Invitational Qualifying Series provided a surprising 35th Place Finish for the Trans Tasman Racing veteran.

In the high-stakes world of esports racing, every turn, every lap, and every pit stop can make the difference between victory and defeat. For seasoned driver Richard Hamstead, the opening round of the 2024 Logitech G Pro Invitational Qualifying Series was a rollercoaster of emotions, culminating in a lowly 35th place finish at Road Atlanta. Touted as one of the favorites heading into the series, Hamstead's unexpected setback has left fans and pundits alike questioning what went wrong.

The Logitech G Pro Invitational Qualifying Series kicked off with a bang at Road Atlanta, where drivers faced the daunting challenge of a 49-lap race with two compulsory pit stops. Richard Hamstead, known for his skill and experience, entered the fray with high expectations, qualifying strongly in 7th position. As the race unfolded, Hamstead demonstrated his prowess, quickly settling into a top 5 position after the initial round of pit stops.

However, it was during the crucial second round of pit stops that the tide turned against Hamstead. In a sport where milliseconds matter, a split-second error can have far-reaching consequences. Unfortunately for Hamstead, he incurred a pit lane speeding penalty, a costly mistake that dropped him down the leaderboards to 39th position with less than 10 laps remaining.

"Unfortunately, it was just a matter of getting trigger-happy on the pit limiter button. I'd been shadowing my teammate Jake Moloney for most of the second stint and came in directly behind him. I got a small jump on him through a slightly shorter stop and was inside him coming to the pit exit. Obviously I wanted to beat him out of the pits and released the limiter when the green cone disappeared behind my a-pillar, so a few metres too early. This resulted in me being hit with a 40 second stop and hold penalty."
 
For Hamstead, known for his precision and consistency, the penalty was a bitter pill to swallow. Despite the setback, he refused to yield and clawed his way back, crossing the finish line in 35th place overall.

With only the top 20 drivers in points securing a coveted spot on the grid in the Official Logitech G Pro Invitational Series, Hamstead finds himself facing an uphill battle.

"I think I'm still well placed, however, it will be really important that I have clean races and aim for top 5s in each of the coming races. One more bad result would mean I probably won't make the 20."

When queried about whether the points deficit would change his approach to the remaining 3 races Hamstead said;

"It doesn't really change too much to be honest. My approach was to maximise points by being consistent and it will remain that way. I might just be a bit more careful on pit exit!"

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One round remains for the inaugural Logitech G Pro Invitational Qualifying Series and Harrison Dengate currently occupies a place on the bubble in 21st position in the standings.

A well crafted season to date presents Harrison with the opportunity to place inside the top 20 at seasons end giving the WK&P SimSports driver an opportunity to be a part of the 2023 Logitech G Pro Invitational series.

Results this season haven’t been spectacular for Dengate, but have been extremely consistent. An opening account of 29th at Phillip Island was followed up by finishes of 19th & 20th at both Hockenheim & Sandown.

We sat down with Harrison to discuss his season to date.

Thank you for taking the time to speak to us Harrison. Your season to date has been really consistent. Has your preparation played a major part in that?

“I believe that it certainly has, when racing in a series like this which has a mix of everything, preparation is absolutely key to anyone’s success. Changing track conditions, higher and lower temperatures and different track characteristics mean that seat time and experience are the main advantages for the series and is something I’ve been working on over the last month or so”

What do you think it is going to take for you to jump into the top 20 in the final round at Bathurst ?

“Bathurst has always been a headache for drivers all throughout Australian Sim Racing. Getting yourself to a fast pace will get you somewhere in the Qualifying, but having the setup behind you can and will take you further in a race. Bathurst can also be a very challenging track on concentration so avoiding any mistakes as well as the mistakes of others, will help me break the 20”

How do you find it at WK&P SimSports? Being one of the smaller teams in the field, do you feel like it has an effect on how each round plays out?

“WK&P SimSports is such a great team to be at currently. Although we are one of, if not the smallest team entered in the Qualifying Series, I feel that we are constantly punching above our weight and making great strides to compete with the likes of Synergy Sim Racing and 9Five. Yes, we may not have the same setup knowledge as others and yes, it does have a slight impact on our performance in some rounds but Blake Worboys as our setup Guru and Jon Van Ree as our mentor have helped everyone overcome our weaknesses to other teams and improve our race performance”

Finally, what would it mean to you to make it into the 2023 Logitech G Pro Invitational Series?

“Honestly, it would mean the world to not just me, but everyone throughout the team to see not just 1 of our drivers in the Pro Series but 2 of us in there. You never realise how far you’ve truly come until you reach a point like this. I know that I have the backing of the team, my family and especially my Nan and Pop who have watched me for nearly 4 years. My motivation is high and my determination is even higher to make sure that I secure a top 20 spot, at all cost”

Well thanks for your time Harrison, we wish you all the best for the final round of the championship along with your quest to finish in a transfer position.

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Breaking news out of the Motorsport Australia Logitech G Pro Invitational Cup overnight with Hayden Veld completing a mid season switch from Synergy Sim Racing to the Evolution Racing Team.

The 20 year old Victorian has suffered from a difficult initiation to the series ranks in 2023, with a timely move to Evolution Racing Team hopefully providing a fresh start for the remaining rounds of the season leading into 2024.

Currently 33rd in the championship standings, Veld’s best result came at Belle Isle during round 7, completing an excellent drive from the rear of the grid in race 2, crossing the line in a comfortable 7th position. This form continued through to the first endurance race of the season which saw the driver of the #053 paired alongside the experienced Glen Postlethwaite. Running inside the top 10 all race long, a late incident would unfortunately see the pair classify as a DNF. Although the result didn’t reflect the speed of Veld, it definitely didn’t go unnoticed.

As we prepare for round 8 of the Motorsport Australia Logitech G Pro Invitational Cup at Bathurst, many will place high interest in Hayden Veld to see how he gets on with the Evolution Racing Team.

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Richard Hamstead is a huge name in Australian sim racing and has been racing and winning in Supercars on iRacing since 2011. We talk with Richard, the man that has done it all to find out how he stays competitive year after year.

He is a hardnosed competitor who scraps for every inch on the track. He is the guy you know will ‘lick the stamp and send it’, yet Richard is well respected as former manager of TTL, and now a key member of former arch rival Trans Tasman Racing. Richard is still a capable race winner and a legitimate championship contender in this years Logitech G Supercars Pro Invitational. Here’s what he had to say.

Richard, let's get straight to the point, can you win the inaugural Logitech Pro Invitational Super Series like you won the first ever V8SCOPS Championship? What is the secret to your approach?

I always believe in backing myself, so the answer is yes. But the competition is very, very strong and it will take a lot of hard work and a bit of luck to pull it off. To win I’ll need to race smart and play to my strengths, minimise errors and maximise the bad days. I don’t have too many secrets, though there’s a massive benefit to working in a team and I think TTR at the moment has a great atmosphere in everyone pushing each other to be better.

You have won 21 V8SCOPS races over the years, what goes into how you prepare for each race? What are the things you are looking for in your car to give you the confidence to go into battle?

It’s funny, some times I put lots of practice in and don’t go any good, and sometimes I put minimal practice and get podiums or even win. So it’s a hard one to call. But I think you’ve got to spend a bit of time focusing on your driving and a bit of time focusing on setup – but not overdoing it. VRS has been a revelation for me the last few years and it’s a great way to work as a team and learn off your teammates. I like a pretty neutral car, but I tend to struggle if the car is unstable under braking.

You have a reputation as one of the hardest racers on the grid, one of the hardest to get past, and one of the most intimidating for others to see in their mirror. Is this something that you embrace or does this ‘tag’ not sit well with you?

I like racing, and by that I mean the actual race craft side of things rather than just hotlapping. I feel my job as a driver is to make it as hard as possible for people to pass, and to pass as many cars as I can. Besides, Supercars is touring car racing which is all about rubbing doors and trading paint. So I’m comfortable with your description of me.

You spent years leading TTL against your arch rivals at TTR, you are now at TTR. Tell us how that came about and what sort of role you have assumed now at within the team?

Basically when TTL wound down I was unsure what the next step would be – if I was going to join a new team, stay as a privateer or even retire from sim racing. I pretty quickly worked out that I wanted to keep racing and that going it alone wasn’t going to be much fun. One day Madison Down floated the idea and I had a think about it, and pretty quickly came around to think it would be a great idea. When I first spoke with Madison about joining TTR we agreed that I could race as much or as little as I liked, and my only responsibilities would be around driving. This suits me perfectly and has really stopped sim racing feeling like a chore which it was feeling like towards the end of my days at TTL – and it goes to show that I actually race more now than I did before because I’m enjoying it more.

TTR is stacked with proven race winners and will undoubtedly prove hard to beat in this new series, who from outside of TTR are you looking at to be a championship threat? And which driver or drivers do you think might surprise everyone from the smaller teams?

Obviously the entry list hasn’t been released yet, so I’m not 100% sure who will be racing just yet. But any Supercar series Jarrad Filsell competes in he is the favourite, with very few exceptions. He has a 47% win percentage in SCOPS which is absolutely insane. Jackson Souslin Harlow proved to be extremely quick in the Supercars Eseries last year too. There’s a whole bunch of younger guys around too who are sure to be quick too.

What is it about the Supercar Pro Invitational that has you most excited this season? 

The competition. From what I know of the drivers who’ve entered the series is going to be right up there with the Supercars Eseries in terms of competition, but with race formats which are a little bit more interesting. It’s going to be awesome to be a part of the first season!

Thanks to Richard for taking the time to sit down and share his insights ahead of Round 1 of the Championship. We wish him all the best for the season which will be kicking off on May 11th. You can see the fill calendar by following the link below:

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After starting the 2024 Logitech Pro Series being involved in “The Big One” at Sebring, the championship hopes of James Scott trended in the right direction.

It's been a strong season for one of the regulars at the front end of the field.

Prior to the endurance season Scott had placed the #088 Lobs Esports Commodore in no worse than 5th spot, not including Sebring. Scott’s teammate Jarrad Filsell has certainly put in better finishes across that time period, but not by enough to convincingly separate the two drivers who have been the class of the 2024 driver base.

Then we get to the Truforce Endurance Cup.

This is probably the section of the championship you expect the experienced campaigners to shine. By and large the trends from the rest of the season has continued, Lobs Esports cars towards the front in terms of pace. Qualifying has been good for Scott as well, 4th at Interlagos and the pole from Sandown.

Lobs Esports cars lead the field into Turn 1 at Sandown

That, unfortunately, is where things started to go wrong. Trouble with being in the wrong spot at the wrong time in the late Safety Car at Interlagos put the #088 in a bad spot after strong performances during the co-driver stint early in the race.

Last time out at Sandown again, the #088 was running in 3rd with good strategy and looking set to take another big bank of points. Anton De Pasquale was behind the wheel of the Commodore on lap 106 when the engine expired on the run into the penultimate corner. Without enough momentum to carry De Pasquale up the hill and into the pitlane, the decision was made to park on the exit of the final corner with just enough room to leave the pit lane open right at the critical juncture of maximum consecutive lap counts for the bulk of the field.

So heading into Bathurst Scott now finds himself a distant 8th and 510 points off the lead of the championship, with only a maximum of 800 points left on the table. For the Lobs Esports driver to have a hope of a championship all of the drivers ahead of him would be required to DNF at least one of those races, preferably Bathurst with there being double points on offer for the endurance rounds.

From a 2023 championship hopeful that fell at the final hurdle, it seems as if the title race bloom we find ourselves in this Spring hasn’t blossomed for the #088.

Perhaps a back to back win at the Mountain might provide the boost he’s searching for.

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by Scott Rankin

As we turn the corner and begin the journey towards the chequered flag of the 2023 Motorsport Australia Logitech G Pro Invitational Cup, we take the time to sit down & speak with the driver who is sitting on the “on the bubble” in 20th place.

This week, Jobe Stewart of Pursuit Sim Racing takes us through his 2023 campaign, answering all the difficult questions as he prepares to tackle the remaining rounds of the 2023 Motorsport Australia Logitech G Pro Invitational Cup.

R: Jobe, you are the driver featuring on the bubble after Watkins Glen, what are your thoughts on your 2023 campaign to date?

JS: The Logitech series in 2023 for me so far has been a bit of a roller coaster. I’ve had some really positive rounds but also some not so good races aswell.

R: You’ve fought back well since the opening round of the season at Sebring where you unfortunately found yourself with a DNF. What do you think has been your most complete round so far in the 2023 Motorsport Australia Logitech G Pro Invitational Cup and why?

JS: The DNF was a terrible way to start the season, I had a good qualifying at Sebring and to get put in the wall on first lap was disappointing. However i bounced back from that at Spa which was my best round with a good qualifying and my best result of 6th.

R: Moving forward, what do you think is going to be the key to continuing a consistent run of form throughout the remaining rounds of the championship?

JS: I think the key is trying to get as many practice laps in the week before. Some of the rounds i haven’t had much practice at all and it has really hurt me, especially in qualifying. Getting up to speed in the days before the event is crucial.

R: Working with a high class team such as Pursuit Sim Racing is a great position to be in, what is it like working with the likes of Andrew Gilliam & how does that help you improve your own craft in the Sim?

JS: Working with the guys at PSR is fantastic. I’ve been with the team for about 5 years now and it’s a great environment to be in. Andrew is awesome at what he does and his knowledge on the setup side of things is great. Mike T is also a big help and is always thinking about the best strategy throughout the race.

R: Lastly, what are you thoughts on the next round of the championship at Red Bull Ring? Do you think your in with a chance to win?

JS: Red Bull ring isn’t necessarily a track that i have really enjoyed in the past. It’s obviously a really cool track but in a Supercar it’s really difficult with the fast corners and the low grip. I’ll try and practice as much as I can and see how close i can get to the front. A win may be a bit of a reach at the moment but if i can break into that top 5, top 3, and battle with the front guys, i might be with a chance of winning.

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