Back in 2020, when COVID had brought the racing world to a standstill, I found myself on a surreal journey to Monaco that legendary place of glamour and motorsport. I was there to set up simulators for Francesco Castelacci (Ferrari factory driver) and to help organize the Virtual 24h of Le Mans, the only real racing spectacle possible during the lockdown.

I still remember arriving in that iconic principality, all hush-hush due to restrictions, yet filled with excitement for the upcoming sim racing event. Through my work, I ended up collaborating with the Princess Charlene de Monaco Foundation, which gave me the once-in-a-lifetime chance to meet members of the Royal Family. If you’d told me earlier that I’d be sipping espresso in Monaco chatting about e-sports, motorsport, and philanthropic initiatives I would’ve never believed it.

But there I was: in the middle of a pandemic, bringing virtual racing to life with an incredible group of people. The unthinkable mix of empty streets outside yet a buzz of energy in the garages and suites where sims replaced real cars created an unforgettable setting. It was a moment that perfectly blended glamour, innovation, and pure racing spirit. Even today, I look back on that trip as the epitome of making magic happen under extraordinary circumstances.

When my close friend (and former VP Gaming teammate) Isaac Gillisen asked me to join him in Las Vegas for the Logitech G Challenge finals, I couldn’t refuse. I flew out in November 2019 to coach him where needed, drawing on our shared sim racing history and the thrill of a high-profile e-sports event. Las Vegas set the perfect stage for Isaac’s pursuit of victory and he seized it. In a nail-biting finale, Isaac clinched first place, a moment that still gives me goosebumps. Watching him hoist the trophy under Vegas’ dazzling lights remains one of my all-time favorite highlights in our racing journey together.

In May 2019, I headed to Germany as part of VP Gaming to compete in the Project CARS 2 SMS-R finals. Together with Isaac Gillissen and Darwin Daume, we took the world championship even beating top-level rivals like James Baldwin, who later won the World’s Fastest Gamer competition. That incredible victory remains a defining moment, proving just how formidable we were in the sim racing scene.

I entered my very first race 6-hour race named the Junkyard Race on march 2017. Here the car budget couldn’t exceed €750 (not counting safety features), and no official racing license was required. Despite the lean setup, my teammates and I led from start to finish, winning comfortably. That taste of endurance racing lit a spark: I decided to pursue a full racing license, even though my budget was tight at the time.