For many years, karting has been young driver first introduction into motorsports. Virtually all the modern F1 drivers started this way and, at least in Europe, South America, Australia and Japan, works well as a talent search and driver development formula.
In smaller countries, like Malaysia, the picture isn't so good. Sanctioned Karting exists but is extremely expensive compared to local income and so is dominated by kids with rich parents. There are also only 6 races a year and these are nowhere near as competitive as the average club race in Europe. So, for some time now, I've thought that karting in Malaysia isn't doing what it should be doing to find and develop talent. It's too expensive and not competitive enough to give the drivers enough race craft to be able to adapt to single seaters quickly. And, it's getting worse - basically all the drivers are learning now is 1) The person with the most money wins and 2) It's OK to push people out of the way if you want to pass them.
So, my idea is (at least as an experiment) to create a Malaysian league within iRacing and offer prizes to the best 15-16 year old. The prizes will be 1) A days coaching and testing with a Rotax kart and 2) Free entry to the myKart race series. I'm also talking to single seater teams about the possibility of doing something with them.
In smaller countries, like Malaysia, the picture isn't so good. Sanctioned Karting exists but is extremely expensive compared to local income and so is dominated by kids with rich parents. There are also only 6 races a year and these are nowhere near as competitive as the average club race in Europe. So, for some time now, I've thought that karting in Malaysia isn't doing what it should be doing to find and develop talent. It's too expensive and not competitive enough to give the drivers enough race craft to be able to adapt to single seaters quickly. And, it's getting worse - basically all the drivers are learning now is 1) The person with the most money wins and 2) It's OK to push people out of the way if you want to pass them.
So, I think we need an alternative and the more I think about it (and play it myself), the more I believe that on-line simulation would be a better way to find talent in smaller countries like Malaysia. In particular, the way the game works with iRacing will develop the right behavior and thinking in drivers and also give them constant wheel to wheel action with similar performing drivers in exactly the same cars. Obviously there are limitations - you don't get a same physical challenge and a mistake loses you ratings points rather than puts you in hospital. But, it can work - Lucas Ordonez went from winning the Playstation league to Le Mans in one giant leap and did very well.
So, my idea is (at least as an experiment) to create a Malaysian league within iRacing and offer prizes to the best 15-16 year old. The prizes will be 1) A days coaching and testing with a Rotax kart and 2) Free entry to the myKart race series. I'm also talking to single seater teams about the possibility of doing something with them.
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