Andreas Jochimsen impresses in ENES despite limited running
Andreas Jochimsen shows strong performances in the first virtual ENES races of the season – Lack of real and virtual NASCAR experience is no obstacle
The Dane Andreas Jochimsen has so far impressed in the EuroNASCAR Esports Series (ENES) with his well-considered driving style and a great deal of consistency as a rookie. Along with his teammate and reigning EuroNASCAR 2 champion Lasse Sorensen, the two form an explosive “Danish Dynamite” duo and make a big impact in the ENES championship so far where both represent the #66 DF1 Racing car.
The 22-year-old Jochimsen achieved his best result to date in the second ENES race in Watkins Glen, finishing fifth. After round three, the young Dane currently lies in seventh place in the ENES championship and is within striking distance of EuroNASCAR stars such as Loris Hezemans, Ulysse Delsaux and Andre Castro.
In an exclusive interview with ‘Leadlap.net’, the winner of the 2019 Danish Super GT amateur championship explains the close competition in the virtual races, the lack of real NASCAR experience and the anticipation for the real start of the season:
Leadlap.net: “Andreas, you got off to a great start in the ENES and were fast from the outset! How do you like the series so far and what is your attitude towards sim racing in general?”
Andreas Jochimsen (AJ): “The ENES is a good initiative and idea, especially now in these COVID-19 times, because it keeps the community of EuroNASCAR together. The series is still able to offer good races to the fans out there.”
“I think it’s good for me to participate in the ENES. It’s fun and important to help my team DF1 Racing in this series as well. Sim racing in general means quite a lot to me. I think it is a lot of fun and it is also very competitive on iRacing. That’s what I really like about it.”
Leadlap.net: “Competitiveness is a good keyword! We have seen four different winners in the four races so far. How do you rate the competition in the ENES?”
AJ: “I would say that the competition in the top 10 is already pretty decent in ENES. But I also think that some of the drivers train a lot and some of us train less. So it’s difficult to judge exactly how fast people are ‘straight out the box’. Still, I think the competition in the top 10 is good.”
Two hours of practicing not the “best way to prepare”
Leadlap.net: “What is your routine and approach to be competitive in the ENES?”
AJ: “So far, on race day I started training about two hours before the start and then went into the race. It is certainly not the best way to prepare. So far I didn’t feel I had the time to put more effort into the ENES – at least not yet! So basically, my approach so far has been to start the race with 20-30 laps of practice”.
Leadlap.net: “What has been the biggest challenge so far when transitioning from a real to a virtual EuroNASCAR car?”
AJ: “To be honest, I don’t know any genuine comparison to the real car so far because I haven’t had the chance to drive it yet. But the biggest difference to the simualtion for me is that you don’t feel the speed and the G-forces that you obviously feel in real life.”
“No doubt I will have to learn everything very quickly”
Leadlap.net: “Your real debut in the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series (NWES) is likely to be put on hold until September. In the meantime, what are you doing to stay fit and in shape without real racing?”
AJ: “I try to stay fit through sim racing and do the usual fitness at home. No doubt I will have to learn everything very quickly once we are allowed to drive again. I haven’t driven the car nor the tracks so far and I haven’t sat in a race car since August 2019!”
Leadlap.net: “Which race tracks in the NWES calendar are you looking forward to in particular when the 2020 season is finally given the green light?”
AJ: “Once the wait for my EuroNASCAR debut is finally over, I’m especially looking forward to be racing at Hockenheim or Brands Hatch! But in general, I just look forward to racing again!”
