'Gran Turismo' World Finals — Into The Minds Of Southeast Asia's Best Drivers
We delve into the journeys of Southeast Asia's top drivers as they prepare to battle it out in the World Finals.
By Syazwan Bahri — 05 Dec 2024, 06:09 PM
The grand finale of this year's Toyota Gazoo Racing GT Cup will take place on 7 December as a key part of the Gran Turismo World Series 2024 World Finals
This exciting culmination of the racing esports season will see the top drivers from around the globe gather in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, to compete for the championship title.
24 of the world's best Gran Turismo 7 drivers will showcase their skills to claim the grand prize. Adding to the excitement, two drivers from Southeast Asia will be racing, representing Malaysia and Indonesia.
Taj will be representing Malaysia and Andika, who will be representing Indonesia, were the chosen individuals to represent their countries on this prestigious stage.
SAYS had the privilege of catching up with the two exceptional drivers and exploring their passion for sim racing and motorsports
"My passion for cars and motorsports started during my childhood, and I started to become more interested in sim racing back in 2018. I was hooked on different sim racing games besides Gran Turismo 7," said Taj.
Andika and Taj on stage during the prize ceremony of the Toyota Gazoo Racing (GR) GT Cup Asia Finals.
Image via TGR (Provided to SAYS)
"I felt really excited seeing cars in the games and this interest peaked when I was able to watch motorsports in real life. As I grew older, this evolved into a strong passion when I began competing in Gran Turismo Sport," he added.
Meanwhile, Andika said his passion for cars and motorsports began during elementary school, around the Gran Turismo 1 era. He shared that he got his first racing wheel in 2010, which sparked his deep connection to the 'lifestyle.'
Taj and Andika explained that learning and perfecting the art of sim racing skills is a satisfying challenge
"The learning curve for sim racing is steep, especially at a competitive level like the Toyota GR GT Asia Cup Finals, because it closely simulates real-world driving physics," said Taj.
"Consistency is key. I dedicate two to three hours every day to practise, often experimenting with different Toyota cars. Familiarising myself with a variety of vehicles not only broadens my experience but also ensures I'm prepared for any race scenario," he added.
Andika, on the other hand, is highly analytic and studies how better drivers outperform others on the same track.
"My daily routine involves extensive driving sessions paired with replay analysis. The best way to grow is by learning from those who are more skilled," he explained.
While the boys practise on state-of-the-art hardware, they believe it's the driver who makes the difference
Taj runs a Fanatec DD Pro with the bundled pedals, while Andika drives on a Thrustmaster T-GT.
"While an expensive setup can help in terms of race prep, I feel that the driver determines how well they perform on the virtual track. It's not about having the most high-end gear but understanding the car's limits and finding what works best for you," said Taj.
Andika, on the other hand, said that the driver needs to be knowledgeable about the tracks.
"Many of my friends are incredibly quick using accessible equipment like the Logitech G29 or Thrustmaster T300," he said.
"Regardless of the price tag of the setup, the driver needs to be knowledgeable about the different tracks, cars and race formats so they can adapt their skills to any setup," he added.
Aiman and Andika will be in Amsterdam on 7 and 8 December for the World Finals, and you can catch them racing live
For fans of exciting virtual racing action, the TGR GT Cup 2024 Grand Final is a must-see event! It will be streamed live on Gran Turismo TV on YouTube and Gran Turismo LIVE, so you can catch all the excitement from anywhere in the world.
The broadcast, complete with expert commentary and analysis, begins on Saturday, 7 December at 11pm Malaysia time. Don't miss out!
