Rivals wreck Carroll's $200k bid 08 | 01 | 2017
SCOT GRAHAM CARROLL was left contemplating the cruel reality of what might have been after his bid to win the $200,000 top prize, in the inaugural $1 million VISA Vegas eRace in Las Vegas, was wrecked by two other sim racers. (Related: Carroll aims for $200,000 sim racing glory)
The 26-year-old from Edinburgh had qualified fourth-fastest of the 20 starters, including fellow sim racers and professional Formula E drivers, for the 20-lap ‘virtual race’ on a newly-designed Las Vegas street circuit.
Having settled into a comfortable rhythm, Carroll — watched by the legions of online gamers and fans around the world — made a measured and controlled move to ease himself into third.
Midway through the race the Scot, a former double Scottish Formula Ford champion and racing in Vegas for the DS Virgin Racing team, got a run on third-placed Aleksi Uusi-Jaakkola exiting the final corner.
As Carroll edged ahead and positioned his car on the inside of the Finn, Italian David Greco, driving for Renault e.dams, moved to the outside of Andretti racer Uusi-Jaakkola.
As they headed into Turn 1, Uusi-Jaakola and Greco touched and the Finn’s car then made contact with the left rear wheel of Carroll’s DS Virgin racer. The combined contact resulted in all three cars crashing dramatically.
At least one of the benefits of virtual racing is none of the drivers were injured; though the pride of Uusi-Jaakola, who recovered to finish fifth, and Greco will have suffered some lasting damage.
Ironically, speaking before travelling to Vegas, Carroll, who also won the prestigious 2015 Formula Ford Walter Hayes Trophy at Silverstone, had admitted one of his main concerns was being taken out of the race by sim racers with limited real track experience.
“Racing on a sim is fine, but nothing compares with the racecraft you build up by racing in a real car, on a real track and against other real drivers,” the Scot, who still won $20,000 by qualifying for the Las Vegas shoot-out, explained.
“I know the Formula E drivers will be totally professional, but my biggest fear is being the innocent victim of two other sim racers crashing and taking me out.”
The race was eventually won by Dutch gamer Bono Huis, but only after on-the-track winner, Finn Olli Pahkala, received a post-race 12-second penalty for illegal use of Fanboost, which dropped him to third.
Professional Formula E driver, Swede Felix Rosenqvist, was second, pocketing $100,000.
“This first eRace in Las Vegas was a great success,” Alejandro Agag, Formula E founder and CEO, said.
“It’s exciting to have brought Formula E to CES, the biggest and most influential technology show in the world. I think this can be the first in a big future for Formula E in eSports racing.
“We will continue to pursue new and innovative ways to improve our presence in this fast growing landscape, while maintaining fan engagement at the forefront of all our initiatives.”
The race was hosted in front of a packed crowd at Vegas’ Venetian Hotel where Huis also pocketed an additional $25,000 jackpot for pole position.
Related: Franchitti tips Carroll for sim payday
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Jim McGill