After being left on the sidelines, the Veloce Esports racer is back where he belongs. James Baldwin will compete in the real life Spa 24 hours race.
Image credit: SRO Media
Famed esports racer James Baldwin competed in British GT back in 2020. He gained the right to do so as a prize for winning the second edition of World’s Fastest Gamer.
He raced for Jenson Team Rocket RJN, the racing team owned in part by 2009 F1 World Champion Jenson Button. Teamed with McLaren GT driver Michael O’Brien in a 720S GT3 car, Baldwin took victory on his British GT debut and took three further podium finishes and three poles on his way to fourth in the championship.
After the 2020 season however, Baldwin was left without a race drive. He provides an explanation as to why he hasn’t been racing with this video on his YouTube channel. Since then however, he earned BRDC Rising Star status, and seeing his esports racing CV, it’s no surprise to see why.
Baldwin’s achievements in the virtual racing world are endless. Some highlights including winning the British GT and GT World Challenge Europe Sprint esports championships, as well as the 2019 eRace of Champions. But after getting a taste for track racing, Baldwin wasn’t about to give up on making a return. Well now, he’s going to be racing in this year’s Spa 24 hours from 28-31 July for the Garage 59 team.
Baldwin will share the 720S GT3 car with Nicolai Kjærgaard, Ethan Simioni and Manuel Maldonado, the cousin of Pastor.
Sim Experience Coming in Handy?
This season, Baldwin is competing in the GT World Challenge Europe Esports and Intercontinental GT Challenge Esports championships for Veloce. Last weekend, the IGTC’s second round was the Spa 24 hours which Baldwin actually took pole for.
Unfortunately, co-driver Eamonn Murphy spun at Radillion which resulted in the team having to come in for repairs. Then, to add insult to injury, the race was cancelled three hours into the race.
Baldwin however could be in with an easy chance to win at Spa on ACC before going on to attempt it on the real track. Before every Endurance Cup round of the GT World Challenge Europe, there is the Fanatec Esports GT Pro Series race.
Teams in the Pro and Silver categories nominate one of their drivers to compete in a one hour sim race to earn up to five extra points for the team’s championship. It’s safe to say when you have a champion of SRO Esports in your line-up, that’s the driver to nominate.
To follow the Spa 24 hours from 28-31 July, all action will be broadcast on the GTWorld YouTube channel and the SROMotorsports Twitch channel.
How well do you think James Baldwin will do in the Spa 24 hours? Tell us on Twitter at @OverTake_gg or in the comments down below!
