Every year it is exciting to see how the top 30 young talents fight against each other in the Virtual World Racing Series (VWRS); for every point, for every podium, for every win. The field of drivers is large, the potential is high, but only very few make the big jump into Formula Virtual in the end. Also in 2023 there are some talented and maybe future FV drivers in the grid. The VWRS developed some talented motorsport names: Olen Inman, Allar Kangur, Thierry Xylander and of course Klaas van Snelheid. Whoever wins the title will have all doors open in the direction of FV. For this reason, Sky Sports FV took a closer look at the candidates for the title and also conducted some interviews. Chloe King The 22-year-old British woman from Dunkinfield is the best hope for a woman in FV. Although she only got into karting at the age of 12, after 10 years of racing she is now ready for the biggest junior title. The success is by no means a coincidence: Rookie Champion of the VOARS in 2020, Champion of the VERS in 2021 and Rookie Champion of the VWRS in 2022. Chloe King definitely has the talent, whether she can use it to assert herself against the competition remains to be seen. What does Chloe think about here chances for the title? Sky Sports FV: "Chloe, Sky Sports FV nominated you as one of the title favourites for the 2023 VWRS. What do you think about that and do you think you are ready as a driver to take the next step in your career?" Chloe: "Oh that's a real honour, thank you, especially as part of such a talented field of drivers! I'm confident in my own abilities, I think my development as a driver over the last few years has gone about as well as I would've liked it to. Last season was definitely a tough step up from VERS the year before but I was super happy with how it went! This season my target has gotta be to grab some more wins and hopefully put in a challenge for the title... I guess the fans and the media think so too which is why you guys are talking to me now! So far this season has started well, Australia was a bit meh but France was much better from me. Being a member of The Hive and driving for OSM gives me the best possible chance to do that so fingers crossed I can keep it up across the whole season!" Sky Sports FV: "The competition this year is very good. What will be the key to be ahead of the others and how do you want to achieve it?" Chloe: "Right!? There really are some great drivers in VWRS at the moment. Ruotsey and Spencer especially are top, top drivers with backing from two great FV teams but that's the level you need to be at to win a Tier 2 series - they're the guys I'm aiming at. But anybody could win on their day this season so my personal goal has gotta be consistency. I know I have the speed to be fighting at the very front so I just need to keep it like that race after race right through the year!" Sky Sports FV: "As you know, not many women made it to FV. You are the next possible, not to give you more pressure, but is there anything you can tell our younger girls in the world to take the opportunity this sport has?” Chloe: "I'm sure Ellie-Mae and Ami would have something to say about that! But, yeah, I get that people are seeing me right now as being the next in line to follow in the footsteps of Kiara [Thunder] and Emma [Wilson]. Personally I don't think either Kiara or Emma really got the full chance they deserved in FV, I think both are amazing drivers who unfortunately drove for teams at bad times. Emma is a great woman who has given me lots of good advice over the last year or two since I met her through the Phoenix and Lucas partnership. I don't know Kiara personally but she's a real pioneer for women in Virtual Motorsport and I think the job she's been doing over in eVirtual is so inspirational! Those two definitely inspired me. As for any like, message I'd send out to young girls aspiring to get into Virtual Motorsport... I'd say embrace any negative opinions or sexist remarks and use it to drive you forward. As soon as you start to beat people, they quickly shut up! But, to be honest, I've seen how the world of karting has changed for girls even since I came through, so it's definitely much more enjoyable for any gender to take part now! Go out there and enjoy it." Henri Ruotsalainen Unsurprisingly, 20-year-old Finn Henri Ruotsalainen is shortlisted for the title contenders. Similar to King, the successes of recent years are impressive: 3rd place in the VERS in 2019, champion in the VARS in 2020, rookie champion in the VWRS in 2021, vice champion in the VWRS in 2022. A certain amount of pressure is still on the Finn from Rovaniemi as 2023 is his last year in the VWRS. Pressure the Ingram junior can certainly handle, but everyone can expect an improvement on last season's defeat by rookie champion Eskola. Sky Sports FV: "Henri, we nominated you as one of the favourites to win the VWRS title this year. Do you think that you can make it this year on your last attempt?" Henri: “I have to really, you get three goes so if I don't do it now...” Sky Sports FV: "Hows the pressure from yourself or maybe from Ingram to take the title this year? Its your last year in VWRS, i can only imagine that the pressure on your shoulders must be pretty high?" Henri: “I don't know about pressure, I want to win. Ingram wants me to win, Cheema wanted me to win. If I win then there's no pressure“ Sky Sports FV: "Regardless if you will win this years title, your achievements in the past are well-known and shows your talent. I guess a few FV teams are interested in your abilities and your strong performances. Can you tell us anything about your future in motorsports?" Henri: “I want to drive an FV car next year, Ingram is where I think I should be but James and Allar are very strong drivers. Apart from that I can't say anything, I let my manager sort out the details“ Zack Drayton The 18-year-old Briton is probably the least conspicuous candidate for the title, but his 2nd year in a row is probably the year of the most significant improvement in performance: In 2020 he finished 5th in the VOARS, in 2021 he won the Series. Last year he was 11th in the VWRS, unfortunately marked by an inconsistent performance throughout the season, this year he could make another huge leap in his still young career. The former Franklin junior is the only one without a FV team behind him. A disadvantage that could perhaps be the deciding factor for his season. Sky Sports FV: "Zack, we nominated you as a title candidate for 2023. How do you feel about that and does it make you anything more tricky to you?" Zack: “It's nice that they think I'm capable of the title, but despite my good start to the season I don't think I have much of a chance. If you look at my competition, I have a hard time without support. But you should never say never. I'll think race by race and see what's up this season." Sky Sports FV: "Despite your lack of support, over the last few years you can see that you have the talent. I'm sure some FV teams would like to have you in the junior program." Zack: "Of course I would be very happy about offers, it's easier with support, but nobody said that you can't win titles without a FV junior program." Spencer James Spencer James is perhaps the most popular driver in the paddock, but the Downton junior, like Ruotsalainen, is in his last year in the VWRS and will need to use this year to give himself another chance at a future in the FV. The Jamaican has been racing in the VWRS since 2021, before that he was runner-up in the VARS and VERS from the 2019 and 2020 seasons. Reason enough for James to have been a reserve driver for Downton since last year. But now he needs results. How does the 23-year-old try to achieve this? Sky Sports FV: "Spencer, Sky Sports FV nominated you as one of the title candidates for VWRS this year. What do you think about that and do you think you have a realistic chance of taking the title?" Spencer: "I think I have a chance, don't I? The competition is strong, like every year, but a VWRS champion from Jamaica, that would be something! Seriously, I reckon there's a good chance of a title , I had a learning phase for 2 years, now it's all or nothing!" Sky Sports FV: "Now with your third and last year in VWRS, I guess you are under pressure from yourself and maybe Downton to show your potential and abilities. How will you handle the pressure you have on your shoulders?" Spencer: "There is a certain pressure, I want to achieve my own goals, I don't want to disappoint the entire Downton team either. I'm still able to put my best performance on the track, otherwise I wouldn't be a racer. " Sky Sports FV: "Since last year, you are the reserve driver for Downton. Can you tell us something about your future with Downton?" Spencer: "It's nice to work with the Downton team. I like working with the mechanics and engineers. Of course everyone who drives here would also like to go to the FV, I'll see what's coming and then you'll find out. About my future I can't and I don't want to say any more!" As of this writing, the candidates are ranked 1st through 4th in the World Championship, hardly a coincidence. Nevertheless, it remains to be seen whether our forecast will ultimately be confirmed.
Or will we be surprised?
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