A community 10-hour race this coming weekend seeks to raise over €9,000 to support the next generation of motorsport talent.
Images: Laurence Dusoswa
Laurence Dusoswa emanates electricity as he collars me at the Sim Formula Europe event in the sleepy municipality of Maastricht.
It is January, and despite most of the world slowly returning after the holiday period slumber, the content creator is talking about his Potaytona community event quicker than an LMP2 car racing around Floridian banking. His exuberance is palpable.
So it should be. Ahead of the main event later this week, Dusoswa’s Potato Nation community has raised nearly €9,000. But, perhaps not for the cause you may initially be thinking of…
Asetek SimSports will be taking part
“The Potaytona event is the first time sim racers are raising money for something that nobody really needs,” explains the Irish software engineer to OverTake, whose sim racing YouTube channel is a part-time passion.
“This is an unapologetic, first world, raising money that is ultimately going to be pissed away.”
The plan is to support eight up-and-coming real-world racing drivers in their quest to be on the grid in 2024. But, Dusoswa is clear that while that is not saving the world, it is something for the community to aspire to and be proud of their support:
“Very few of these people even have a chance of becoming Lewis Hamilton. That’s not the point.
“The point is, this is the closest that most sim racers will ever get to real racing. When a driver lifts a trophy. Imagine they thank the sim racing community. That would be insane. We’re trying to build something around the drivers.
The plan is to run a 10-hour iRacing event, multi-class, which will see 60 grid slots and a live broadcast. Between three and four drivers can be driving each entry, with around 180 drivers expected.
During the broadcast, Laurence will host, and will be joined by guests along the way. 24 Hours of Le Mans winner David Brabham, Asetek SimSports CEO André Eriksen, Sim Formula Europe chief Andy Maaseen and motorsport commentator Alex Goldschmidt among others are set to feature for Q&A sessions.
OverTake's Potaytona livery
Here’s the kicker… those who donate before the event, or during, a minimum of €5 via the GoFundMe page will be entered into a prize draw for sim racing equipment.
Over 25 prizes will be up for grabs, worth over €35,000, including (but not limited to) an Asetek La Prima bundle, two BDH Bazooka H1 shifters, a Cammus C5 wheel base, Moza Racing KS Wheel and handbrake and GSI X-29 wheel. Those who donate over €200 in total will be entered into a raffle to win a Simucube Active Pedal.
Prizes will also be distributed to those taking part, such as the top three in each class but also pole position, last place and being the cleanest driver of the event.
“For Simucube to be on board with this to the point where it is giving away a product that they could sell easily is a massive vote of confidence,” Dusoswa tells us.
“Everything in this event is an amalgamation of everything that I have on over the past four years of my YouTube channel, the relationships I have put a lot of work into.
“If visited events, I reinforced those connections. Since December, I would say I have put 15-20 hours into this event.”
The sim racing hardware manufacturers aren’t just in it for the giveaways either, as the likes of BDH, GSI, Simucube and Asetek have entered teams and will be racing. They will be racing against Indy 500 winner Tony Kanaan, who also enters a squad, 2023 BRSCC National FF1600 champion Jordan Kelley and FIA Formula 3 driver Alex Dunne.
Kayleigh Cole – a recipient of the support
OverTake/RaceDepartment will also be taking part, with our very own René Buttler, Michel Wolk, Yannik Haustein and Luca on driving duties.
Dusoswa is indefatigable in his efforts, coveting a popular event that is enjoyed by his loyal supporters and the wider sim-driving fanbase – but most of all, focuses on supporting motorsport talent.
One such recipient will be fellow Cork resident Kayleigh Cole, 2023 Formula Boss 3 champion.
“Kayls has a little pink car with a Yamaha R1 motorcycle engine in it, and overtook something with a V10 in it, which is nuts,” expounds Laurence with all the zeal and tenacity of someone who is dedicated to the cause.
“When she won her class last year, she was the first woman to ever win it and the first rookie to ever win at their first attempt.
“She was the first drive the community supported. She had an advert up in my local supermarket asking for sponsorship for ‘Ireland’s next up and coming racing driver’, which I thought was too cool.”
Rob Parks, the aforementioned Jordan Kelly, Jason Smyth, Ronan Doherty, Ian Stryker, Valdemar Eriksen and Hyundai TCR driver Max Hart are also on the list alongside Cole as those who will obtain sponsorship from the donations received.
“My eldest child was born in 2017 and I sold my track car because I couldn’t be away at weekends, so I started investing in sim racing and then got into league racing,” explains Dusoswa, a JDM road car fan currently dailying a Nissan Silvia S13.
“I think started making YouTube track guides, people started interacting and then I started reviewing my own equipment too.
“As things grew, we started joking that me and the community are a ‘bunch of potatoes’, and even people from America started saying ‘what’s the craic’. So that’s how the ‘Potato Nation’ community came along, and now we’re trying to support racing drivers.
“We could have easily filled two splits. Not full-time, but we now have six people in total working on this event, such as live stewards, a professional broadcaster and a dedicated volunteer to draw the winners.
“There is so much organisation and so much admin to it that I don’t think I’ll ever do it again. I’m not sure how we could ever top this for our tiny community”
It all kicks off on Saturday, 9th March 2024, 10.15 am GMT – we’ll see you there.
Are you taking part, or will you be watching the Potaytona? Let us know in the comments below.
Images: Laurence Dusoswa
Laurence Dusoswa emanates electricity as he collars me at the Sim Formula Europe event in the sleepy municipality of Maastricht.
It is January, and despite most of the world slowly returning after the holiday period slumber, the content creator is talking about his Potaytona community event quicker than an LMP2 car racing around Floridian banking. His exuberance is palpable.
So it should be. Ahead of the main event later this week, Dusoswa’s Potato Nation community has raised nearly €9,000. But, perhaps not for the cause you may initially be thinking of…
“The Potaytona event is the first time sim racers are raising money for something that nobody really needs,” explains the Irish software engineer to OverTake, whose sim racing YouTube channel is a part-time passion.
“This is an unapologetic, first world, raising money that is ultimately going to be pissed away.”
The plan is to support eight up-and-coming real-world racing drivers in their quest to be on the grid in 2024. But, Dusoswa is clear that while that is not saving the world, it is something for the community to aspire to and be proud of their support:
“Very few of these people even have a chance of becoming Lewis Hamilton. That’s not the point.
“The point is, this is the closest that most sim racers will ever get to real racing. When a driver lifts a trophy. Imagine they thank the sim racing community. That would be insane. We’re trying to build something around the drivers.
The plan is to run a 10-hour iRacing event, multi-class, which will see 60 grid slots and a live broadcast. Between three and four drivers can be driving each entry, with around 180 drivers expected.
During the broadcast, Laurence will host, and will be joined by guests along the way. 24 Hours of Le Mans winner David Brabham, Asetek SimSports CEO André Eriksen, Sim Formula Europe chief Andy Maaseen and motorsport commentator Alex Goldschmidt among others are set to feature for Q&A sessions.
OverTake's Potaytona livery
Here’s the kicker… those who donate before the event, or during, a minimum of €5 via the GoFundMe page will be entered into a prize draw for sim racing equipment.
Over 25 prizes will be up for grabs, worth over €35,000, including (but not limited to) an Asetek La Prima bundle, two BDH Bazooka H1 shifters, a Cammus C5 wheel base, Moza Racing KS Wheel and handbrake and GSI X-29 wheel. Those who donate over €200 in total will be entered into a raffle to win a Simucube Active Pedal.
Prizes will also be distributed to those taking part, such as the top three in each class but also pole position, last place and being the cleanest driver of the event.
“For Simucube to be on board with this to the point where it is giving away a product that they could sell easily is a massive vote of confidence,” Dusoswa tells us.
“Everything in this event is an amalgamation of everything that I have on over the past four years of my YouTube channel, the relationships I have put a lot of work into.
“If visited events, I reinforced those connections. Since December, I would say I have put 15-20 hours into this event.”
The sim racing hardware manufacturers aren’t just in it for the giveaways either, as the likes of BDH, GSI, Simucube and Asetek have entered teams and will be racing. They will be racing against Indy 500 winner Tony Kanaan, who also enters a squad, 2023 BRSCC National FF1600 champion Jordan Kelley and FIA Formula 3 driver Alex Dunne.
OverTake/RaceDepartment will also be taking part, with our very own René Buttler, Michel Wolk, Yannik Haustein and Luca on driving duties.
Dusoswa is indefatigable in his efforts, coveting a popular event that is enjoyed by his loyal supporters and the wider sim-driving fanbase – but most of all, focuses on supporting motorsport talent.
One such recipient will be fellow Cork resident Kayleigh Cole, 2023 Formula Boss 3 champion.
“Kayls has a little pink car with a Yamaha R1 motorcycle engine in it, and overtook something with a V10 in it, which is nuts,” expounds Laurence with all the zeal and tenacity of someone who is dedicated to the cause.
“When she won her class last year, she was the first woman to ever win it and the first rookie to ever win at their first attempt.
“She was the first drive the community supported. She had an advert up in my local supermarket asking for sponsorship for ‘Ireland’s next up and coming racing driver’, which I thought was too cool.”
Rob Parks, the aforementioned Jordan Kelly, Jason Smyth, Ronan Doherty, Ian Stryker, Valdemar Eriksen and Hyundai TCR driver Max Hart are also on the list alongside Cole as those who will obtain sponsorship from the donations received.
“My eldest child was born in 2017 and I sold my track car because I couldn’t be away at weekends, so I started investing in sim racing and then got into league racing,” explains Dusoswa, a JDM road car fan currently dailying a Nissan Silvia S13.
“I think started making YouTube track guides, people started interacting and then I started reviewing my own equipment too.
“As things grew, we started joking that me and the community are a ‘bunch of potatoes’, and even people from America started saying ‘what’s the craic’. So that’s how the ‘Potato Nation’ community came along, and now we’re trying to support racing drivers.
“We could have easily filled two splits. Not full-time, but we now have six people in total working on this event, such as live stewards, a professional broadcaster and a dedicated volunteer to draw the winners.
“There is so much organisation and so much admin to it that I don’t think I’ll ever do it again. I’m not sure how we could ever top this for our tiny community”
It all kicks off on Saturday, 9th March 2024, 10.15 am GMT – we’ll see you there.
Are you taking part, or will you be watching the Potaytona? Let us know in the comments below.
