FROM SIM TO REALITY CHALLENGE
Welcome to the race to save lives
COULD YOU BE THE NEXT RACE
CHAMPION?
Duckhams Yuasa Racing is searching for its next standout driver to join our elite roster and for the first time, we're turning to the sim racing world to find them.
With a proven track record of identifying and supporting talent, we've helped drivers progress to championship-winning success at the highest levels of motorsport.
Our recent champions include:
Dan Cammish
2021 – Porsche Carrera Cup GB
Adam Smalley
2023 – Porsche Carrera Cup GB
2024 – British GT Silver-Am
Harry Foster
2023 – Porsche Carrera Cup GB Rookie
Jacob Tofts
2024 – Porsche Sprint Challenge Pro-Am
Now, we're ready to discover the next champion. Giving one exceptional sim racer the opportunity to step out of the virtual world and into real-world competition, with a prize drive in a Mini Trophy car on the BTCC support event at Donington Park.
This is more than a competition. It's a pathway into professional motorsport and a chance to be part of a team built on performance, ambition, and results.
Importantly, this initiative also supports a cause far bigger than racing. In partnership with the David Riddell Memorial, the competition is dedicated to raising awareness around mental health and suicide prevention. Every penny of the entry fee will go directly to the charity, with all operational costs covered by Absolute Agency and our partners.
COST TO ENTER
We want to keep things simple and make sure cost isn't a barrier to entry.
The entry fee is just £20 per entry, and once you're in, there are no
additional costs as you progress through the competition.
To keep things fair, entries are capped at a maximum of 5 entries per person.
£20
PER
ENTRY
£0
ADDITIONAL
COSTS
5
ENTRIES PER
PERSON MAX
PRIZE DRIVE DETAILS
- EVENT: MINI TROPHY CHAMPIONSHIP
- TEAM: GRAVES MOTORSPORT
- DATE: 22nd – 23rd AUGUST 2026
- VENUE: DONINGTON PARK GP
The winner of the 2026 From Sim to Reality Challenge will join Duckhams Yuasa Racing for a fully funded race drive in the Mini Trophy Championship at Donington Park GP Circuit, supporting the British Touring Car Championship.
This incredible prize includes a pre-event test day and the full race weekend, giving the team the opportunity to assess the winner's potential ahead of a possible full-season programme with the team in 2027.
It's a genuine pathway from sim racing to real-world motorsport.
WINNER'S PRIZE PACKAGE
The overall winner will receive:
- Fully funded Mini Trophy race drive
- 2 x hospitality tickets as guests of Duckhams Yuasa Racing at a 2026 BTCC event
- Short test in a Porsche Sprint Challenge car at Silverstone in November*
- Full ARDS race licence
- Complete race kit supplied by sponsor FREEM UK
- Race helmet
- Official Duckhams Yuasa Racing team merchandise
- Featured on the Duckhams Yuasa Racing website as an official driver
- Media Training
*Subject to availability
There will also be a wide range of prizes available throughout the sim competition itself. Some prizes will be awarded randomly, while others will be earned through performance and participation – meaning you don't have to be the fastest driver to win. Additional prizes include:
- Wild cards into the karting phase
- Team merchandise
- Passenger rides in a Porsche Carrera Cup
- Hospitality tickets within Porsche GB's Club Haus Hospitality Facility
- General admission tickets to BTCC events alongside PCCGB team
- Signed posters
- Stickers
- And exclusive giveaways
Simply taking part gives competitors the chance to win some fantastic rewards throughout the season.
WILDCARD ENTRIES
TO THE KART CHALLENGE
To help raise more money for the charity, there will be 4 wild card entries to the karting challenge. A donation of £1,000 will activate a Wild Card entry to the karting event – bypassing the Sim Challenge.
Claim your Wildcard
COMPETITION FORMAT
We want to reach as many racers as possible in our search for the next emerging talent in motorsport. The competition will consist of two phases:
Sim Challenge / Karting Shootout
Phase 1 - SIM CHALLENGE
The Sim Challenge will run simultaneously across the two most popular online racing platforms:
- iRacing
- Assetto Corsa
Each entry includes:
- 1 official session per entry
- Maximum 5 entries per person
From each session, the fastest 5 drivers plus 1 wildcard entrant will progress to the next round, taking place the following week.
Over the course of the competition the field will be reduced down to 25 drivers, who will progress to each platforms Sim final.
Official Session Schedule
The initial sessions will take place over 7 evenings, with 3 official sessions per night:
- 6:00pm – 7:00pm GMT
- 7:00pm – 8:00pm GMT
- 8:00pm – 9:00pm GMT
Car & Circuit Format
All competitors will use the:
Porsche 911 GT3 Cup car with a fixed setup.
Each evening will feature a different circuit.
The circuit will be announced 1 hour prior to the session start and will be selected from tracks used by Porsche Motorsport during the 2026 season.
Round 1 - THE STARTING GRID
The Starting Grid sessions will last 1 hour and will take place in password-protected qualifying sessions.
At the end of each session:
- The fastest 5 drivers qualify automatically
- 1 wildcard driver will also progress
Phase 2 - Karting Shootout
The top 10 drivers from the sim challenge platforms will be invited to compete in the live karting challenge held at Daytona Milton Keynes.
But there's a twist…
Joining the drivers, the night will be a selection of real-world racing talent including alongside the finalists:
- Dan Cammish – BTCC Race winner
- Adam Smalley – GTWC Race winner
- Jacob Tofts – Porsche Carrera Cup GB front runner
- Ian Gough - British GT Race Winner
While they’ll be racing alongside the finalists throughout the evening, they will not be eligible to win the competition!
EVENT DETAILS
Venue: Daytona Milton Keynes
Date: 1st August 2026
Arrival: 1:15pm
Session Live: 2:30pm
EVENT FORMAT
10 mins qualifying
30 minute race
GRID FORMATION
The winners of each Sim Challenge platform will automatically start on the front row. The remaining qualifying lap times from the Sim Challenge winners will determine starting grid positions from 3rd to 10th place. The guest celebrity drivers will all start from the rear of the grid.
Phase 3 - THE INTERVIEW
Three drivers. One final decision.
After the Karting Challenge, the fastest three competitors will be invited to attend an interview with our expert judging panel. This final stage is designed to identify the individual who has the complete package required to succeed in modern motorsport.
Professional racing drivers need far more than speed. They must be resilient under pressure, commercially aware, physically prepared and capable of representing sponsors, partners and the team both on and off the track.
The interview will explore each finalist's ambitions, personality, mindset and commitment to achieving success in one of the world's most competitive sports.
You've proven your pace. Now prove you have what it takes to make the journey from Sim to Reality.
THE WINNER!
The winner will be crowned the 2026 Race to Reality Champion.
As part of the prize, the champion must be available to complete their ARDS test within 2 weeks of the final event. Passing the ARDS test is mandatory in order to claim the race prize and compete in the Mini Challenge event at the end of August.
Subject to successfully completing the ARDS test, the winner will then take part in an official track day/test day in preparation for their race debut.
The 2026 Race to Reality Champion will go on to compete in a live round of the Mini Challenge at Donington Park.
- Venue: Donington Park
- Team: Greaves Motorsport
- Car: Mini Challenge Trophy
- Date: 22nd & 23rd August
KEY DATES
