VW Racing Cup ace Michael Epps beat a host of motorsport stars to take victory in the Simply Race Champions Showdown, a charity racing simulator challenge that featured big names from across touring cars, single-seaters and sportscars.
To celebrate their one year anniversary on Saturday (30th January), the Milton Keynes venue hosted an entry list including the likes of ELMS LMP3 champion Charlie Robertson, Lotus F1 Junior Team Driver Alexander Albon, British GT4 champion Ross Gunn and Le Mans driver Alex Brundle.
The all-star line-up was joined by two wildcard competition winners in David Williams and Jeremy Boxberger, the duo having emerged as the two fastest drivers in the venue’s ‘Track of the Month’ contest.
Racing in Porsche 911 GTE cars around the Brands Hatch GP circuit, the drivers competed in a pair of random-grid heat races to secure the best starting position possible for the all-or-nothing grand final.
After battling four-wide in the opening laps for the lead, former FIA Formula Two race-winner Ramon Pineiro and Epps pulled clear to duel it out for the win. A bold move at Surtees on lap four of fifteen gave Epps the lead, which he held to the finish for a fifteen second success.
Epps received £500 for the victory, which he is donating equally to Breast Cancer Care and Cancer Research UK. Pineiro took second at the flag, with Race of Champions standout Bradley Philpot completing the podium.
(From L to R) Pineiro, Epps and Philpot Share The Podium – Credit: Simply Race
Albon, British GT rookie Jordan Albert and Gunn completed the top six ahead of ex-BTCC racer Jake Hill and Ginetta Junior front-runner Will Tregurtha, with Robertson, Williams, Boxberger and Brundle rounding out the timesheets.
“I’ll take that!” said Epps. “It’s been an awesome evening and to actually beat these guys is a great feeling.
“I had no idea of where I would be against them, I did have an advantage of having been here before and practicing a bit for sure, but I’m not the only one on the grid who had that edge and many of them are out in much faster real-life cars every other weekend!”
The full stream of the event, with commentary from Simon Hill, can be watched here:
Based in Stacey Bushes, Milton Keynes, Simply Race hosts a wide range of events utilising their twelve triple-screen “pods”, which feature fully adjustable steering wheels, pedals and vibrating racing seats.
