Sim Racer Beilicke Wins PT Autosport Driver Shootout

For the first time in PT Autosport’s Aspiring Driver Shootout history, a professional sim racer will make the jump to real-life racing, as esports star Luis Beilicke captured the shootout victory last week at New Jersey Motorsports Park.

Beilicke, one of the top sim racers in the world, earned his spot in the Aspiring Driver Shootout by winning the PT Autosport iRacing eSeries earlier in the year.

With the Shootout win, Beilicke joins PT Autosport’s junior team, gaining financial support of up to $250,000 ($50,000 guaranteed) to start his motorsports career.

CJ Tackman finished second and earned $10,000 to help further his racing career, while Hayden Kasmen finished third and earned a $5,000 prize.

In addition, Beilicke received a custom OMP driver’s suit, Tackman received a pair of OMP driver’s shoes, while Kasmen received a pair of OMP driver’s gloves.

The Aspiring Driver Shootout is at the core of PT Autosport’s mission: to provide motorsports opportunities for young drivers who would not otherwise have the means or the opportunity. The Shootout is open to drivers aged 18 to 23, regardless of racing experience.

This year marked the fourth PT Autosport Aspiring Driver Shootout, with Henry Drury capturing the inaugural Shootout win in 2022 (Drury would go on to earn 2024 Toyota GR Cup rookie of the year honors).

Born in Graben-Neudorf, Germany and attending university in Sweden, Beilicke races with the Coanda Esports sim racing team and is rated in the top 0.1 percent on iRacing (ranked No. 79 among ranked drivers).

When Beilicke took to the track at NJMP on Tuesday it was his first real life on-track experience, which had previously been limited to ADAC car slalom, karting, and minibikes.

“I think I still haven’t realized it happened,” said Beilicke. “I think it will take a few days to realize that it wasn’t a dream, that it was actually real.

“It’s crazy to think that here it is, early November, and I know I’m going to be racing next year. It’s all I care about, learning how to be a race car driver, putting time in on track.

“It was a great three days in the car, just getting to know everyone and working with the PT Autosport team, which is great. I’m really excited about what’s coming next.”

The multi-day shootout included an extensive fitness test, sim test, a presentation about their personal histories with a Q&A session, as well as a media training designed to help them as their careers progress, as well as on-track testing utilizing the team’s pair of Ginetta G56 GTA cars.

PT Autosport team principal Jason Myers noted that the finalists’ wide range of experience made for an interesting shootout and a tough final decision.

“Once again, it was a very difficult decision when it came time to choose an Aspiring Driver Shootout winner,” said Myers. “All the candidates showed well in various tests, but Luis impressed us from the start with his ability to go from the sim world to the real world, and adapt to the intricacies of the Ginetta G56 GTA.

“We know he will continue his racing progress as we decide on the best racing series to make that happen in 2026.

“It was an outstanding group of candidates and a tough call in the end, but we were happy to reward CJ and Hayden for their hard work as well.”