Racers in Isolation: David Pittard

Sportscar365’s Racers in Isolation series continues as we check in with drivers across the globe amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

This time we catch up with Walkenhorst Motorsport BMW driver David Pittard (Twitter/Instagram), who tells us how he is spending his time sim racing.

Where are you sitting out the COVID-19 crisis?

I am with my family in my home town Letchworth, UK.

Do you do sim racing?

Yes. I was a hobby iRacer before sim racing has exploded in recent weeks. However what has really focused my mind is the Digital Nurburgring Langstrecke Serie (DNLS), the official eSports championship for the DNLS of which Walkenhorst Motorsport has entered 2 cars for the full championship which mimics the originals 2020 NLS Calendar.

The rules allow a good balance between real racers and sim racers, and great entertainment for motorsport fans also! The real-life drivers must qualify the car and start the race, so when I look at the starting grid for the race, it’s like a real NLS/N24hr race.

The likes of BMW Factory drivers Philip Eng, Jesse Krohn, Bruno Spengler, Martin Tomczyk, Jens Klingmann, BMW Juniors Max Hesse, Dan Harper, and factory Audi and Mercedes drivers too!

They are all part of the entry list! It’s basically like the N24hr which provides great competition and entertainment!

So far my teammates Scott Michaels and Sam Michaels have managed:

R1 – P7, top BMW, top real-life driver
R2 – P16, BIG shunt
R3 – P2 and top BMW again

I also teamed up with sim racing YouTuber Jimmy Broadbent to do an iRacing NLS Endurance race.

I’m racing with a Fanatec CSL Elite wheel and pedals, which are ok, they get the job done, but I would like a direct drive wheel, some proper pedals, and a wider screen/VR to really start giving the sim racers a run for their money!

What are you doing to maintain your fitness level?

I am a big cyclist and runner. So I am able to continue my cardio program especially as the weather in the UK has been quite nice recently!

However I have had to get creative with my strength workouts as I don’t have access to the gym, however, I find The Body Coach TV YouTube channel useful!

What is your daily driver?

My daily driver is a BMW 118d, and there are many dream daily cars… however, if I had the privilege to choose any the ultimate would be a Porsche 911 GT3RS.

What was your first job?

My first job outside of motorsport, was in automotive, at McLaren F1 and Automotive. I am a qualified Motorsport Engineer BEng, and spent 2 years at the McLaren Technology Centre working with the F1 CAD department and the Automotive design office also which was a cool place to work!

Do you follow any other sports?

Not really… if it hasn’t got an engine I’m not too interested! However, I do like to follow the classic cycling races at the beginning of the year and the Grand Tours!

Team Ineos & Team Bahrain McLaren would be my teams as they have the big-hitting British riders in them and the Bahrain McLaren have the best looking kit!

I also love skiing and try to get away in Jan/Feb each year!

What’s the one thing you currently can’t have that you miss the most, other than racing?

Seeing my girlfriend who lives in Germany and a pint in the pub garden in the sun with my best mates!

What’s the one thing you are most looking forward to the first day you return to a race track?

That feeling when you’re sat in the car, the wheel guns are buzzing the wheel nuts on, the air jack releases, the car drops and the M6 twin-turbo engine fires into life and then buzzing the limiter as you exit the pit box!