24h Le Mans
For the first time ever at this year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans, gamers will chase victory in their own sim-racing finale held over race week! Here we present one of the teams competing in the event: Advocatus Diaboli.
Advocatus Diaboli is an all-Chinese team and is only one of two composed of gamers from the same country (with the all-French Baguette Racing team). Let's get to know Dai Lei (ADD Rocky), Yuan Yifan (ADD Jhickson) and He Muye (ADD DoctorH).
Though 35 years old, Dai Lei does not have a great deal of experience in Esports, making his first appearance in competition in 2017! "I started from Forza Motorsport 6 in 2017, so compared with my age, I’m just a beginner for racing games. Like all my other hobbies, which start from comics. I became interested in racing since I read the comic book Initial D." He's familiar with Le Mans having attended the Forza RC final in 2017, and hopes this year to leave with the win.
Yuan Yifan started in Esports online in the FRGP league. He's 22 and admits he has loved motorsport for a long time. "When I was very young, I watched racing on TV and I was deeply fascinated by it. I dreamed that one day I would become a professional driver myself. Although this dream is impossible for me to realize, the second chance is given by the esports race, and the racing game has become an indispensable part of my life."
This connoisseur of F1 games (loyal since F1 2012) remembers his first contact with the 24 Hours circuit on Forza Motorsport. "Makes sense since there is no Le Mans in F1 games."
At 27, He Muye has two years of Esports experience to his credit, but he's been playing a lot of games for a lot of time. "When I was about 10 years old, I liked this racing sport since the first time when I watched car racing, and I also liked related racing games. Since then I participated in some online car racing competitions. This opportunity allows me to participate in the Le Mans Esports game."
Like his teammate Yuan Yifan (ADD Jhickson), he got his start in video games via F1. "I started racing games from F1 games, because F1 is the first motorsport I learn. The first contact with this circuit was in Forza Motorsports. The first impression was woah, what a long circuit. Le Mans circuit has long straights and also some interesting corners in last sector."
The three pilots are bonded - they responded together to our interview request - and have followed an intense preparation program. Every day, they get together to play and simulate the races they'll be taking on. Their ease of communication could be an asset in the challenging Le Mans Esports Series final.
We'll see what happens Friday 14 June at Le Mans.
PHOTO : LE MANS (SARTHE, FRANCE), CIRCUIT DES 24 HEURES DU MANS, 2019 LE MANS ESPORTS SERIES: Advocatus Diaboli, the all-Chinese team in the Le Mans Esports Series final.
