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: Baguette Racing.
Baguette Racing is the story of three friends who teamed up to bag themselves a place in the Le Mans Esports Series final. A baguette, what better symbol that a stick of French bread to symbolise this team of French drivers who have already taken a number of international titles but who are competing on home turf this time!
Aurélien Mohammedi-Mallet (RBR Laige) has the largest trophy haul among today’s gamers. “My first French championship was in 2011-12” , remembers Aurélien, who can boast seven French titles and three world crowns. He is one of the big names in the discipline, familiar to everyone in the Forza Motorsport community. He started on Gran Turismo 4 before switching to Forza Motorsport. “I’ve always loved motor racing. Even when I was a kid. I soon realised it would be pretty much impossible to become a driver so I started to enjoy video games and here we are today!”
He knows Le Mans like the back of his hand: “I think you could do the 24-hour race on Gran Turismo 4. It tried to do it on my own... but I put everything on auto after about 15 or 16 hours!” laughs Aurélien.
Earlier this year, he made it to the quarter-finals of the eROC, the virtual version of the Race of Champions. Although most of his titles have been earned using a game pad, he now feels completely at home with a steering wheel and pedal set and firmly intends to make a big impact with his teammates on the full simulators that will be used at the LMES final.
24-year-old Alexandre Arnou made his competition début in 2012 in the French Forza Motorsport 4 championship. He first encountered the Circuit de la Sarthe 20 years ago! “I started out when I was really young - about five years old - playing Gran Turismo 1, then I gave up the video games for a while and really got involved again with Forza Motorsport 3. I fell in love with the 24 Hours circuit right from my first few laps.”
The Le Mans Esports Series final is a real challenge: “What is really different in our preparations is the ‘strategy’ side of things, something we’ve not had to work on before in previous competitions. We each do our individual training most of the time, but whenever we can, the three of us all practise together. Tiredness is going to be a major factor and no one really knows what to expect. There should be some amazing races!”
23-year-old Christopher Cabrera (ESC Chris) has been seriously involved in esport competitions for the last two years, with the release of Forza Motorsport 7. “I started with the Gran Turismo series but my first experience of Le Mans was on Forza Motorsport 3. I want to be up to the task at the final so I’m doing as much preparation as possible. I’m training most days after work and, whenever we can with my teammates.”
PHOTO: LE MANS (SARTHE, FRANCE), CIRCUIT DES 24 HEURES DU MANS, 2019 LE MANS ESPORT SERIES: There are some strong synergies between the three French drivers competing for Baguette Racing - will that be key to success?
