In the old GT4 support division of Germany’s top GT3 series, the DTM Trophy, Kevin Siggy should be gearing up for a season right now. Instead, he has been paying attention to the Le Mans Virtual Series and a schedule chock full of Esports sim racing competitions that will definitely be profitable for the Team Redline driver. Siggy is one of the top virtual racers in the world for non-iRacing contests.
The 24-year-old Slovenian primarily lets his performance speak for itself. He is the current Formula Pro Series champion and previously won the 2019 McLaren Shadow contest. He also won the DTM Esports competition last year, earning a fully sponsored DTM Trophy seat for 2023 which was advertised as soon as qualifying for the competition opened in December 2021.
Moritz Lohner, a former champion and DTM Trophy prize-drive winner, Team Fordzilla’s Gianmarco Fiduci, and RaceRoom specialist Florian Hasse comprised Siggy’s fiercely tough opposition. The following round was a face-to-face competition between the top five Esports players, which he duly won. The testing included driving a BMW at the Red Bull Ring and then competing in media and fitness challenges at the Lausitzring.
The parent organisation of DTM, ITR, was disbanded by Gerhard Berger in November. The former organisation was shut down, leaving its portfolio of series at the whim of the new promoter, despite the ADAC’s agreement to buy the rights to the show.
The DTM Trophy series for lone drivers has been cancelled, but the DTM will remain in name and spirit this year. While the BMW M2 Racing Cup and Porsche Carrera Cup Germany remain as supporting acts, the ADAC is still promoting its two-driver ADAC GT4 Germany series.
On December 29, the dreadful news was emailed to Siggy.
First, he adds, “I had to go after them and question myself to find out.”
Martin Tomczyk, the 2011 DTM champion who took part in the shoot-out, said, “I spoke to him, but you know it has nothing to do with him.”
He claimed he didn’t know; it must be those in positions of authority. He wasn’t specifically informed on my programme, but he did assist me in locating the right contacts.
“The email I got described the ITR and DTM circumstances and the ownership shift. The letter concluded, “The developments led to the reality that, absent the enrollment of the DTM Trophy and the absence of the ITR as a promoter, the programme you’re referring to no longer exists and is terminated totally.” We want to thank you for participating, so please accept our apologies for providing this feedback. We hope the best for you in the future.
That’s all, then.
Since sending the email on December 29, Siggy claims to have “received no answers.”
“A ride in a BMW M2 or GT4 Germany would be preferable to doing nothing, but they haven’t done anything yet,” he continues.
Siggy argues that in addition to the loss of the reward drive, months of planning may have been in vain.
It will be considerably simpler for me to complete my race licence in Germany than it will be in the Netherlands, where I am presently situated, he says.
But in order for it to be handled more easily, I would need a residency there. Fortunately, one of my mother’s closest friends lived nearby, so I spent the night there and requested her consent to have my name listed as a resident there.
“The theoretical test came next, and DTM paid for it. However, I had to make the trip there alone and seek racing driver Louis Henkefend for help because the exam was entirely in German.
Siggy passed it, so two actual racing weekends have to be completed before the 2023 DTM Trophy season in order to obtain a licence.
Then, he continues, “it was on to three national-level races; two sprints and one endurance, apparently supported by the DTM.” I obtained the national licence, which I paid for.
The first weekend was subsequently postponed. I got a voicemail saying it was for “internal reasons,” but otherwise nothing.
However, the second weekend was still guaranteed, so my mother even purchased a plane ticket to watch me. However, another voicemail and another cancellation followed.
I was informed that it would undoubtedly occur in 2023, either in January, February, or March, but after pursuing them, of course, I received the aforementioned communication from the DTM.
In response to a request for comment, the DTM stated: “ITR GmbH, which was previously marketing the DTM Trophy, will no longer promote the series as a result of the DTM trademark being acquired by ADAC.
We are now examining and thoroughly analysing the issue as a result.
Siggy has promised that if a solution is discovered, actual racing would take precedence over any online competitions.
It’s still a fantasy, but I would do everything for ADAC, he declares.
“I’ll do it instead if any motorsports this year conflict with sim racing since it’s a priority above virtual racing,” the author said.
