DTM driver René Rast drives an online race during the talk

Under normal circumstances this weekend would have been the occasion of the race at the Lausitzring, but at the moment everything is very different. René invites us to accompany him in his current main field of activity or, as he also calls it, developing his second career. New circumstances require new solutions, so e-racing is currently very popular with almost all racing drivers. The professionals compete in virtual races with state-of-the-art equipment consisting of a high-end racing steering wheel, pedals, a sports seat, huge headphones and several wide screens. Because the races are all streamed, the special highlight is that the fans can participate live and ask their idol questions. Via the Twitch platform, one of the largest platforms for gaming streams, René started his online racing career over a month ago. The seriousness of this should not be underestimated: René tells us that everything runs according to a strict schedule and, because there is huge demand and interest on the part of his fans, he has drawn up a fixed plan for his streaming times. So he races at fixed times and - if occasionally he is late - the fans are already waiting impatiently.

Speaking of the demand from the fans: together with René Rast we had actually planned something big for this year, but due to the current coronavirus crisis this has had to be put on the back burner. BUT: when one door closes, another one generally opens. It soon became clear that online streaming would open up completely new possibilities: the items in the collection worn by René are highly sought after by the fans, and the demand is great. Today, too, he is wearing his brand new black cap with his name in a stylish twisted design and a black hoodie with red-and-white highlights - and of course with the iconic RR33 on his chest. Both articles are already in production and will be available soon, together with - surprise, surprise - a cool t-shirt!

When asked how the racing simulator can be compared with the real thing, René doesn't really need to answer: the expression on his face says it all. But René still tries to put it into words, stating that the simulator is very static and of course such things like the "seat-of-the-pants feel", the G-forces and the adrenalin are missing. In order to get to know the circuits, endless training is necessary so that the driver knows when the car will skid, because this can only be seen and not felt. There are of course simulators that simulate these movements, but for René that's a little over the top!

What creates further motivation for the drivers is that unlike in reality the strategies, pit stops and choice of tyres have to be planned by the drivers themselves. René's current race performances are also impressive. For example, he says that in the online DTM championships of four races he has already made it onto the podium three or four times. Of course he admits that he is still far away from his actual achievements, but his performance is still pretty good!

Whether there will still be real races this year remains questionable. The provisional starting date for the next race would be mid-July, but then without spectators. It remains to be seen whether or not things will stay that way. For René and his team the desire for a normal race weekend is probably just as strong as it is among the fans! His new car, which was built with passion and commitment, is sitting ready to start in the garage, where it is slowly gathering dust. So everyone is waiting eagerly for the starting signal - let's hope it won't take too long!

Keep calm and trust in Rast!