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December 04, 2012
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First-Take is a series in which GPVWC members take part in a live interview, with the transcript then made available for all to read. With First-Take, I hope to try and get the answers that are honest, raw, and not pre-planned. I hope this will be as fun for everyone to read as it will be for me to conduct.
Our second participant is 17 year old Finnish sim racer Teemu Toikka. Teemu has appeared on the grid at all levels of GPVWC since his introduction to the league in 2011. After initially struggling during his rookie year, and through parts of 2012, Teemu has shown rapid improvement in the last few months, impressing many up and down the paddock with his recent drives in the ongoing Winter GT Series, and also in the recent GPVWC 2012 Race of Champions. He sat down with First-Take to give his thoughts on his recent turnaround in form, as well as his plans and hopes for the future.
-You joined the GPVWC as a complete unknown in 2011, making your debut for PB Racing in the Supercup. Did you find it hard to get used to racing at this level considering your lack of sim-racing experience?
TT:Kinda, even though I've raced karts in real life and Live For Speed before GPVWC. GPVWC was my first professional league and the step from LFS public servers and GPROC was quite large.
-Just two races into your GPVWC career, you were asked to race for Williamson Dynamics at the highest level of the GPVWC ladder, the Superleague. How was that experience for you? Did you feel pressure? Would you have preferred more time in the lower series?
TT:At that time I didn't realize how huge thing Superleague was, so I didn't take pressure from it, but I got beaten pretty hard then. Thinking it now makes me feel why did I ever do that? I guess it was just me trying to show my skills to everybody else.
-After your infamous lag incident during the 2011 Race of Champions which created the "Toikka'd" phenonemon, does being reminded of this incident, and other crashes/lag problems you've had in the past bother you? Or do you just take it on the chin and laugh it off?
TT:I just laugh it off, don't see why I should be angry at something so funny!
-Your on-track performances in the past few months have taken a huge upturn in form, including a 2nd place finish in Race 3 of the final Masters round, and currently running 4th in the Winter GT Series championship. What do you believe has helped with your turnaround?
TT:The biggest thing that has helped me is the my new internet connection, now I can just concentrate in driving instead of my ping. And I got rid of my horrible Thrustmaster wheel and replaced it with a G27. And the fact that I like the GT mod.
-Last week, yourself and Nick Rowland were able to reach the 2012 Race of Champions final, narrowly missing out on winning against Jim Parisis and Christoph Lichtenstein. Your performances shocked and impressed many up and down the GPVWC paddock. How proud, and how surprised were you of your individual performance in this event?
TT:I was blown away, I was pretty sure that I'd be able to make it to the Quarter Finals, but beating the current Superleague champion I'd never have even dreamed of! Nick was a great help, even though he was a bit off form. I think I can be pretty proud of that event, but that narrow loss is a bit tough.
-Very recently, your name has been linked with a potential 2013 Superleague drive. Just a few weeks ago, did you even think that would be a possibility?
TT:Not even a possibility, I was preparing for a full season of Supercup, but lets just say that might change. ;)
-You've shown great ability in tin-top cars over the last few months. Do you think you can now transfer this good form over to open-wheelers?
TT:I am pretty sure of that, people in GPROC have witnessed me beingconsistentlyfighting for podiums. And my 9th place in Supercup in Singapore is one proof I can be fast in open wheelers.
-Have you made a decision on what level you'll be driving in, and also what team you'll be on the grid for next season?
TT:Not yet, most probably I will be in Supercup but I am in talks with a Superleague team.
-As team manager for FA Racing, what are your hopes for the upcoming season in Supercup? Would you like to take FA Racing into the Superleague one day?
TT:I'm hoping for points finishesregularly. And yes, I'd love to see FA in Superleague one day.
-Moving back to your on-track duties, what do you hope you'll be able to achieve in the future? Not just for 2013, but also further down the line.
TT: I want to be a Superleague champion one day!
-Finally, although many of the Superleague teams are yet to reveal their driver line-ups, who would you put money on right now to be the 2013 SL champion?
TT:Nordsjoen line-up looks strong Dave Carr-Smith looked strong last season and Lee Morris is known to be fast, so one of them.
I'd like to thank Teemu for taking the time to answer these questions. I hope you enjoyed reading this. If you would like to be considered for a First-Take interview, please feel free to PM me (Ben Warren) and we'll take things from there. Drivers/team bosses/former members/casual fans are all welcome! Until next time....
Our second participant is 17 year old Finnish sim racer Teemu Toikka. Teemu has appeared on the grid at all levels of GPVWC since his introduction to the league in 2011. After initially struggling during his rookie year, and through parts of 2012, Teemu has shown rapid improvement in the last few months, impressing many up and down the paddock with his recent drives in the ongoing Winter GT Series, and also in the recent GPVWC 2012 Race of Champions. He sat down with First-Take to give his thoughts on his recent turnaround in form, as well as his plans and hopes for the future.
-You joined the GPVWC as a complete unknown in 2011, making your debut for PB Racing in the Supercup. Did you find it hard to get used to racing at this level considering your lack of sim-racing experience?
TT:Kinda, even though I've raced karts in real life and Live For Speed before GPVWC. GPVWC was my first professional league and the step from LFS public servers and GPROC was quite large.
-Just two races into your GPVWC career, you were asked to race for Williamson Dynamics at the highest level of the GPVWC ladder, the Superleague. How was that experience for you? Did you feel pressure? Would you have preferred more time in the lower series?
TT:At that time I didn't realize how huge thing Superleague was, so I didn't take pressure from it, but I got beaten pretty hard then. Thinking it now makes me feel why did I ever do that? I guess it was just me trying to show my skills to everybody else.
-After your infamous lag incident during the 2011 Race of Champions which created the "Toikka'd" phenonemon, does being reminded of this incident, and other crashes/lag problems you've had in the past bother you? Or do you just take it on the chin and laugh it off?
TT:I just laugh it off, don't see why I should be angry at something so funny!
-Your on-track performances in the past few months have taken a huge upturn in form, including a 2nd place finish in Race 3 of the final Masters round, and currently running 4th in the Winter GT Series championship. What do you believe has helped with your turnaround?
TT:The biggest thing that has helped me is the my new internet connection, now I can just concentrate in driving instead of my ping. And I got rid of my horrible Thrustmaster wheel and replaced it with a G27. And the fact that I like the GT mod.
-Last week, yourself and Nick Rowland were able to reach the 2012 Race of Champions final, narrowly missing out on winning against Jim Parisis and Christoph Lichtenstein. Your performances shocked and impressed many up and down the GPVWC paddock. How proud, and how surprised were you of your individual performance in this event?
TT:I was blown away, I was pretty sure that I'd be able to make it to the Quarter Finals, but beating the current Superleague champion I'd never have even dreamed of! Nick was a great help, even though he was a bit off form. I think I can be pretty proud of that event, but that narrow loss is a bit tough.
-Very recently, your name has been linked with a potential 2013 Superleague drive. Just a few weeks ago, did you even think that would be a possibility?
TT:Not even a possibility, I was preparing for a full season of Supercup, but lets just say that might change. ;)
-You've shown great ability in tin-top cars over the last few months. Do you think you can now transfer this good form over to open-wheelers?
TT:I am pretty sure of that, people in GPROC have witnessed me beingconsistentlyfighting for podiums. And my 9th place in Supercup in Singapore is one proof I can be fast in open wheelers.
-Have you made a decision on what level you'll be driving in, and also what team you'll be on the grid for next season?
TT:Not yet, most probably I will be in Supercup but I am in talks with a Superleague team.
-As team manager for FA Racing, what are your hopes for the upcoming season in Supercup? Would you like to take FA Racing into the Superleague one day?
TT:I'm hoping for points finishesregularly. And yes, I'd love to see FA in Superleague one day.
-Moving back to your on-track duties, what do you hope you'll be able to achieve in the future? Not just for 2013, but also further down the line.
TT: I want to be a Superleague champion one day!
-Finally, although many of the Superleague teams are yet to reveal their driver line-ups, who would you put money on right now to be the 2013 SL champion?
TT:Nordsjoen line-up looks strong Dave Carr-Smith looked strong last season and Lee Morris is known to be fast, so one of them.
I'd like to thank Teemu for taking the time to answer these questions. I hope you enjoyed reading this. If you would like to be considered for a First-Take interview, please feel free to PM me (Ben Warren) and we'll take things from there. Drivers/team bosses/former members/casual fans are all welcome! Until next time....
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