December 17, 2012
Published on tags: Supercup
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 third participant is 17 year old Dutch sim racer Roy Schroten. Roy made his debut in the GPVWC Supercup during the 2011 season, and after a difficult start to life in the bigger leagues, Roy has come on in leaps and bounds during 2012, finishing 5th overall in the Supercup championship, which included his first podium (second place at Round 9 in Turkey) and also his first pole position (Round 11 in Monza). He sat down with First-Take to give his thoughts on his future in GPVWC, and how he made the improvements that he's shown throughout the past year.

- When did you start to begin your sim racing career?

RS: I started my sim racing career as a little kid on a Playstation 2 with the F1 2000 game. I really liked the game, andthroughoutthe years I bought almost every F1 racing game. I didn't really like the Need for Speed games, because I liked the realistic racing games more. I played a lot with my brother Mike in multiplayer. Only about a year and a half ago I got a steering wheel, and started playing racing games on a PC, with rFactor. I found a league, and got my first real online sim racing experience there. After a few months I entered the GPVWC in the Supercup in 2011.

- It is fair to say, you had a difficult start to life after joining the league in 2011. You took part in the Supercup championship from Turkey onwards, with a mixed set of results. Did the league surprise you with how competitive it was?

RS: The biggest shock that year was of the speed of the top drivers that year. I wasn't verysurprisedthat I was so far in the backthough If I rethink of what I did then, I did very little work on setups. That was the biggest problem that first year. I also had to learn a lot, like how to expect from others what they will do. I had to get used to driving in a community, but overall the first yearhappenedlike I expected it to be. I even scored a few points, and that was the biggest boost to continue racing here, and the other drivers were verysupportive.

- For the 2012 season, you decided to stay in the Supercup and drive for the now defunct Synergetic Motorsport team. Your form dramatically improved, and you instantly showed new found pace. Even leading a good portion of the Chinese Grand Prix. Did you surprise yourself running at or near the front during many of the races? Or did you always believe you were capable of this?

RS: I never thought I would be driving in the top 5 at the beginning of the year. I was lucky enough to have a seat, after various teams said no to my offer. Mal gave me the chance to drive, and this was also the first time I was is a real team. They helped me with making setups and I did many laps ofpractice The Australian GP was a realdisappointment I already started 14th, and with that start crash I nearly lost the fun in driving for the Supercup. I kept on driving, and managed to score some points, and that was a real boost. The fact that I drove up front at various races, was because I did everything wrong with thestrategy starting on Super Softs many times. Funny to see that those mistakes brought me into the spotlights. I was very happy with my second place, at the track that I debuted on a year earlier. As well as some silly crashes a few races earlier. I really liked the car and things just went great. I am also happy that I was able to get the 5th place, to prove that I can also drive good laps when the pressure is on.

- What was your particular favourite moment from the 2012 Supercup season?

RS: I really enjoyed the fact that everybody kept asking me about how I had such good starts. I also really enjoyed my first real GPVWC podium in Turkey, and the whole fight around it. With Petter not changing his tyres, I had to close the gap and overtake him. I knew it was going to be hard, as he was the leader of thechampionship, and the feeling I got when I passed him was great.

- How excited, and surprised were you to get the call from CSG Racing team boss Dave Carr-Smith asking you to drive for his team for 2013?

RS: I was thrilled to see that Dave had left me an offer. I had got some offers, but I never expected to get one from CSG. I was very exited about the thought to drive for the team, and I immediately said yes. After all, CSG Racing is a big team, and if there is one team that can help me make the step to the top, it is CSG.

- With CSG Racing's backing, do you think you'll be able to mount a Supercup championship challenge? Or do you have different goals?

RS:My goal is to win races next year. I know that CSG is the perfect team to do that with. I am sure they will support me throughout the season, and help me if I have problems. I will do everything to get the best results possible, and to help the team to the constructorschampionship It is a long way to thechampionshiptitle, but it might be possible as well. We don't know who will be driving the the league, but I am sure there will be some big names. We will just have to see what 2013 will bring us.

- Before your seat with CSG Racing was confirmed, there were one or two rumours linking you with a drive in the Superleague championship. Is this something you would like to pursue in the future?

RS: For sure I want to get into the Superleague in a few years. There were some rumours about it, and I talked with some teams about it, but due to other things, I am not able to drive onThursdaynights. But it might change in a year, so who knows? The other reason I didn't join the SL was because I thought that would be to fast. It's only a few months that I have been at the top, and I think it's better not to rush into things. I want to prove that I can win races and that I am fast, and that it is not just a phase.

- What would you say is your favourite form of sim racing to compete in? Considering we've seen you appear in many different championships so far in your career.

RS: I have driven a lot of different cars indeed, but I like the open wheel cars the most. They are fast, and with the grip they have, I really enjoy to drive in them. I also like NASCAR and IndyCars. It might be a little strange for someone from Europe to like them, and many people think it is to easy to drive in them. But the high speed, so close with other drivers, gives me a real thrill. Endurance racing comes at third. It isnecessaryto keep your thoughts with your driving, which can be hard at times. The cars I really dislike are touring cars. I am not particularly slow in them, but I just don't like they way the drive and how they feel.

- You established Racing Team Schroten very early on with your twin brother, Mike. With the team making appearances in every championship other than the Superleague since the team's creation, do you have future ambitions to perhaps try and enter the team into the top level league one day?

RS: I really like thethoughtof getting higher with the team, but I first want the team to be more popular. In 2013, we will try to get some experienced drivers, and to be a stable factor in the Formula Challenge. We might go in a higher class, but not in the near future.

- Your twin brother Mike is also a driver in the GPVWC. Do you enjoy racing alongside and/or against Mike? Out of the two, you seem to have established yourself as the stronger driver, while there are still question marks about Mike, and his lack of appearances on the grid compared to you. Do you both have differing goals and interests when it comes to sim racing?

I really enjoy to drive with Mike, as I do for a long time already. He had some other goals and interest in other leagues, as he seems to like touring cars and Stock Cars. He is coming back in the GPVWC with his own team Measuric Racing.I am more established with the GPVWC now, but I am sure he will do good in the Formula Challenge next year, and maybe we will drive alongside each other on the future again, maybe even in a Measuric-RTS Superleague team.

- What are your overall aims for the future in the GPVWC? Where do you see yourself racing in the future?

I first want to prove to the GPVWC community and to CSG Racing that I am able to win races, and that is my first goal now. I hope I will drive in the Superleague in a few years, as that is my dream to do. Maybe with Midnight, maybe Woods, I don't know that yet. I will try everything to get to the top, and we will see in a few years what hashappenedand where I am then.

- Although many driver line-ups are still yet to be announced for 2013, who would you pick to be the Superleague champion for the upcoming season?

I would say Dave Carr-Smith. Not just because he is my boss though... He has shown some great results at the end of 2012. In the Superleague, as well as in the Winter GT. He is a very fast guy, and has my vote. But you shouldn't rule out Lukas, who has proven to be a champion this year.

I'd like to thank Roy 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....