INSTANT PERFORMANCE
2024 was the year I made the leap: from SIM to a real cockpit – and straight into real-world racing. On recommendation from the DMSB – the German Motor Sport Federation – I chose the BMW 318ti Cup, the largest one-make cup race series in the world. This series isn’t just a stepping stone for young talents – it’s a true challenge, even for experienced drivers. With its tightly packed field, nearly identical cars and fierce competition, it reveals true driving class instantly – and makes success all the more meaningful.
TALENT OVER TECH
Since I joined the series mid-season, I didn’t have a permanent seat. I had to stay flexible – switching teams more than once and adapting to new setups and team environments on the fly. I was never in the best car on the grid, but always pushed it to the absolute technical limit. Still, it was virtually impossible to get past the two top teams in the series and their four clearly faster cars.
With stronger equipment, I would’ve been fighting for wins at every race. As it was, I could only hint at my full potential – but even so, I was right up there. And that alone shows my level.
TALENT OVER TECH
Since I joined the series mid-season, I didn’t have a permanent seat. I had to stay flexible – switching teams more than once and adapting to new setups and team environments on the fly. I was never in the best car on the grid, but always pushed it to the absolute technical limit. Still, it was virtually impossible to get past the two top teams in the series and their four clearly faster cars.
With stronger equipment, I would’ve been fighting for wins at every race. As it was, I could only hint at my full potential – but even so, I was right up there. And that alone shows my level.
After a quite short test at Circuit ZOLDER in late April, I made my real-world racing debut in early June – on the legendary TT Circuit ASSEN. That first race weekend still felt a bit like a trial run: I had to deal with a suboptimal setup that didn’t really suit me. But no worries – I took it as part of the process. And by the next race weekends, I was already standing on the podium. In total: 4 podiums from just 4 race weekends – including a start-to-finish overall victory. All that against up to 60 mostly seasoned drivers – on tracks I’d never raced on before, in a car that was completely new to me.
FROM DEBUT STRAIGHT TO THE PODIUMThe graphic shows how quickly I made my mark in real-world racing – and how instantly I was able to deliver top-level performances.
FROM DEBUT STRAIGHT TO THE PODIUMThe graphic shows how quickly I made my mark in real-world racing – and how instantly I was able to deliver top-level performances.
∆ CIRCUIT ZOLDER APR. 26, 2024
X
In ZOLDER was my first test outing in a BMW 318ti Cup race car – and my first time on a real race track, under real conditions. Just days earlier, I had driven the car a few meters around the team’s workshop yard – but that obviously had nothing to do with actual racing. Now it got serious: clutch, H-pattern gearbox, braking with the right foot – all completely new to me. In SIM-racing, I drive with paddle shifters, no clutch – and always brake with my left foot.
TEST DEBUT: WET, NEW, AND YET INSTANTLY IN THE ZONENot an easy transition – but I’ve learned to adapt instantly to new situations. Years of competitive tennis and thousands of SIM-hours at the highest level have given me that edge. And it helps – even in real-world motorsport. I can adjust quickly to new tracks, new cars, and changing conditions – even in the wet.
Across both sessions (2 × 1/2 hour), I began systematically working my way toward the car’s limit. Conditions were demanding – damp asphalt after rain, chilly weather. Even so, I was already able to set solid lap times and gather valuable experience. The foundation was laid – and six weeks later, I would head to the TT Circuit ASSEN for my very first real race weekend.
TEST DEBUT: WET, NEW, AND YET INSTANTLY IN THE ZONENot an easy transition – but I’ve learned to adapt instantly to new situations. Years of competitive tennis and thousands of SIM-hours at the highest level have given me that edge. And it helps – even in real-world motorsport. I can adjust quickly to new tracks, new cars, and changing conditions – even in the wet.
Across both sessions (2 × 1/2 hour), I began systematically working my way toward the car’s limit. Conditions were demanding – damp asphalt after rain, chilly weather. Even so, I was already able to set solid lap times and gather valuable experience. The foundation was laid – and six weeks later, I would head to the TT Circuit ASSEN for my very first real race weekend.
1 CIRCUIT ASSEN JUN. 6-7, 2024
X
REAL ASPHALT - ON THE WAY TO THE LIMITMy debut in the BMW 318ti Cup – the first step into the real-world racing scene. Still without a custom setup tailored to my preferences – something I’m used to from SIM-racing: a loose rear end and mild oversteer with a stable front, ideal for generating slip angle and effective trail braking, and avoiding understeer. Instead, the car was set up more conservatively for safety, which made it harder for me to push to the limit. That held me back from delivering faster lap times. A pity – my very first appearance could have been much more impressive. Still, the car was reliable and solid. The foundation was laid.
The weekend was affected by a compressed schedule, mixed weather, and yellow/red flags due to crashes. I had little time for practice or race prep, and the track was completely new to me. My only “preparation” was the 2 × 1/2 hours of testing in Zolder six weeks earlier – so every meter and every second of experience counted in ASSEN.
Special thanks to the team boss, who gave me the opportunity to make my BMW 318ti Cup debut in one of his race cars.
The weekend was affected by a compressed schedule, mixed weather, and yellow/red flags due to crashes. I had little time for practice or race prep, and the track was completely new to me. My only “preparation” was the 2 × 1/2 hours of testing in Zolder six weeks earlier – so every meter and every second of experience counted in ASSEN.
Special thanks to the team boss, who gave me the opportunity to make my BMW 318ti Cup debut in one of his race cars.
1st RACE = P28 Overall (after a pit stop time penalty)
2nd RACE = P14 Overall (from P33 after the start)
2 NÜRBURGRING I JUN. 28-30, 2024
X
My first podium finish After TT Circuit ASSEN, now the legendary Nürburgring. A great honor to race on this world-famous racetrack. This time, the team provided a setup more suited to my style. However, I had issues with second gear, which were only fixed after qualifying. That meant I couldn’t set a proper lap time and had to start from P25. Without that technical issue, I would’ve been well within at least the top ten in the qualifying, as my performance in the races shows.
After the repair, my performance improved significantly in both races. However, I was no longer able to change my shifting rhythm or my cornering lines during the race in order to set faster times – so I had to get the best out of the situation.
After the repair, my performance improved significantly in both races. However, I was no longer able to change my shifting rhythm or my cornering lines during the race in order to set faster times – so I had to get the best out of the situation.
1st RACE = P14 Overall (starting from P25)
P10 at first, but after a 30 sec. penalty (due to a questionable track limit violation in the veedol chicane) subsequently relegated. One half of the field was penalized, while the other half was not.
2nd RACE = P5 Overall und P3 Juniors - starting from P14 (podium)
P10 at first, but after a 30 sec. penalty (due to a questionable track limit violation in the veedol chicane) subsequently relegated. One half of the field was penalized, while the other half was not.
2nd RACE = P5 Overall und P3 Juniors - starting from P14 (podium)
3 LAUSITZRING AUG. 24-25, 2024
X
My first race victory and double podiumA perfectly dialed-in setup at the Eurospeedway Lausitzring – thanks to the committed work of the new team. Although top speed was lacking in qualifying and race one on Saturday, the car improved noticeably for Sunday’s race.
It was a turbulent race weekend: limited testing due to interruptions caused by accidents, obstructions on the track and in the pit lane on race Sunday, including several yellow flags and ultimately a red flag that ended the race prematurely - all of which required total concentration and commitment.
Despite all the challenges, I held my own in a strong field and intense duels – and as a rookie, I managed a START-to-fINISH victory at just my third real-life race weekend.
It was a turbulent race weekend: limited testing due to interruptions caused by accidents, obstructions on the track and in the pit lane on race Sunday, including several yellow flags and ultimately a red flag that ended the race prematurely - all of which required total concentration and commitment.
Despite all the challenges, I held my own in a strong field and intense duels – and as a rookie, I managed a START-to-fINISH victory at just my third real-life race weekend.
** In the entire history of the BMW 318ti Cup so far, no driver apart from me has ever managed to win a race in his rookie season.
1st RACE = P10 Overall (starting from P11)
2nd RACE = P1 Overall und P1 Juniors- starting from the pole (double podium)
2nd RACE = P1 Overall und P1 Juniors- starting from the pole (double podium)
The most successful race weekend in the history of the BMW 318ti Cup for CERNY Motorsport. I am pleased that I was able to contribute to this.
4 NÜRBURGRING II OCT. 4-6, 2024
X
Another top performance and 4th podium finishThe track profile of the Nürburgring GP circuit differs from that of the previous race weekend at the Lausitzring. It features more slow corners where you need strong acceleration to stay in the fight and make overtakes on the straights.
With my car lacking some torque, that was a real challenge. My P5 Overall and P3 Juniors finish in race one was mainly due to my driving skills and the good work of the racing team.
In race two, I started from P6 due to reverse grid. Faster drivers from race one, whom I had previously overtaken, were now in front and defending hard. With missing some torque, overtaking was tough. A full-course yellow influenced the mandatory pit stop phase and scrambled the field completely. In the end, I was glad to finish P12.
Racing Hell & Real TalkA personal highlight: meeting British racing legend Peter Cate – six-time Nürburgring 24h winner, including last year with the team’s BMW M4 GT4, and again present this weekend at the track. Four days of valuable conversations with him gave me deep insights in motor racing. I recommend his autobiographical book "Racing Hell" to anyone interested in motorsport.
With my car lacking some torque, that was a real challenge. My P5 Overall and P3 Juniors finish in race one was mainly due to my driving skills and the good work of the racing team.
In race two, I started from P6 due to reverse grid. Faster drivers from race one, whom I had previously overtaken, were now in front and defending hard. With missing some torque, overtaking was tough. A full-course yellow influenced the mandatory pit stop phase and scrambled the field completely. In the end, I was glad to finish P12.
Racing Hell & Real TalkA personal highlight: meeting British racing legend Peter Cate – six-time Nürburgring 24h winner, including last year with the team’s BMW M4 GT4, and again present this weekend at the track. Four days of valuable conversations with him gave me deep insights in motor racing. I recommend his autobiographical book "Racing Hell" to anyone interested in motorsport.
1st RACE = P5 Overall und P3 Juniors - starting from P10 (podium)
2nd RACE = P12 Overall (starting from P6)
A crucial full-course yellow phase had completely thrown the race field and the final race result into disarray. Otherwise, I could have easily finished in the TOP 5 Overall or better and achieved another podium finish ...
2nd RACE = P12 Overall (starting from P6)
A crucial full-course yellow phase had completely thrown the race field and the final race result into disarray. Otherwise, I could have easily finished in the TOP 5 Overall or better and achieved another podium finish ...
The always very friendly and informative Peter Cate. I miss the very interesting conversations with him ...
