Being Kazakhstan’s first elite Female racer & Simracer

Crew Chief Brad: [00:00:00] Welcome to Screen to Speed powered by INIT eSports. In this podcast, we dive into the journeys of remarkable individuals making waves in sim racing and bridging the virtual with the real. From the thrill of digital circuits to the roar of real life racetracks, we explore the passion, Dedication and innovation that drives the world of motorsports.

We’ll hear from athletes, creators, and pioneers sharing their stories, insights, and the powerful ways sim racing is connecting communities and creating pathways into motorsports. So buckle up. Screen the speed starts now.

Yvonne Houffelaar: Hello everyone. Welcome to the inner talks episode 34. And do you think, oh, this is different than I used to? Yes, it’s different. Today I’m both. [00:01:00] And Lubov, uh, aka Love46, well known by everyone, is the guest. Welcome.

Lyubov Ozeretskovskaya: Welcome, everyone. Hello, hello. Uh, a bit different in the talks today, so I’m not a host. So happy to be here.

Yes,

Yvonne Houffelaar: that’s great to hear. I’m happy to have you here. And, uh, how is it for you to be the guest now instead of the host?

Lyubov Ozeretskovskaya: Oh, great experience, you know, to be on the other side. So not to be a host for one in a talk. It’s great. So feels a bit different for me, definitely.

Yvonne Houffelaar: Yeah, a bit more relaxed, I think.

You’re sitting now. Yes, yes. Well, let’s start by the beginning. I know you started very young, around nine years old. How did you get introduced by the cartoon world? Because you started in real [00:02:00] life first and then went over to the sim. How did you start with cartoon? Where did you find it in

Lyubov Ozeretskovskaya: the beginning?

Yeah, so I started from karting when I was nine years old. I still remember we went to rent karting with my dad and He just let me try it for once and i’m like, okay. Yeah, I really like it and he just suggests me that We can start to do championship of Kazakhstan. So I remember he built the first car for myself.

Uh, there was, you know, really old chassis, uh, with, uh, uh, engine from, uh, Honda Dio, that’s a scooter. Um, and I remember the, the frame, uh, it was the bright yellow. And I started to take a part in championship of Kazakhstan, um, in class And I had my 46 number with me. It was a great experience. Uh, so I really like karting.[00:03:00]

I really like this excitement and adrenaline, which I get from it. And, um, so yeah, then we move forward and I just, uh, won four times championship of Kazakhstan. Of course, I started not, you know, all races from the first, uh, places, uh, been to like, uh, Top six, top, top seven, uh, for several races. Uh, and then the last race, which we had in like, that was 2008, 2009.

Um, I remember that I won it and I was so happy. I still remember the guy who, uh, been fighting with me for the first position. Uh, he was crying after I won it. Oh yeah, he was so upset. So, yeah, it was really fun, uh, days and I, you know, that was great. My dad also raced at this time a little bit, uh, in different class and, uh, we’ve been into this, uh, together, um, that was awesome.[00:04:00]

Yvonne Houffelaar: It’s great to hear that you did this with your dad and also at such a young age, that’s great. So, I see that with me too. I started also very young, a bit younger than you when I was seven. And, uh, yeah, my dad was there to support. He didn’t do anything with cars. He didn’t drive in any cars. He was there for the support, but it’s still great to hear.

And how did you feel? Because back then you were young, and you probably was one of the only women in the field, I think.

Lyubov Ozeretskovskaya: Mm hmm. So, you know, I felt, uh, sometimes I was afraid of the speed, so that took some time to Uh, get used to everything, and, uh, then, you know, I felt great, uh, to be honest, like, uh, everybody tried to respect me, of course, uh, we had some people who’ve been, like, against, uh, girls in karting, and something like this, uh, that’s been, uh, Taking a place here.

[00:05:00] That was like, you know, 2008, 2009, a long time ago. So definitely right now situation is more friendly for everybody. Uh, and, uh, you know, of course the cursing is, uh, you know, that’s a lot of swearing and a lot of men in this. And, uh, uh, yeah, that was, uh, A little bit weird experience for me, uh, but I think that, uh, bring me, uh, the character which I got right now, so I’m really like a, a high motivated person, and I’m trying to push, uh, like, my goals, and, uh, I’m doing everything, like, if I got a goal, I’m just going for it till the end, and, uh, yeah, that’s really, uh, give me, um, you know, Great, uh, things, uh, bring great things to my life, definitely.

Um, we’ve been lucky enough to found a sponsor for our karting team, uh, here in Kazakhstan, because just, uh, investors which we [00:06:00] have here, they’ve been really interested into karting, they did karting, By themselves also. Um, and, uh, after all this stuff, so we started like the, the carting team. Um, so we did like, you know, a few seasons with our own money and, uh, the rest of the seasons and the rest career, which I did in real life racing, I did buy sponsor money, so we didn’t bring any, anything from our side, from the family, because my family is not really rich and, uh, motorsport carting and, uh, racing is, uh, really expensive.

Um, So yeah, and then they started to build the guard circuit here and we got the the big circuit right now I hope hopefully it’s going to work this summer. So they Tried to bring the MotoGP here Maybe it’s going to happen in the upcoming years here in Almaty So yeah, that’s the first big circuit which we got [00:07:00] here and it’s really long with the high speed corners really cool You Um, so yeah, will be awesome to see some MotoGP racing here one day.

Yvonne Houffelaar: Yes, that will be great. And, um, I think you also participated in the Formula Masters events. I think with Astana Motorsports, if I’m correct?

Lyubov Ozeretskovskaya: Yeah, that’s correct.

Yvonne Houffelaar: Can you tell more about that?

Lyubov Ozeretskovskaya: Uh, so after I did really good results in karting, uh, won four times championship of Kazakhstan, uh, we decided that we have to move somewhere and, um, We had a special event in Moscow with rent karting.

Uh, they’ve been doing the, you know, kind of like endurance, uh, karts, uh, event. Uh, there’s been like two hours race or something like this. Uh, we had, uh, four drivers in our team. Um, and. The price for the [00:08:00] first position, uh, the, being the testing days, uh, uh, informal masters. And so, yeah, we just, uh, we did this, uh, event, did this race, uh, won it.

So we did a really good strategy with the team. We also had, uh, really fast driver, uh, with us in a team and, uh, you know, I, everybody just, uh, bring. Their own side, their own time and consistency, uh, into the team results. And, uh, we won the test day, uh, at Kazan ring. Uh, and, um, we decided to find some, uh, like sponsors to go for this testing and maybe try, uh, the full season and formal masters, um, And yeah, then it just turns out that, uh, we found money, we, uh, bring ourselves to the circuit, did the test day, uh, I still remember it was really crazy to switch [00:09:00] from karting to formulas because in formulas you literally, uh, see nothing compared to karting because in karting you, uh, like, Just, uh, sitting on the outside, you can see everything, you can see Apex League, you can see everything.

Uh, in Formal, it was different, so when I first time, um, went to the track, I was like, Wow, I can see a thing, you know? It was, it was really funny. Um, after some time, I get used to it. So when you’re sitting in Formal, you actually see just, uh, top of the tires a little bit. It’s funny. Uh, and, and they’re pretty much it.

You don’t see anything on the sides and, uh, you, you can see a little bit, the rear view, the little mirrors, uh, mirrors, and that’s, that’s, that’s it. So it was a really fun experience. Definitely. Um, and then after this testing days, after the first season, we did like a thing, three, four races, we found some [00:10:00] investments, uh, from also Kazakhstan government, uh, support me.

Uh, and then just, uh, Astana Motorsports, uh, team, they found me, uh, they contact me and they decided like, okay, we can, uh, take you with us. Uh, at this time they had already. Uh, team in the car, they had, uh, like this big track in the car, uh, also I think SUV and, uh, motorcycle. So they had a quite big team, uh, which took a part in, uh, in racing around the world.

And yeah, and then, uh, they introduced me that I’m going to, uh, be in the formal program, our program we had, uh, which we had, uh, it’s been, uh, Uh, for the formal one, step by step, the program, uh, included also, uh, formal free in Spain and, uh, you know, all the stuff, but unfortunately, uh, we did formal masters in [00:11:00] 2015.

Uh, then at the same time, I also been, uh, taking part in the Asia Cup series, which is a formal BMW. Uh, it’s a punk, uh, so finish before informal masters and P six and Asia cup series. Uh, and then unfortunately they decided to completely shut down the team, uh, because, uh, just maybe some financial problems, maybe something else.

But what they told me that was like, uh, none of the races taking a part on the territory of Kazakhstan. And they not really interested in this. Um, so yeah, and still they’re not running any racing team anymore. So they’ll, they’ll only got the cycling team, uh, and then pretty much it. So it’s really sad, uh, because we had a really strong team in the car.

They finished, uh, in tracks, I think P10 or P11, which is, uh, great because, you know, the, the car is a really high level and [00:12:00] it’s, it’s really, uh, exhausting. Um, conditions in this race. Also, it’s really hard marathon, which, uh, running and racing. Um, so yeah, it’s, it’s really sad, but it was a great experience and I’m so grateful and happy that I, um, you know, been in this team because that like the highest level in Kazakhstan, uh, and I was the first, uh, uh, woman who took a part in, uh, formulas, uh, for, from Kazakhstan.

So no one. Right now doing any formal series, uh, who racing here in Kazakhstan.

Yvonne Houffelaar: Nice. Well done and congrats because it’s, uh, it’s, um, how do you say it in English? I’m not sure, but it’s, uh, it’s something you did very well and you can be very proud of yourself. Uh, I never heard about Astana Motorsports, but I knew about the cycling team, because yeah, I also [00:13:00] like cycling.

So, um, yeah, that’s how I. Uh, knew the name, but I never thought they had also a motorsports teams. This is interesting to hear as well, but a shame they stopped because I think if it reached far, from what I hear also from the results, you were getting better and better, getting more the groove, uh, in the Formula car.

And, uh, it’s a shame that it ended like this. Um, you also did a selection event for the W Series. Can you tell more about that? Yeah.

Lyubov Ozeretskovskaya: Yes, I can tell you about this. I want to add a little bit about Formal Masters also and Asia Cup Series. Um, I had this result. I think the results could be better. Just because we’ve been really limited with the budget, which we had.

So we had budget only for events, for racing events. But only for like one day practice. That’s like three, [00:14:00] four sessions to be exact. By 20 minutes maximum on track. So, and, uh, as I had all tracks new for me, it was really hard, you know, to adapt. Also, we had a, um, quite fast car compared to karting where I’ve been before.

So yeah, it’s, uh, definitely was a really hard challenge for me. And, you know, if someone would suggest me once again, try something like this, I would just, uh, uh, decline this because, you know, I understand now, uh, that. It’s really hard to go through all this racing events without any experience, without any practice.

It’s really hard. And of course, if I, uh, would take a part in any racing right now, I would love to have more testing days, more practice, uh, to then show better results, uh, in series. Uh, so yeah, unfortunately we’ve been really limited with financials and we’ve been limited, uh, in, um, like, uh, I would try. [00:15:00] Uh, to save the car because we’ve been limited, uh, in, in crashes, uh, also, uh, with the financials as, you know, Formula is real expensive, like, four tires cost, like, more than 1, 000 euros.

Um, one tire set cost that money and, uh, for example, the, the front wing cost, uh, like, uh, 1, 500 euros or something like this. So, yeah, if you’re going to get into a crash and also, uh, formal car made, uh, Made of paper. It’s it’s really fragile. And yeah, it was really hard in financial way to just push the limits and also, you know, put all everything I’ve got into the results.

So actually, I did my best about W series events. It was really fun. I remember so, uh, Had a really funny story about this, uh, because, uh, it was my husband. We decided [00:16:00] that we going to get married. And at the same time, I just, uh, send a application to W series that, Hey, I probably would like to take a part in the selection event.

So we didn’t, uh, think that it’s going to. And we just get married and I changed my surname and I had to go to Kazakhstan to change. Uh, so been living in Moscow at this time and I had to go to Kazakhstan to change all my documents, my passport and all the stuff. Um, and we’ve been really limited because we get married on the 11th of December and, um, We just, uh, you know, uh, face, uh, the reality that we got all this, uh, Christmas days and new year and all this stuff.

And we’ve been, you know, running out of time, uh, was making the visa to go to Austria. Um, hopefully we, we did everything in time and I’m so grateful [00:17:00] to. Uh, Austria Embassy, they did everything fast, uh, I remember Konso called me like, Oh, that’s uh, yeah, really, um, important event where you’re going, yeah, so I understand you’re doing racing and all this stuff.

I said yes, and they like, uh, called me. I know in two hours or so, they’re like, Oh, you, you got your visa and passports. I’m like, yes, let’s go. And then we went to WSeries event. Um, in a way how events went for me, it was great experience. That was my first time ever, uh, taking part, uh, in such events. And so we’ve been driving the Porsche.

Cayman, uh, GTS with winter tires, uh, on the mixed conditions. So we had, uh, like rain, snow, all the stuff. So there’ll be in, uh, in January, uh, really fun. You know, we did some drifting, some fun exercises, some team working, [00:18:00] um, some stuff like this. So I met a lot of girls and that was a great to be a part of this event.

Definitely. So I didn’t get into, uh, the series. I think because my Uh, maybe communication wasn’t that great as it is right now, and, uh, probably I was not really good at working in a team, uh, because I was, uh, really shy and maybe a little bit close to myself at this time. Uh, but anyway, I was really, uh, happy to take a part in this and be a part of, of that.

It’s really sad that W Series, uh, stopped to do their seasons. It’s, Uh, because I think it was a great, uh, series and, uh, I would love to see more girls into this. And, uh, just, you know, for example, for Jimmy Chadwick, uh, that turned out, uh, really in a really good way. So she get into IndyCar series and, uh, That’s, that’s awesome.

And, uh, yeah, I raced against her. So we, we had, [00:19:00] uh, some kind of like a rallycross, uh, on this Caymans in the end. Yeah, I raced with her. So she beat me, but just a little bit. So it was fun.

Yvonne Houffelaar: Ah, that’s good to hear. Yeah, they have nowadays, they have one academia, which is also very good to watch. I watch most of the races.

I try to watch them or watch them back later on. With every pooling, uh, absolutely dominate the season, apart from a few races. A Dutch lady, Maya Voogd, that won as well. I mentioned that because I’m not living in the Netherlands anymore, but still proud to be a part of it. So we were all excited about that.

Um, uh, yeah, you know, For, for, I think Abby goes now for the TB three. Mm-hmm . The British, uh, formula three.

Lyubov Ozeretskovskaya: Mm-hmm .

Yvonne Houffelaar: Uh, championship, I think it is. Uh, they were saying on the TV because she won the championship there and [00:20:00] she get that offered, uh, as, as a prize. So I think that’s also a good way to confirm. Uh, but yeah, I hope there is coming a lot more, uh, from those kind of events to, to not only give them the opportunity, but also to kind of, uh, showcase them in a way, uh, like they can present themselves.

They can show what they, what they can on track and then teams can see, Oh, look at that lady. She’s going fast. I would like to have her involved and then go further that way. So not only in price, but I think that’s, this could be a very good opportunity for the ladies who are participating now. And, uh, and by the way.

Happy anniversary, your anniversary from yesterday. Thank you. You’re welcome. Well, we have now a lot of talking about the racing, but I want to ask one more question [00:21:00] about that before we go into the sim racing part. What was your greatest moment in your motorsport career?

Lyubov Ozeretskovskaya: Uh, well, that’s definitely was, uh, that first win in karting, which and, uh, which I mentioned before, uh, and, uh, second greatest moment, which I had in racing, uh, there was, uh, that I finished, uh, P3 at Sochi Autodrome, uh, we had the, the full circuit, which formal one, uh, race, uh, Uh, this days and I, uh, get the P3 here.

Uh, funny thing that, uh, you know, at Sochi, they got this, uh, so the curbs and inside of the curbs here is the sausages. And, uh, so because I cut curbs, uh, quite a lot, so I had really good lap times, uh, here, uh, that kind of damaged the, the front wing. on the formula. And so I remember I was going through the DRS zone.

That’s a long [00:22:00] back straight at Sochi Autodrom. And when I started to turn into the corner, I’m like, Oh my God, car just not steering at all. So like, uh, the front wing started to fall down. At the last moment, that was the last, uh, last lap of the race. Yeah. Uh, at the last moment, uh, some grip just returned back to tires and I’m like, okay, we’re steering into the corner.

All good. So, uh, when I finished, uh, the race right on the finish, just the front wing fall down like this and it was, uh, look like a scoop, so, yeah, it was really fun race, you know, I finished like this. Didn’t notice that anything is wrong because I started to lose the downforce on the last lap only and it was pretty scary because we didn’t go on for this DRS zone.

Um, what do you got, uh, that the wall on, [00:23:00] on like, you know, after this, uh, the break in, uh, it’s the hardest break, break in, uh, point which you got on track. Uh, If I wouldn’t feed into the corner, I would end in the wall, so yeah, it was really fun anyway. Because I was like, oh my god, we’re not steering, what am I supposed to do?

And I can’t do anything, just, uh, you know, kind of, uh, I know front wing may be returned back or something, so I get the grape back, and I was like, whew. Finally,

Yvonne Houffelaar: Nice. And you had you had the, uh, front ringers or souvenir fire at home? Or , the damage from ?

Lyubov Ozeretskovskaya: No, they, uh, they suggest me to maybe you can, uh, you know, bring this, uh, front wing with you. I’m like, you know, no, not going to feed to airplane . Oh no. Yeah, I just can take it

Yvonne Houffelaar: Well, now we’re [00:24:00] taking a little bridge. Uh, did you use sim racing also to practice fully in real life racing?

Lyubov Ozeretskovskaya: Uh, yes. In, uh, 2019, uh, when I, uh, was doing the Formal Four Southeast Asia, um, in Malaysia, I, um, I practiced in race rooms, the bonk circuit, and I remember that I fixed, uh, Uh, T5, T6, uh, at the simulator that also helped me, uh, to improve my lap times at Spunk in real life.

Um, so yeah, I was using the simulators and, uh, before Informal Masters, I remember that I, uh, did some Race07 to learn, uh, the track, uh, the Sochi Octodrome and, uh, other track which you had in the calendar. of the series. Um, so yeah, but you know, I wasn’t really into sim racing, so I just, uh, use it like occasionally when I really need it.

Uh, so if I would jump to real life racing right now, I [00:25:00] would use sim racing a lot, definitely.

Yvonne Houffelaar: Yes, it’s definitely recommended even. It’s just to learn the track and so forth, because I did some racing too. And, uh, I was lucky if I had a track slap in before the race weekends or race day started because we didn’t have the testing.

And, uh, then I drove a silverstone, I drove the, I believe it’s national layout or something, never drove that before. Only did some left in the sink to, to know at least where the track is and which part you’re not taking. Basically from the Grand Prix. Uh. Circus and yeah, I was happy that I did it in the same because otherwise I went into the official practice on the Sunday For for 40 minutes, which I needed to share with my teammates But no knowledge of the track at all.

So, for me, the sim was really needed to get an idea of how the track goes. [00:26:00] They didn’t have a car in the sim, which was a bit of a shame. I used mostly around the GT4 cars, because it was a bit around the same speed, but didn’t have the same grip. So, uh, yeah, it’s both a bit different approach to a race day than I prefer and I wouldn’t recommend it either because it’s a lot less enjoyment when you’re not sure if everything goes right and if you’re not sure how the car will feel on the track and so forth.

It can always be different on race day, but at least you have an idea or a feeling by it. And when you have muffin, it’s, it’s a challenge.

Lyubov Ozeretskovskaya: Yeah, definitely. I agree with you.

Yvonne Houffelaar: Uh, you started simracing, uh, well, streaming, in 2019, offered by your husband.

Lyubov Ozeretskovskaya: Yeah, for sure. Uh, so as I [00:27:00] moved to Moscow in 2017, uh, I started to search for a job in, you know, motorsport related, uh, stuff. Uh, I found a job in a motorsport simulator that goes like this. They had, uh, Um, like some racing center with motion platforms, uh, DD wheels and, uh, Holsenfeld pedals. So work here as a coach and as a, uh, manager of this, uh, some racing center.

So I started like this. Uh, then I met my husband’s on my next work. I worked as a sale manager, uh, in air seats. So we’ve been selling the rigs and all this stuff. We met each other here and then we’ve been working in different sim racing companies. Also had a sim racing center with a race room. And, uh, Then, uh, during lockdown, uh, unfortunately we couldn’t work, uh, where we worked before because all [00:28:00] malls just shut down completely.

Uh, and yeah, we decided to try streaming, to try also racing at this time. Uh, and yeah, it just, uh, turns out, so we tried to bring, um, As many people as we can, uh, first time to the stream, like, uh, there’s been like 10, 15 viewers, something like this. Uh, and then it just, uh, started to grow, um, by Twitch recommendations, by also greater racing, uh, community, which helped me with some rates.

I, I remember Quaker ties rate me and, uh, uh, some other big streamers as well. So. It was, uh, it was a great time and, uh, I’m so grateful that, uh, the community and iRacing and Twitch, um, you know, they’re so friendly, they’re really helpful, and, uh, I was really shy on the camera, I was really, uh, closed, and, you know, just started to open up, I started to, [00:29:00] uh, improve my English, improve, uh, my driving at the same time as well, and, yeah.

Yeah, you know, we had some challenges, uh, definitely. Uh, so when we started, I had, uh, just a steel rig. Uh, we had, uh, just a bulb with, with a pocket on it as a soft light on the stream. Um, And I had a really old G27, uh, which then with community together, we, uh, switched to T300 with TLCM pedals and we switched single screen to triple, uh, and all things started.

So I just, uh, I remember that I messaged, uh, Fressmaster about, uh, a partnership and they like, Yeah, we can talk about this. And, uh, we with them for three years already. I’m so happy, uh, that I’m, I’m part of a first master rockets team. And, uh, that’s a great to be a part of this. Uh, and we got also a fractal design right now as a partner on our channel and, [00:30:00] uh, next level racing as well.

So just, uh, you know, everything started from a really, uh, small studio, which we build with, with our hands and, uh, turns out to like bigger, uh, channel and, uh, uh, good, uh, partnership and good community overall.

Yvonne Houffelaar: That’s great to hear and well done because, uh, you seem like you grow a lot because you’re now very confident.

Um, uh, Not shy at all. So it’s good to see you. Well done. Yeah. so much. You’re welcome. And you also took part in the virtual Lamar. I think everyone loves to watch the Lamar in real life 24 hour. For a lot of drivers, it will be the dream to race, but for some sim racers, it’s also a dream to race the virtual Lamar.

Can you tell more about that?

Lyubov Ozeretskovskaya: Yeah, we did a virtual Le Mans. Uh, I did it twice. Uh, [00:31:00] first time we did it with, uh, W Series. Uh, we had, uh, Betzke Wieser, um, I think another girl from W Series with us, me and, um, Emery, uh, she’s also a streamer in our racing. Um, so we’ve been preparing, uh, so hard for this one. Uh, we wanted to race GTE car in this event.

Uh, but unfortunately we didn’t take part in the race, uh, because for our teammate, uh, the Air Factor two just, uh, decided that shut down and, uh, we couldn’t re yeah, we couldn’t rejoin the server, uh, organizers didn’t, uh, give me, uh, give us this opportunity. Um, so unfortunately the, the first original laman, uh, end up like this.

Uh, then the next year, uh, Grav by TRS Sports, uh, suggests me to jump into LMP2 car with them, uh, for Virtua LeMans. Uh, we also had some technical [00:32:00] issues, um, during this race, but we finished it. Uh, we had quite good lap times, so we could finish easily, um, somewhere in the middle of the field of LMP2s. Uh, but unfortunately, due to some technical issues, once again, uh, we finished like P10 or P12, uh, something like this.

But it was a great experience with me, uh, for me, uh, because I’ve been into the team with, uh, in real life LMP2 driver. And we worked a lot with the data. We walked, uh, worked a lot with, uh, how to improve on track and, uh, they’re really, so this virtual man, uh, pushed me as a driver, um, to the next step. Uh, and, um, I’m so happy for this experience and it’s here as a sport is amazing, um, a sport team, uh, which is doing their job pretty well, so I’m just.

So, happy to have, uh, this experience with me and, uh, yeah, unfortunately, you know, Air Factor 2, it’s a great simulator. [00:33:00] Uh, I really like to race in it. It feels great when you race in Air Factor 2. Uh, but unfortunately, as, uh, maybe the studio which making the Air Factor 2 is small, uh, they just don’t have enough resources.

Uh, to run it properly. Uh, it just, uh, got some bugs and, uh, uh, a lot of server issues. So we experienced the previous, uh, virtual demand, uh, also make marks first up and disconnect, uh, I think few times from this race. Uh, which is kind of shame, but you know, it is where it is. I. Fully understand like, you know, the software and all the stuff.

It’s really complicated and When you got a small team, it’s really hard to run so I fully understand this and I really hope they’re factor to going to grow and going to be bigger and just Will be better for such a big event.

Yvonne Houffelaar: Yes, yeah, I would [00:34:00] like to see that too. I don’t drive often on Alpha 2. I do only one series, the Xbox series.

And, uh, I really enjoy doing that. And it’s more Like, uh, a community race than, um, than a competition because it’s all about networking and then we are on a Zoom call and then someone else comes in and tell more about what they are doing in racing, sim racing. So it’s a great community and it’s, it’s fun.

The only time that I’m racing on Airfactor 2, mostly on a ride and drive, because I have no time to practice, but that’s great to do so. I didn’t do it for months, because I haven’t driven for months, but, oh yeah, hopefully I’m back, uh, next year and then do some races with them again because I really enjoyed how it felt as well with this base and with my final tech base.

I struggled a lot to get the settings right without breaking, almost breaking [00:35:00] my wrist. But when you have it right, it’s, it’s a good game. It’s really enjoyable to do. How did you, how did the team got into the Virtual Le Mans? Because I know for a lot of teams, this was really the highlight. Uh, the race was the highlight to do, uh, for their team.

How is this working?

Lyubov Ozeretskovskaya: Uh, well, I’m not sure about W Series, how they get into Virtual Le Mans. Uh, probably they had some connections with the organizers. Uh, but, uh, speaking of the graph, uh, by tier eSports, eSports, they got, uh, really good, uh, eSports team in iRacing. They taken part in many special events and all this stuff.

Um, speaking about Virtua LeMans, they get into that because of Graf. Graf, uh, that’s a team, uh, which, uh, taken part in a real life, uh, LeMans event with LMP2 cars. So that’s in real life team. Uh, and they [00:36:00] just, uh, had collaboration, uh, together and to get into this. And, um, you know, they just invited me, uh, because they wanted to have a fast driver and also girl in their team.

Uh, and also as I was streaming, uh, this event on my Twitch, uh, We just found each other and yeah, once again, I’m going to tell you that it was a great experience and I would love to race in virtual Le Mans next time if someone going to suggest me this event. I spent a lot of time for practice. Uh, we did a lot of, uh, like team sessions and all this stuff.

Um, but yeah, it was, uh, it was awesome. I really like Le Mans. That’s one of my favorite circuits. Uh, I still remember when I first time tried to learn it in iRacing was like, Oh my God, this lap is so long, you know, it’s, uh, over three minutes and it just, uh, taken a [00:37:00] lot of time. But when you just. Learn this track, then every time you get into, uh, races on it, you’re like, wow, it’s just going with a really cool flow, especially with LMP2 car and it’s just great to race.

I really like this track. So, um, not a big fan of Nordschleife. Uh, so from long tracks, I would, uh, would pick the Le Mans.

Yvonne Houffelaar: Not a fan of the North China. I think I never heard that before.

Yeah, you bring me on some ideas for next year’s future Olympics. Maybe we can bring the different team in and maybe you can also be part of it. Getting some ideas of how we’ll have some networking around to see, uh, what we can do and we can drive it. Uh, you also took part in the Porsche eSports Super Cup All Star Series.

It’s a long name, so I needed to [00:38:00] double check on the, on the list. Uh, how, how was that?

Lyubov Ozeretskovskaya: It was great, uh, I’ve been taking part in the All Star Porsche Sports Super Cup for two years already. Uh, hopefully going to get into the next one, uh, which we will start I think in February or something like this. Um, that was a great experience, so we, uh, got like supportive, uh, races.

For the main championship, which, uh, going in our racing, uh, that’s the main, like, eSports, uh, sim racing championship, which we got alongside with, uh, Inascar in our racing, and it was, uh, great because, you know, streamers are really fast. Uh, we had really fun races. Uh, they got this format that, uh, first race you starting by qualifying, uh, second race, you starting with a fully reversed grid.

So, and then bring some, uh, you know, crashes, some fun moments. And I remember the previous [00:39:00] year I was leading in GT4, the whole race, the whole second race, uh, at that time. Uh, but unfortunately then, uh, they started bowling, uh, the, there was like a really close to the end of the race and I get into the crash.

Unfortunately, didn’t get a few one, uh, but I finished like top five or something like this. Uh, it was so fun. You know, I, I was upset a little bit because I was like, yes, I get through the crashes and everything. I’m leading the whole race because they just, uh. Fighting behind with each other and I was pretty sure that I can win.

I had a really good pace Was really surprised because I’m not the pro in GT forces So usually in cars like MX 5, GR86 and GT4 I’m not the best but this time I just get into G4 and, you know, did some, uh, good practice with the Porsche Cayman and this track. And also that’s one of my favorite tracks, uh, the Watkins Glen, I [00:40:00] really like it.

Um, so yeah, I get so lucky for, uh, get the, for the crashes and everything, but yeah, then we end up in the crash. I was upset, of course. But it was a great experience for me. So, uh, this Porsche championships, they always really. The organizers are so friendly and, uh, remember the funny thing we, we had, um, in race interviews, like you’re racing, you’re fighting with someone and they like, okay, we’re going to take interview from them.

And then we’re like, Oh no, but you know, it’s a, like, that’s a part of the, like support for the main championship. Uh, we always trying to bring some fun here and some content as well. Uh, so yeah, that’s a pleasure for me to take part in this championship alongside with Crux of Ties, Emre, Matt Malone, and other big streamers from my racing.

It’s always fun. [00:41:00]

Yvonne Houffelaar: Yeah, it’s cool. And, uh, well, you said already, Wolfgang’s Glen is a very good track. I agree with you. I like it too. It just flows very well. Uh, for some reason. Is it also your favorite track from Iron Racing?

Lyubov Ozeretskovskaya: Uh, well, I got few favorite tracks in Iron Racing. Uh, there’ll be definitely Watkins Glen.

I like it in every configuration. Like, we got boot, we got cup, one which is short, it’s really close to some kind of oval. I really like it, um, and I’m a big fan of Road Atlanta, so if you would ask my community, they’re going to tell me, tell you like, yeah, Road Atlanta, that’s her favorite track. Like every time we got Road Atlanta, I’m like, yes, I’m going to race it.

I really like it because it has, um, So, uphills, downhills, and uh, that S is after the T1, absolutely great, uh, so, this track [00:42:00] got really good flow, and also, it’s a little bit scary to race it every time, even if you, say, like, take part in a lot of races on this track, you still, like, you know, you get used to it.

What if I’m going to lose the car in Assis or somewhere, uh, like on the track? And it’s, it’s always so exciting to, to race it. And yeah, someone in chat just saying about Laguna Seca, I know that this is not favorite track for everybody, uh, in a racing and not the simulators. I, I love it. You know, Laguna Seca, great track and I really like it.

It’s, uh, just amazing with all this corners and especially Corkscrew, uh, the legendary corner on this track. Yeah, I love it. So that, that will be my top list of the, of the tracks like Road Atlanta, Laguna Seca, Watkins Glen. Um, speaking about European tracks, I think there’ll be Liman and, uh, Spa and Monza, something like this.

Yes, [00:43:00]

Yvonne Houffelaar: sounds good. It’s a nice list. And what about the cars? What is your favorite car to drive?

Lyubov Ozeretskovskaya: My favorite car to drive? Everybody knows that. That’s a Porsche Cup. I really like it. I really like the fact that this car without traction control, without ABS system, and you know, It’s always so rewarding to raise this car.

So when you nail the track, when you got really fast lap times, it’s more rewarding than driving the GT free car, for example, on the same track. Uh, just, just because when you’re getting into the rhythm, when you’re not making mistakes, you’re not locked up, uh, tires and, uh, you’re just like, you’re feeling great, uh, about this.

And, uh, it’s really cool car. I love it. Um, on the car, which I really like and I racing and which I raise, uh, On daily basis that, uh, formal 1 600. I really like it because it’s a simple car. Uh, it’s a good base. If you would like to go forward to formulas, [00:44:00] uh, and because here is not a lot of downforce on this car.

And, uh, Uh, you always get in really close battles in Formula 1 600. You get in, um, really cool side by side, two wide, you know, whole lap with someone, uh, in the race. It’s, it’s great. And I really like to race it in rain, uh, as well. Uh, recently we had a race at Tsukuba, uh, with Formula 1 600 and, you know, a lot of people, they just, uh, on the rain.

They rushing, they jumping, diving into the corner and then they missing. And you’re like, yes, that’s great. So, yeah, I think that’ll be my, uh, two favorite cars. And, uh, speaking about ovals, because I started, uh, to do a lot of ovals as well. Uh, that’s definitely will be Xfinity series as it’s, um, you know, community here is really friendly.

Uh, and, uh, [00:45:00] car is great. Uh, so usually when I’m getting into Xfinity races, uh, you get a really good points to our rating and you gaining safety rating as well because just people racing in a good way. Um, and especially I really like Xfinity Open, uh, so longer races. People think more, uh, about what to do with the strategy, with everything.

And, uh, a lot of, uh, less crashes we get in here and yeah, really like the series. And, uh, the second, uh, favorites from Ovals, there will be Arca. Arca is crazy, a lot of crashes, but I just really like this car.

Yvonne Houffelaar: Nice. Sounds good. Are you also part of the sim racing team?

Lyubov Ozeretskovskaya: Uh, yes. I’m a part of the Olympus sports. Uh, we started to be with Olympus when we had just three people in the team. Uh, and [00:46:00] actually funny thing that I met, uh, our boss from Olympus team, Charles Bushell in Instagram. So, uh, he’s been following me, um, You know, for years following my racing career, uh, then he was, uh, one of the first, uh, people who came to my stream, uh, we met each other here once again.

And he just like, I’m starting the sport team. Are you like interested to be a part of it? And I’m like, Yeah, sure. I’m going to be a part of it. Why not? So, as I didn’t have a team, I decided to join the Olympus Sport to support it, of course. And we started to do some special events, some VRS Endurances from time to time, and Olympus Esports is big right now, you know, I, I just, I don’t know how many people we got in the team.

So, uh, always when I coming to the discord, I’m like, wow, here is [00:47:00] so many people and it’s great to see. And we. Uh, one of the greatest championship where we’ve taken apart, that’s, uh, Evereight Club Sports, uh, Evereight Endurance, uh, that’s, uh, one of the biggest leagues, uh, which we got in racing, uh, one of the most competitive, I think, and, uh, the previous year we finished P5, P6 in Porsche Cup, uh, in the club series, that was great result, uh, for us and, uh, You know, I’m so, so happy that I’ve been one of the first drivers in Olympus Esports and it’s great to see the team is growing and they’ve taken part in cool championships, cool leagues, and also we’ve been a part of VCO Infinity event together.

So yeah, I’m just wishing all the best to Olympus Esports. I think that’s a great team and we got one of the most beautiful liveries.

Yvonne Houffelaar: Oh, yes, the delivery looks absolutely stunning. Nina also drives for [00:48:00] the team. She sometimes drives it also in the screen speed series and it looks so good. It really stands out from the rest.

It’s

Lyubov Ozeretskovskaya: good. Yeah, that’s what I really like because, you know, all the eSport teams, I don’t know why, but they really like, oh, we’re going to drive black cars or something like this. And here’s Olympus, like, bright blue with yellow with pink. It’s, it’s great. I know, just we need more cars with bright colors in eSports.

You know, you didn’t have to be really serious, like, I’m driving the black car. So I think it’s going to be great to see more colorful cars in the, on the field.

Yvonne Houffelaar: I like it too, but for us, I’m a co founder of Etoffe from the United Sim Team. And they have an orange going over to red livery. Why? Because I’m originally from the Netherlands and we are loving orange.

With every sporting event or when it’s King’s Day. [00:49:00] Everyone is wearing orange, you see it also with the F1, you see all the orange, all the Dutch fans with the orange shirt and then a Dutch flag and, uh, you even have it nowadays with the skiing, with Bosje Heese coming from the Netherlands, uh, skiing for the Netherlands now instead of Austria.

So even you saw it there, orange fireworks, so yeah, I’m very proud to have orange on the car. But, uh, Sophie and her favourite colour is red. So if we get this first, what are we going to do with livery? And I have to be honest, I’m a pain in the ass with livery because I want to have a perfect, so I can say a thousand times, uh, maybe change it for that, for that, for that.

And then I say to every cast, I like it, but can you change that? So, so that’s how it goes. And then she came up with this idea and it’s great to, to show also a bit of personality. Um, behind the team, so we’ll, we’ll, uh, [00:50:00] we’ll where the founders, for example, to see it back in a delivery. And, uh, it’s the same with the racing helmets.

I made mine, uh, bit a meaningful thing about myself mm-hmm. And about my family. And I think you can really make something special for it. And that’s what I like about live or designs. I can’t do it myself, but I really like to see what others are. Uh.

Lyubov Ozeretskovskaya: Mm hmm. Yeah. My husband’s making liveries for me. Uh, the last one which we had, uh, that was for Porsche all star series.

And, uh, we had it like, uh, you know, the comments going for the space. So it’s really a bright sound color with a deep purple, uh, black and something like this. So it was really cool. Uh, but, uh, For my daily streams I usually using the one which is a gray and purple on the back with my emotes from the channel.

It’s [00:51:00] really cute delivery. I really like it. Yeah. And, um, funny thing that, uh, we got a suit and the helmet, uh, in our racing and one of my, uh, viewers on channel, uh, he made the suit and helmet for me. That was, uh, at the time when we started streaming, uh, in 2020. And I’m still using it.

Yvonne Houffelaar: Nice. Uh, that’s cool.

Yeah. I’m very proud of my iRacing helmet because it’s exactly in my, in real life, racing helmet is in the game. So this, I think it was for Christmas or one of the holidays and she let it made by a official designer. We specialized in it and I know it’s a hard job to to get my house also on there because I have mountains on it and, um, uh, some special things on the top as well.

So it’s very fiddling to get it all right and, uh, yeah, it looks absolutely stunning [00:52:00] in the game. Same on Grand Theft Auto I have it as well and I’m very proud about that.

Lyubov Ozeretskovskaya: That’s great.

Yvonne Houffelaar: Yes. Well, thank you for your time. It was a pleasure. You did well. As not being a host, but I guess this time. I have a few news things, uh, before we end, uh, the, the inner talks for today.

Uh, Steffi Bau is in the final for the Scholastic Esports Awards. I hope I say this right, uh, with the Sim4STEM program. Sim4STEM is a great program, uh, where we teach, uh, Yeah, high school Children around that age, uh, the engineering parts, but also in the same. So I’ve been last year to Detroit for two weeks.

Yeah, we saw many students coming and trying and we gave them the [00:53:00] experience and they were learning what is possible to do with the engineering side of it. Also in the same. I had the best part because I was by the seams and they all loved to see all those rigs standing there. And, uh, yeah, it’s a great way for them to, to test if they like it.

And some even didn’t know about this at all. So, but it’s all possible. So we tried to show possibilities at the schools. And yeah, it’s amazing to, to see what’s, uh, what the children learn from a day. Because most of them are a day. Uh, for the school. And they learn a lot, they get excited from it. So it’s really great to, to see this program grow even more in America.

And hopefully it comes to Europe as well. So everyone, please vote for Stephanie. I’m putting the link in now. Because it’s well deserved for all the hard work she’s doing. [00:54:00] And, uh, the voting ends on the 15th of December, so, this Sunday. Then, I have another thing. The InnerTalks is now also open. On Spotify.

So every Monday after the inner talks, there will be, uh, the episodes you can listen to it in the car or at home, wherever you want to. And then you can listen to us back on Spotify, which is amazing. Uh, many thanks to Eric, uh, because he is organizing all of this with us and, uh, the GT Motorsport. Or, or slash spring to speed.

You can find everything about it. Also articles. So some amazing work. Thank you for the vote. Tasha. Great. And, uh, yeah, 2024 is almost coming to an end. It’s [00:55:00] almost the holidays and, um, it was a great year. I’m throwing back already a little bit, but some highlights and, uh, because for me, it’s the last time that you can hear me now for this year.

And, uh, yeah, we have some great events at the A of Sim Racing Expo. Uh, there are some great events coming up for next year. We will organize six races on our racing, uh, for the screen to speeds. We’re also gonna organize six races for the USF gg. Uh. And that will be, the winner will go and do some events with Team USA, which is absolutely amazing.

So, next year there will be more coming up, which are also for Gran Turismo and everyone else. And I’m looking forward to that. So, thank you today, Lou, and you’ll be back next week as the host. And then we have another guest [00:56:00] and, uh, for me, everyone, thank you for watching and also happy holidays because I’m in the background next week and you won’t see me and I’ll see you all in 2025.

Bye. Yeah,

Lyubov Ozeretskovskaya: guys. Thank you so much for watching. Thank you so much for being here. And don’t forget about invitational events, which we’re going to have, uh, yeah, on 15th. And I’m going to race here with Olympus Livery and Nina will be with Olympus Livery as well. So we’re going to see beautiful cars, beautiful girls in this event.

I will see you guys. Thank you so much. And thank you, Yuan, to be a host today. See you.

Yvonne Houffelaar: You’re welcome. I enjoyed it. Thank you.

Lyubov Ozeretskovskaya: See you.

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