Screen to Speed: Nina Hahn (Update!)

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.

Lyubov Ozeretskovskaya: Hi everyone. Welcome to new talks. Uh, happy to see everybody here. Uh, today we got Nina. Han, she’s a licensed racing driver, uh, also racing store for one of the [00:01:00] biggest, uh, league in racing ever, uh, and some racing, uh, driver for Olympus Esports and also part of the Dream Team. Welcome, Nina. Hello! Happy to have you here.

Uh, so can you tell me a bit more about the Dream Team and let’s start from this and, uh, what, uh, event you’re planning to do in the future? Sure.

Nina Hahn: Yeah, sure. So, um, the dream team is basically a team that was created out of the screen to speed movement, basically, where we had just, um, the first event we did was the VCO infinity.

And for that, we needed like a, Yeah, a bit more of a fixed team that could do like bigger events together and for the VCO Infinity it was me, um, BaltzGewisser, for example, um, Yvonne as well and, um, Victoria Mello and Sarah Dove. Did I miss anyone? [00:02:00] I don’t think so. I don’t think so. Okay. Yeah. And, um, so we now have our newest addition Esmeralda as well.

So, um, we are planning to do the 24 hours of Daytona in January together, probably as like, um, four driver team. In, yeah, we’ll see like probably LMP2 class, but we’re not entirely set on that yet, but already looking forward

Lyubov Ozeretskovskaya: to,

Nina Hahn: um,

Lyubov Ozeretskovskaya: to that race. Yeah, Daytona will be one of the biggest events in racing, definitely.

We’re going to have a bunch of teams, a lot of drivers, and, uh, not a big fan of LMP2, to be honest, but, uh, if you enjoy that, I’ll be happy to, to see you in Daytona 24. Um, how was it for you to be the part of the Dream Team and, uh, No, but what’s different in this team compared to other, uh, where you take a part also?

Nina Hahn: Yeah, it’s really cool. Um, [00:03:00] because also because it’s under the umbrella of the, um, screen or rather under init esports, uh, we had great connections to different companies and everything also to people who were able to coach us and just give us very, very good insights so we can prepare very well for events and also obviously having, um, A great realized driver, like, by the team is always a huge, like, number one, a huge honor.

And also just, um, yeah, amazing to be, um, driving with her. Also, I met her after our first race, then at the 24 hours of Nordschleife. Or like, of Nürburgring, I think is the official name, and that was very cool, so I’m really glad that I got asked to be on this team, and yeah, can’t wait for the next race.

Lyubov Ozeretskovskaya: Yeah, I wish you good luck for this race, definitely will be a great event, I’m waiting for it also, I think I’m going to take a part in it with Olympus Sport, as I [00:04:00] did the two previous years, um, what was your brightest sim racing event which you did in the past? Well

Nina Hahn: The biggest, or like, where I got, like, the biggest prize, uh, was the, uh, Scream 2 Speed Invita Women’s Day Invitational last year, where I, um, won, actually, like, a sim rig from, uh, Sabbelt, which is just, like, an awesome prize.

And, um, there are, there are many great races, though. So, for example, I think two weeks ago, I also did like the 23 hours of Zolder, like Jimmy Broadbent’s, um, race for charity, you know, where we could race, I think over a hundred thousand pounds, which is insane. Wow. And yeah, it’s, it’s crazy. And yeah, there are many great races.

Obviously, like the first, um, 24 hour race I did with Olympus, for example, was a great one. Also [00:05:00] then, um, where we won a Daytona 24 hour race, an hour split as well. And yeah, there are plenty of really, really cool races and they are all special in their own

Lyubov Ozeretskovskaya: way. Yeah, understandable. I’m in the same way. So when someone asks me like, can you highlight the one event?

I just can’t do this because a lot of really cool races, a lot of nice events happen in sim racing all the time. And especially in the racing. Um, can you tell me, uh, when did you start sim racing and how was it? How? How did you get into this passion?

Nina Hahn: Um, that’s a bit tricky to answer because I was playing Need for Speed as a kid, you know, here and there, like Underground 2 and those kind of games.

And after that, I didn’t really drive much or wasn’t really that into it. interested in cars actively, uh, until probably like [00:06:00] around 2016 where I, uh, got like a cheap wheel. It was like, I think a Thrustmaster T150 or something. And I did dirt rally on that one because it was just, it seemed like a cool challenge to just, you know, race with like pace notes, and then I did that for a little bit and also did like project cars or set a course and stuff, but never really like as what you would call sim racing, and it only started in, I think, 2018, where I wanted to take it a bit more serious because I was part of the formula student team of my university.

And we always had a driver selection where the fastest two of our team would be able to drive the race car internationally against other universities. And I obviously wanted to do that. And that’s where I also created my iRacing account and started practicing a bit. And [00:07:00] then in the 2019 season, I was fast enough to qualify as one of the two main drivers for our team.

And it’s. Such an amazing experience that I’ll never forget in my life.

Lyubov Ozeretskovskaya: Awesome. Um, so can you tell me, um, what equipment? So you already tell me that you had a Thrustmaster T150. Yeah. Uh, can you tell me what do you got now? And, uh, Also, it will be great to know, uh, what was the big, uh, biggest improvements in your equipment.

Because, uh, for example, for me, there was, uh, definitely low tail pedals. So, when I switched from G27 pedals, uh, to TLCMs, I was like, Wow, I can, you know, consistently, uh, brake in and control the car in a better way. So, for me, there was, uh, just game, uh, Changer, uh, what was it, uh, what it was for you?

Nina Hahn: Uh, yeah, definitely.

Uh, I would also probably say it’s load cell pedals, uh, or like a load cell break. That’s the most [00:08:00] important one and Yeah, I At first when I got this load cell pedals, I didn’t have a rig to mount them. So I had to practice pushing down with my heel on the base plate as to not like flip away the pedals when I brake harder and that was quite difficult because at the time I was living in a student dorm and I had an old BMW, just a street car BMW seat just on the floor propped against like a thing so it wouldn’t fall over and then my pedals and still the T150 mounted on the on the desk and that’s where I really break properly and how to, um, yeah, how to do it more with the muscle tensing up instead of the movement of your foot.

And then obviously another great improvement, which is similar to that one was when I got like a proper rig, like the one that’s behind me here. [00:09:00] And also with that, I had a used, um, wheel base. It’s. It’s the one I still use, it’s the CSL Elite from Fanatec. It’s still belt driven, um, but that’s definitely way better than the T150 I had back then.

Also it allowed me to just have different wheels, so I have a formula wheel and a round wheel depending on if I drive NASCAR or formula stuff and everything. And for me, my rig, I always wanted to race in a formula style. Rick, so that’s why I have here. I always like laying down very much and it’s very comfy.

And that’s also what I just knew from the Formula student, you know, those, those were like open wheel race cars and you’re laying in the car completely. So that’s the position I was the most comfortable in and still am. And yeah, that’s probably the second like big improvement I had.

Lyubov Ozeretskovskaya: I think that Rick is really important because uh, driving position, uh, So you, you have to feel comfortable, uh, in your rig and to race for many hours.

[00:10:00] Sometimes we’re having like really long endurance races. Yeah. And such a stuff. Yeah, exactly. Um, can you tell me, so you mentioned that you, uh, doing ovals and, uh, I know that you’re doing road, uh, races in that racing. Uh, can you tell me more about, uh, how is it to be in ovals? Is it a lot more different compared to road racing?

Yeah,

Nina Hahn: like the type of driving is definitely quite different because you’re It’s very meditating after a while, in my opinion, and it requires a bit of a different skill set, because you’re always kind of on like the edge of grip, but if you’re overstepping it, even if you’re not losing the car, but you’re overheating the tires way too much, so you have to really, Be very careful how you load the tires and everything.

And yeah, it’s just different. But I think overall that also makes you a [00:11:00] better driver. If you’re able to drive multiple different types of racing. That’s also one of the reasons why I then in iRacing went to get all my ILS. A licenses on every, um, how do you say, like every class. So on Oval, on Road back then, before the split, and then Dirt Oval and Dirt Road.

I got A class in all of those. But also on the side, I did a bit of drifting in a set of Corsa, for example. And Every bit of, yeah, different driving styles that you learn, I think, improves how you drive any other car.

Lyubov Ozeretskovskaya: Yeah, that’s true. Um, I think the Ovals also give me a lot of different experience compared to road races.

Uh, so you get opportunity to drive side by side with everybody. For the whole race, like, you’re not getting this in road races, usually. Um, it’s a great experience, definitely, and, uh, when someone coming to my streams, I also recommend [00:12:00] them, like, you have to try all those, that’s different experience, you’re going to gain, um, some different skills which going to help you, uh, in road races as well.

Nina Hahn: Yeah, very much. And also with Oval, for me, I drive in VR, and I, especially on Oval, that is a real, like, it helps so much because you can just quickly glance to your right or to your left and see if the car is still there, how far it is away and everything, and it being three dimensional gives you like a very natural understanding of how How much space you have and yeah to avoid crashes and everything also if cars are spinning in front of you It’s in my opinion way easier to judge distances and how to avoid crashes and everything So that’s my preferred way

Lyubov Ozeretskovskaya: to drive in vr Yeah, vr is awesome.

Uh, unfortunately, I didn’t have opportunity to try it in a racing. Uh, try it Long time ago in the set of [00:13:00] Corsa that was in 2017 or something like this, but it was like, wow, you know, you actually like sitting in a race car. It was a great feeling. Definitely. So, yeah. I think that if I will have opportunity in the future, I’ll get VR just to try it.

Uh, because, uh, in my opinion, I think triple screen is great for, um, you know, long races, some endurances, and for streams, of course, but, uh, uh, for different feelings, for, uh, like, great emotions, I think VR is a cool thing to have.

Nina Hahn: Yeah, definitely. And I I like the realism of it, because I, I drive lots of open wheel stuff, so formula cars, for example, and I, I just like using a minimal amount of overlays or anything, so I even turn the virtual mirror off a lot of the time and just drive with the in car mirrors, which is cool.

don’t really work on like screens in my opinion [00:14:00] but in VR if you move your head it also like changes what you see in the mirror like in a real mirror and that just yeah to me is that’s how I want to learn how to drive because I have very um yeah real expectations or goals in real life racing and there you don’t have a virtual mirror that just floats around above your head.

So you need to use the actual mirrors and I want to just have that muscle memory and just being comfortable with grabbing mirrors.

Lyubov Ozeretskovskaya: Yeah, that’s great. Uh, can you tell me what is your, uh, favorite combo right now in a racing? I know that you in a racing most of the time. Uh, so can you tell me your favorite oval combo and your favorite road combo as well?

Nina Hahn: Um, oval is difficult because I I don’t have that many tracks, to be honest, but I always enjoy the short tracks, definitely. [00:15:00] So, um, also, like, in, like, the lower powered cars, so not really, like, the big NASCARs, they are fun as well. But especially something like the Street Stock or something is really Those on short ovals is just where my biggest enjoyment in ovals comes from.

And then on road, yeah, as I said, I drive mostly formula cars. And there is just, um, Road Atlanta, like F4 on Road Atlanta, or also Super Formula Lights. They’re just great on that track. And then if you go, um, To like sports car, I guess probably the LMP two is one of my favorites. And then track is difficult because I wanna say the North Lifer, but that doesn’t fit very well with the LMP two , uh,

So yeah, there are many great tracks. I mean, I like Daytona, obviously. Um, I. Trying to think of more. Yeah, I think probably still wrote Atlanta. I just I love that track. It’s [00:16:00] it’s a great track

Lyubov Ozeretskovskaya: So you wrote Atlanta girls as I

Nina Hahn: yeah, definitely I really really want to drive on that track in real life at some point.

Lyubov Ozeretskovskaya: Yeah me too I think that’s a great track with all the elevation changes and it’s hard to drive and at the same time It’s like, you know roller coaster. It’s so it gives you a lot of excitement when you drive in it even in simulator it’s So, uh, cool. And, you know, when some, uh, crashes happen in Nessus, for example, you getting, uh, this fear and, you know, even in the simulator, it’s cool.

Nina Hahn: And even like in, that’s also a track that is very rewarding if you get it right, in my opinion, especially something like turn three or something where if you’re doing it right, you can easily get like two tens or something. And then, um, that’s always. Yeah. It’s just so rewarding if you absolutely hit, hit it and everything

Lyubov Ozeretskovskaya: and then, uh, yeah.

Yeah, that’s true. I [00:17:00] absolutely agree with you. Uh, let’s return back a little bit to your past. So you mentioned that you, uh, did some formal student, I, uh, read that you did this, uh, project also in your, uh, like university. Can you tell me more about this?

Nina Hahn: Uh, yeah. So it’s like a, um. design competition, I think is the best translation, where university students build a race car every year, year, and just race against other universities on tracks across, like, we went to tracks in Europe, there’s also tracks in Australia and the US and everything.

And, uh, yeah, it’s. Our car was, to give like some example, our car was less than 400 pounds, so less than 180 kilograms, but it had over 80

Lyubov Ozeretskovskaya: horsepower,

Nina Hahn: and that, that, like, with like a huge aero package, you had up to like three G’s during cornering, which was insane. It’s really, really crazy to drive [00:18:00] and, um, yeah, it’s, it’s probably the craziest car I’ll drive in my life.

And you actually can see like here, a picture of it. I can also get it closer if you want to see. Um, To maybe, maybe I should do that. Yeah, that gives you a bit more Yeah, you can of a, of a perspective of what those kind of cars look like if you’ve never seen one before. So it’s, uh, can you see this?

Lyubov Ozeretskovskaya: Yes.

Nina Hahn: Yeah. Wow. And so, yeah, these are insane . Um, yeah, I was part of that team in the aerodynamics. So I, yeah, did a lot of CFD and also CAD to, yeah, design and simulate all the aerodynamics on the car. And that’s also a big passion of mine, like aerodynamics in general, especially like also, In Formula One, when you always see like the little new things that they add and [00:19:00] everything, that’s, that’s really where my passion lies for those kind of cars.

Um, yeah. And then I, obviously in 2019, as I said, I managed to be a driver for that team. So I was driving on the Hockenheimring, the Red Bull Ring in Austria. Circo de Catalunya in Barcelona in Spain and I mean not the full layout, like a shorter layout, but still it’s so incredible to drive like on real racetracks and in these kind of cars and against other universities, obviously.

So, yeah, it’s a very, very cool experience.

Lyubov Ozeretskovskaya: That’s great. Yeah, car looks awesome. And also with a lot of fire stuff. I love it. Uh, can you tell me, was it your first ever experience in real life or you did maybe some karting before or something like this? Well, I did like rental karting

Nina Hahn: like a few times. But not [00:20:00] really that much.

Um, mainly as a kid. And, obviously, as a kid I already really enjoyed it and told my parents, Yeah, I want to do this more and here and there. But like, you know, my parents just weren’t able to afford that. Which is, you know, that’s normal, I guess. Because it can get expensive quite quickly. So, uh, I couldn’t pursue it back then.

And then I kind of forgot about it, as I said, until I was much older. And yeah, then like rental cars here and there. But that was the first time in an actual race car on, like in an actual competition. And yeah, that’s, that’s very much where I, where my passion for, driving race cars really took off because obviously it was there before that’s why I practiced for it but it’s it’s something like if you if you’ve driven a race car once then you yeah you always want to continue

Lyubov Ozeretskovskaya: yeah that’s true it’s uh it give [00:21:00] you great emotions and adrenaline and all this stuff yeah it’s It’s so exciting.

I think

Nina Hahn: you

Lyubov Ozeretskovskaya: also drove like, uh, some real race cars at some point, right? Yes, I did some, uh, karting. So I started from nine years old, uh, did professional karting, uh, won four times championship of Kazakhstan, then moved to open Villers. I did, um, Like, right now it’s old school, uh, because I did Formula Bart, uh, it’s with a stick gearbox, uh, and, uh, Awesome.

It was a 200 horsepower, 1. 4 turbo engine. It was really cool. So this car, actually, between Formula 4 and Formula 3, so it’s a little bit faster, uh, than Formula 4, uh, with, uh, better aero and everything. Um, yeah, this car was really fun to drive, and also I did some formal BMW, uh, at Sepang. I’m still waiting, uh, when I race and go on to add this track, because I read somewhere, uh, that they’re planning to do this.

Uh, absolutely amazing track. Um, so [00:22:00] yeah, uh, that was great experience, uh, which I had and, uh, also give me a lot of skills, which I, uh, continue to improve in sim racing as well.

Nina Hahn: Yeah. That’s also something that I noticed. Like if you, if you felt what a real race car is doing in real life, it’s, it’s definitely giving you skills that you can translate into sim.

And the other way around as well. So, um, it, it tells you kind of like what the tire does. And, um, yeah, it just makes it to me easier to like drive right on the slip angle. Because I kind of know what it felt like in real life and

Lyubov Ozeretskovskaya: yeah, yeah, that’s true Can you tell me you did also some electric formal for?

Tell me more about this event and how much time you spent in the car and how is it? To compare to the virtual one which we got in a racing

Nina Hahn: Um, yeah, that was for a driver [00:23:00] selection, um, sponsored by racing pride for like a full season in that championship that was planned. It would, would have been a support series of the ETCR, which would have been a support series of Formula E.

So it would have been even broadcast on television and everything. Uh, sadly that didn’t like, Didn’t end up happening. Um, I also didn’t get the seat, which, which is fair enough. There are other amazing rivers there, but it was electric formula four. So it was like a prototype. Um, on a formula four chassis, but.

And it was a day at Zolder. We spent the whole day there. I was in the car twice. I couldn’t even say how many laps I did. Um, and yeah, it was, it was just overall amazing to be driving like a bigger car. race car. Like the Formula students, as I said, were great and everything, but they are also, [00:24:00] um, very short geared.

So like the top speed was in fourth gear, like 140 or something, 150 maybe, but like the straights were also very short. And then being in a Formula 4 on like a full race track with like long straights and everything, it just, uh, yeah, gave you a completely, not completely, but like a bit of a different racing experience.

because he had more time on the straights to actually like, yeah, breathe for a second. But, um, yeah, it’s also like one of my absolute highlights that I did in racing because how cool is it to be driving a Formula 4 car, obviously, especially for someone who loves Formula cars, open wheel cars. And, um, they’re like, the first stint I went out was kind of more like, uh, okay, get comfortable with the car and the track and everything.

And yeah, that’s, um, That was more like siding laps and just checking the car and everything. [00:25:00] And then in the second stint, it was more like, okay, now, um, go faster and like, you know, try the car and everything. And that’s when really the suspension started working. So you could actually, when you load the tires and everything, you can really feel the suspension like moving and everything.

Because before that it was quite stiff because you’re going slow, but with a bit of speed, the car felt so natural and so great to drive. Um, obviously it being electric, I had to adjust my throttle control a little because you have all the torque instantly if you push the pedal. So I spun once on throttle, but I wasn’t the only one, so that’s fine.

Uh, it was a new experience for all of us and yeah, I would have, would have loved to drive that car more often and who knows, maybe stuff develops in the future or something, but, uh, yeah, it’s, it was a great experience and comparing it to iRacing, it’s kind of similar, but also different. Obviously, [00:26:00] it not being electric on iRacing, but with a combustion engine makes it a bit different how you can apply the throttle also because it like the F4, for example, doesn’t have that much power.

So you can. don’t have to be that gentle on the throttle. But the general physics of it is really good. It’s really comparable to how it felt on the, yeah, in the real car. And every time, just driving F4 and Zolder, it’s just bringing back memories. And it’s, it’s just, yeah, such a cool thing. And yeah,

Lyubov Ozeretskovskaya: Yeah, that’s great.

I also, uh, I raced, uh, at Formula 4 in 2019. That was exactly the same chassis which we got in a racing, uh, and notice the same thing as you, so it’s, it’s really close in a racing to what we got in real life. It’s, it’s really cool, actually, to finally drive the car which you, uh, drove in real life and then you Guided in simulator.

It’s a great feeling. Yeah, I absolutely agree with you. [00:27:00]

Nina Hahn: Yeah, definitely and also like the Um cars for the year era championship back then They were still based on the older one without the halo So, that was also a cool experience, um, and that’s also where I learned that in Formula cars, the mirrors can’t really see much in them, so.

You very much have to, have to trust everyone around you, but also give the other cars, um, space, which is something that, um, oftentimes is when people only drive the sim I think they don’t have that much of a feel for it because they always expect you to have like your mirror set up or like a spotter or anything but in real life you don’t have that always and sometimes you just can’t see much in your mirrors and you if you’re leaving the pits then or if you’re driving and someone else is leaving the pits you just must expect them to not be able to see you because that’s how it is sometimes [00:28:00] And But that’s also like where I get a bit of a reflex to just avoid incidents in sim because I just Tend to give people a little bit more space which then just doesn’t create these like weird situations where it’s inevitable that you get a contact and I think that also has Um, had a big impact that I know how little you see and also the kind of, I don’t want to call it fear, but if you, if you go into a corner really fast in real life, it just, it’s different than in sim because you feel the G forces and the speed.

And it’s just, it’s, it’s something that the sim doesn’t get across, which is fair enough, but, um, it’s, it’s something that makes it way more, you can appreciate real race car drivers way more if you know what it, These corners can feel like and then seeing people in F1 or even other motorsports just absolutely sending It’s so amazing to see [00:29:00] As

Lyubov Ozeretskovskaya: you mentioned, uh about the view in the formal car, I just remember, uh my first time, uh in Test session and formulas.

So I switched from karting and you know in karting you like you’re sitting outside. You can see everything Just like on on the bike, for example so when I first time get into the formal car was like How I’m going to erase the track, like I can’t see anything, you know?

Nina Hahn: Yeah, you can see like the top of the tires and then like to your left are like the big headrests and you have a hands device so you can’t move your head forward and you can only do this and you don’t see much else.

Lyubov Ozeretskovskaya: Yeah, true, you know, that was a, that was a big shock for me. But then after some time, I just, you know, lab by lab. Uh, started to get used to that and it just, uh, you know, more natural. And then you like kind of feel the car as a part of you and, uh, you can, uh, keep the distance to other cars [00:30:00] and yeah, do all the stuff.

Uh, can you tell me, are you more, um, like fuel head person or are you uh, enjoy that we uh, got more electric cars and racing as well and on the streets also?

Nina Hahn: Um, well it’s a, it’s a cool technology definitely and also I’m, I’m a mechanic, you know, in real life as a job. Um, so I, I work on both. Um, and there, They’re just different, you know, they, they both have their pros and cons.

Obviously, like sound and emotion is more in combustion engines. But also with modern, very modern combustion engines, they’re like running so perfectly and everything that you don’t have that much raw emotion anyway. So electric is cool, but I still prefer just a [00:31:00] combustion engine because it’s, you know, I don’t know, it’s, it’s the way that it develops power, it just feels more raw and more, with more emotions to me.

Um, which is also a big part of driving, you know, you want to enjoy it, not just be fast, but you want to enjoy being fast. And I’m not saying you can’t do that with electric, but it’s, it’s just different. And obviously driving it itself is different, because as I said, throttle application, because you have all the torque instantly if you want it, which is a pro and a con.

It’s just different. Hmm. You know, it, it depends on how, how good you can control your right foot. Um, but yeah, it’s, um, it’s just different. It’s, mm-Hmm, difficult to compare.

Lyubov Ozeretskovskaya: Yeah. To be honest, I, uh, can’t imagine that, uh, NASCAR going to go for Ines car one day, uh, because I just really enjoy when they go in on the all holes and with the, with this, uh, engines and, you know, like, here’s a 40 cars on track.

It’s, uh, [00:32:00] it’s great.

Nina Hahn: Yeah, and especially, I think, if you’re going to watch motorsports as a fan, like in the stands, part of why you’re going is the sound, at least that’s it for me. And I understand that cars don’t have to be insanely loud, like they used to be, uh, but I think a certain level of volume and just like, you know, like that the air vibrates around you, uh, that’s for me part of motorsports kind of.

And. With electric, you don’t have it, or like, at least you can probably, it depends. Like, I also saw, for example, a company that, um, swapped like an E36, I think, BMW E36, to fully electric with straight cut gears. And a lot of sound was coming from the straight cut gearbox, but they also had electric motors that were built for motorsports, so not for passenger cars, so they weren’t quiet, but they actually made sound.

And that was [00:33:00] very interesting as well. And Who knows, like, if the development goes in that direction, then I can definitely see how electric sound can also be very, yeah, and joyful and passionate.

Lyubov Ozeretskovskaya: Yeah, alright, um, I think I agree with you, like, uh, you know, we just have to accept that technology is going forward and, uh, probably we’re going to have some series with electric.

Cars, uh, some of this year is going to stay with, uh, um, like classic engines. Um, so that’s absolutely okay. I was, uh, really against electric cars, uh, maybe five years ago or so. Uh, but right now I see them on the streets and it’s really cool. Um, one time I was in taxi, it was fully electric car and it’s really quiet.

So as a passenger, you really, uh, enjoy that, like no vibration and, uh, you just chilling and uh, enjoy the, the journey. It’s, it’s really cool.

Nina Hahn: Yeah. [00:34:00] Um, I just read, uh, in the chat and I see like, I think your webcam is frozen, just saying. Um, but yeah, it’s like, um, in definitely in passenger cars, it’s a huge pro because it’s just comfortable.

You don’t hear much and you just, yeah, like, um, I worked at a BMW dealership. So I had also a lot of, um, new cars, like the new, I don’t know, BMW i7, for example, which is an absolute spaceship. And it’s just so comfortable because it’s just quiet. You can, you can drive for hours and hours and it’s just quiet, which is obviously like for a passenger car, a great thing.

But for racing, I just, um, I like the sound of race cars. So

Lyubov Ozeretskovskaya: yeah, me too. I agree with you. In that, uh, can you tell me a bit more about the event, which you did also in real life, there was a formula woman. Yeah. So can you tell me a bit more about? Yeah. [00:35:00]

Nina Hahn: Uh, yeah, that was also a, um, a competition that I did this April, I believe it was start of April.

Um, that was in the UK at cattle park, uh, which was very cool because it was exclusively for women. And the winner of the event, uh, got like a race seat in a radical series in the UK. And, uh, yeah, it was a three day competition with, um, also some very cool, uh, just, uh, talks that we attended and like great people talking and like talking about the experience, but also how to, you know, not just drive, but also how to be healthy and how to.

yeah, care for yourself on the off time when you’re not racing and everything. So I was very informative and um, then we obviously got on track and we had um, I think I went on track three times and um, the last [00:36:00] time was in a BMW M, no, M240 or something, like not an M2 but like one of these like slightly below and uh, yeah, that was great.

It was really tricky conditions, so it was like drizzling on and off and, you know, perfect British weather, obviously. And, uh, Kerbal Park is an amazing track. I definitely recommend driving there on like a track day if you get the chance. Because it’s, it’s quite narrow, but it’s also very three dimensional, so you have a lot of like ups and downs and everything.

And it’s just great fun, especially in the wet, because The car was constantly dancing and you had to really like make sure not to overstep it and just Push it but not overstep it and then apart from the driving. We also then had Fitness assessments. We had media training. We had also some some Technological things where like brake bias setup stuff was discussed and I [00:37:00] got all the way into the finals Actually, I also have like the uh little glass trophy.

I have yes Here for being in the final And um, yeah also a great experience uh so You Definitely if they, if they’re going to do another event, I’m definitely going to take part in that as well. And yeah, it was, I think around like 70 women or something. And I got into like the last 15 and, um, yeah, I’m, I’m kind of proud of that one.

And it was a great, great experience all around because just being around like a full paddock of women who are into motorsports, it’s just so cool because you, you really don’t have that usually. It’s mostly guys and like, maybe there’s one other girl, but oftentimes you’re the only one. And, um, yeah, it was just cool to have like all women around and everyone was so supportive and it was just a great atmosphere and I can fully recommend that for any women out there.[00:38:00]

Lyubov Ozeretskovskaya: Yeah, that sounds, uh, similar to W Series event, so it was a part in, uh, selection event in, uh, January 2019. Uh, it was a really cool experience, so I didn’t get, unfortunately, into, uh, the W Series, uh, because, you know, that there was a first time when I was driving, so we’ve been in Austria. Um, on the small track, uh, small racing track.

And, uh, it was a January with winter tires. We had a Porsche Cayman, um, GTS, and they give us some kind of, you know, drifting exercises, something like this. So it wasn’t really good at this, uh, because I, I just, you know, didn’t have experience with, uh, like road cars on the racing track ever. So it dropped only, uh, like karting and then open wheelers.

Um, So, yeah, it was really hard for me, but, uh, the atmosphere and, uh, a lot of, uh, women, uh, on this event, it was, uh, it was great [00:39:00] to see. Um, because they all really, uh, dedicated into what they’re doing and, yeah, that was awesome. And that’s kind of sad that W Series, uh, just, uh, like, cancelled and, um, no longer, uh, having any racing seasons, uh, but it was really, uh, great.

Uh, fun, like three years for this series and this selection event, um, was great.

Nina Hahn: Yeah, I bet. Like the whole series was great. Yeah. I always, obviously support women in motorsports and that was just such a cool series to see, like just all women, but also with F1 Academy. That’s also just like every time like cool to watch because I know it’s just it’s just cool to see like women being represented that like majorly In motor sports as well these days because for a long time, I guess it just wasn’t a thing But that’s, that’s starting to change a bit and I’m very glad about that.

And yeah. [00:40:00]

Lyubov Ozeretskovskaya: Yeah, me too. I can notice that, uh, like more women, uh, working in motorsports also appear in sim racing and it’s a really cool thing to see. Um, how do you feel overall, uh, to be a girl in sim racing? Uh, do you maybe meet some toxic people here or like a community most, mostly, uh, welcome and friendly?

Nina Hahn: Yeah, it depends what kind of stuff you drive. Definitely. Uh, so like on like road or formula stuff, I usually don’t have issues. Um, people are usually fine. Um, yeah. Ovals is probably also fine, but like, dirt ovals is oftentimes not that welcoming to women. Um, I usually just turn off the voice chat, um, which, which is fine, you know, it’s, I don’t know, if it’s, if it’s their guys like, place, then sure, whatever, they can do whatever they want.

I just, I needed to do quite a few races for [00:41:00] my A license there, and then I just, um, yeah, I did hear some not so nice things, and like, you do get these, like, occasionally. But I think at this stage, it’s oftentimes, um, not that much of a problem. Like, yeah, as I said, like, sometimes you get just toxic people, but I guess everyone gets it.

And, um, yeah, it’s, it’s just easy to, to call out girls for being girls in cars. But I think overall, um, people are also happy to see women in sim racing. Because, uh, yeah, it’s, I don’t know, it’s just, it’s just cool. And we’re all, we’re all on track to be fast. So, you know, it shouldn’t matter what gender you are.

Lyubov Ozeretskovskaya: Yeah, that’s true. Um, I think that everybody equal, especially in sim racing, where you don’t have, like, some physical, maybe, advantage from guys, yeah? Compared to girls. So, it’s great to see that we got [00:42:00] more, uh, women into sim racing. And I noticed from my side that, uh, your community kind of welcome, um, Most of the time and, uh, it’s great.

You can maybe have some toxic people in Oval sometimes that see tracks for me. Um, but you know, that’s okay. You just turn off the chat or just mute these drivers and yeah. And then enjoy the race. Uh, like it’s okay. Yeah, it’s, uh, exactly.

Nina Hahn: Don’t, don’t let those people ruin your day. Yeah. It’s not worth it, like, who are they to tell you something?

That’s true, yeah.

Lyubov Ozeretskovskaya: If

Nina Hahn: you believe in yourself, you

Lyubov Ozeretskovskaya: can do it. Yeah, that’s the most important thing, I think. So yeah, most of the community are really Welcome friendly and they trying to help me help you they trying to guide you for the Some racing and it’s it’s really cool to have and to see as well Um, so I know that you are part of Olympus team.

Uh, can [00:43:00] you give me more information about this? How is it for you? for you to be, uh, the part of this team. Um, you know, when we started, uh, when Charles started Olympus eSport, uh, there was really small team and right now just, uh, uh, see a lot of drivers. Uh, I didn’t know them and, uh, that’s a huge team right now.

It’s a pretty cool to be part of it. Definitely.

Nina Hahn: Yeah, it’s really cool how it evolved. So I joined the team in. 2022, I believe, uh, because I, I was getting my rig and I started to drive more again because I hadn’t been driving for like two or three years at that point. So like when everyone during COVID started doing sim racing, I kind of, I didn’t like, I, I just had other stuff to do and, um, I just didn’t race a lot.

And then I moved, um, I moved again and, um, finally got like a proper rig and I didn’t have to put my wheel away and on again all the time [00:44:00] So I could just always like just hop in it’s just ready and that made a huge change and after a while I then Just felt the need of like hey, I want to do endurance events.

I want to be part of a team I want to you know, talk to people be in a community or something and then I went on the iRacing forums and I And, as luck would have it, I saw, like, an opening for, yeah, Olympus. And I just texted and then joined them and everything. And the first race I did was actually the Majors 24 in 2022, I believe, yeah.

And since then I’ve just always been with Olympus. Like, currently I don’t do a lot of races because I have quite a bit of stuff to do with school. But, yeah, I definitely want to do sim racing more and definitely from December onwards. I should have more time again. So especially over the winter, I plan to do a lot of racing also officials because I don’t do a lot of officials.

[00:45:00] So, um, I also want to boost my air riding a lot there. But yeah, with Olympus, it’s just, it’s a great team. Like they’re very welcoming. They’re very helpful. We have a lot of great drivers at this point. And, um, also like racing in a lot of great series. You know, it’s, it’s, um, it’s a really, really cool team and I appreciate it every time.

I’m always very proud to, you know, wear the Olympus shirt and just, you know, it’s, it’s just cool. It’s a cool team and, uh, they definitely deserve, um, Being in the big series.

Lyubov Ozeretskovskaya: Yeah, that’s true. And also, uh, the most beautiful deliveries we got in Olympus . Oh

Nina Hahn: yeah. Especially the new deliveries. I don’t know how many of them are out yet, but the next, like the deliveries for 2025 look amazing.

Mm-Hmm. like that. They’re, so, I don’t know how much you see. Uh, saw it, you probably saw it in IRA or something. Yeah, I saw it.

Lyubov Ozeretskovskaya: Yeah.

Nina Hahn: Yeah. And um, yeah, [00:46:00] that’s just

Lyubov Ozeretskovskaya: such a cool

Nina Hahn: delivery.

Lyubov Ozeretskovskaya: Yeah. So, um. Moving to EVA, I know you, uh, that you on the other side, so I’m, uh, as a driver in Porsche Cup, uh, for this season as well.

We did, uh, last season with Olympus finish, uh, with a, with a great results, uh, P5, P6 for Porsche Cup, uh, in the club sports series. So, can you tell me more about this experience which you, uh, got on, uh, The other side from from the drivers. Yeah, that’s a racing, uh Stuart

Nina Hahn: Uh, yeah, so like it’s obviously a huge series.

Um, and the organizers basically to give like a short overview Um, we’re the same who did the 24 hours esports like the official 24 hours esports Um series to the real life series And then we obviously have the ivra. So international You virtual racing association. And, um, where you have like two classes and just the most skilled [00:47:00] drivers kind of like, I don’t know if there’s a ranking for like that, like this or like the highest I writing a series, but splits or like strength of fields over seven K aren’t uncommon.

We have multiple, um, people with over 10k in their like pro licenses and then to be in race control of that and to yeah to um analyze like incidents and to just being part of the whole like creating the whole event around it and everything and like working with the documents working in the safety cars it’s just number one very cool uh but it also gives you a very different insight into racing, where if you look at incidents, uh, you learn a lot about where to place your car and where not to place your car, even as a driver.

So that’s another thing that helps me drive, for example, because I, I just spot like stuff that happens over and over and over again in kind of [00:48:00] similar ways, which then helps you to Avoid these situations when you drive yourself, but obviously I’ve been with Ivor now for I think like three years or something and it’s grown more and more especially since the 24 hours esports series has now been Sadly cancelled because of um the main sponsor uh dropping the series which you know, it’s uh, it happens, uh, But ivar is still going very strong and we are now had Actually, for the qualifying, we had to limit, um, people to have one car per team because we just didn’t have the manpower to steward more than two splits simultaneously.

And, um, we have now a very, very competitive field. It’s, it was insanely tough to get into some of these classes. So Anyone who made it in like you did amazing because sometimes it was really if you had one incident then [00:49:00] basically you’re out it’s it was really that tough and In a field that’s that like well contended.

I guess it’s really Great to you always like see them drive and the driving standards have improved so much over the past few years even that Yeah, we have I don’t know eight hour races with like, if you don’t count like the, um, safety car incidents or like pit lane incidents or something, then you have like over eight hours with 55 cars, you have like 30 incidents, which is insane.

It’s such a cool racing experience just to watch it. And there are also streams or anyone who watches and is interested, please watch the streams on YouTube on Racepot TV. Um, and, um, Yeah, it’s just, it’s very cool to see a race from the other side and being part of, uh, the one [00:50:00] who has to decide about stuff.

Also, like some decisions are very difficult. Uh, some incidents are very tricky and maybe to the outside, sometimes they seem very easy and obvious, but if you have all the data that we have, and if you have, uh, usually three different stewards looking at one incident and then having to come to a conclusion.

It’s not always that easy because oftentimes there are so many different variables that go into it that it’s difficult to really also We have to adhere to our own rules, you know, we have like a huge rule set where all the different overtakings are clarified, which is what is okay, what is not okay, how should you filter in the pit lane, what to do behind the safety car, we have a whole flow chart for that.

And it’s kind of complicated sometimes. And that’s also why it takes safety car, a couple minutes sometimes. But. [00:51:00] We’re trying to be as quick as possible and just giving everyone who takes part in the series the best racing experience possible. Because we want to make it a really professional league and a very, yeah, just the best league that we can make it.

And I think we are at a pretty good spot at this point.

Lyubov Ozeretskovskaya: Yeah, true. I absolutely, you know, with, I could have a lot of, uh, complainants about Ivory, about, uh, um, Like some five seconds penalties or something like this But I think that’s okay. So if you got like really strict rules so everybody just going to behave in better way as a result and To be honest, I would love to see for the next season.

Maybe if either a will have a opportunity to have a Two, two full splits, uh, running at the same time, uh, because it, it was kind of sad to not see that someone not get into, uh, this area, uh, of the club sport, for [00:52:00] example, or endurance, uh, because just, uh, E3 growing so fast and a lot of drivers, uh, get into this and I, I feel, uh, I fully understand that you don’t have a lot of spots yet because you’re limited with the people who’s working, uh, in the very But, uh, for the upcoming years it will be, uh, great to see, uh, like, a few splits, uh, running, uh, fighting for the championship.

It will be great to Like give everybody opportunity to take part in this, uh, absolutely amazing league, uh, you know, racing. So in my opinion, that’s one of the best league, which I, uh, where I took a part as a driver, so I really enjoy when we got like club sports and especially, you know, the opportunity that you can have, uh, for our races with a Porsche cop, it’s, it’s great.

Nina Hahn: Yeah, first of all, thank you for like that feedback and um, I’ll i’ll definitely talk to the people but I don’t think that we can just simply with manpower I don’t think we can do two splits also [00:53:00] like with Just adding new series or something to have like a third league for example again. It’s just um We all do this in our spare time, like we don’t get paid to be stewarding.

We do it because we have the passion for motorsports and, um, most of like the entry fees that we have goes to like creating sessions and to the broadcasting and here and there and everything. And I think I can speak for all of the stewards that we don’t expect to get paid. Um, it’s just a huge, um, a huge amount of time that we have to spend in this because Uh, for, for you as a driver, uh, and I don’t want to downplay anything here, but you have like the qualifying or like the practice and then the driver’s briefing, the qualifying, uh, and then the race.

Let’s say it’s, uh, let’s say it’s an eight hour race. So you as a driver have probably like 10 hours kind of in the session, [00:54:00] but as race control, we need to prepare like, I don’t know, one or two hours, like with practice. And then, um, usually incidents get reviewed after the incident, uh, after the race as well.

So for us, um, it’s probably like two or three hours more. And then if we have like the long races, like we had like a 12 hour race or something, we have one guy that’s pretty much always, um, just looking at the pit lane. And for the 12 hour races, he was looking at the pit lane camera for 15 hours straight.

That was his So, um, uh, yeah, with how complex the rules are and everything, I don’t know if we can do a second split. I would love to, because also for us as race controllers, it’s very sad to not see some of the teams that we had over the past few years, make, you know, make a difference. Make it into this year’s selection because we also had, as I said, like the 24 hour series was cancelled, but we had a lot of these, um, spots [00:55:00] that invites that were still left over from that series, which we then, um, converted to like those two leagues that also had their own invites.

So for some of the classes, it was just like not a lot of spots left. And. With, as I said, SOFs of like 7k not being uncommon, it was really tough to just get in. Uh, obviously I would love to have, um, more people, like more teams racing, but, um, we will see. I’ll, I’ll definitely tell the people, but, um, I can’t really say that, like, that’s gonna happen soon, sadly.

Lyubov Ozeretskovskaya: Yeah, but, you know, we’re all just, uh, hoping that they’re going to get even bigger and stronger, uh, for the years and, uh, maybe in the future we’ll see, uh, more splits and more teams into this, uh, awesome league. Um, Also,

Nina Hahn: maybe to add to [00:56:00] this one, if you, uh, Um, want to be part of race control and stewarding and get into that.

We’re always looking for people. So, you know, anyone who’s interested can just like text, um, Casper Decord, for example, or also just me and I can forward it, um, or join the IWRA server and, um, get in contact there because we’re always looking for people and you don’t have to be 8k yourself to be able to steward.

You know, if you, if you’re like a decent driver or just know somewhat, what a racing line is, then, um, you know, it’s, it’s something that you can definitely learn. And, um, yeah, we, we’re always looking for people, which then obviously would make it a bit more, um, yeah, maybe create more opportunities for different, either different types of leagues or more splits or, you know, Mm hmm.

Lyubov Ozeretskovskaya: Uh, you mentioned that, uh, review, reviewing the incidents, uh, definitely help you with your own, uh, race [00:57:00] crafts and how you, you know, handle situations on the track. Um, what other advices can you give to people who are planning to get into sim racing?

Nina Hahn: Um, about the driving itself or getting into the racing first?

Lyubov Ozeretskovskaya: Uh, yeah, about driving and about getting to races, maybe, like, you have to review incidents or something like this?

Nina Hahn: Um, yeah, it’s, I think it’s a very personal journey, depending on where you start out, but as, like, a general thing, I think the first thing you need to learn is to keep the car on track. Just, you know, finishing races without incidents, even if that means you have to give up some time, but in the beginning that really doesn’t matter.

And, um, stop what like Need for Speed and everything teaches you that you always have to win. You’re not going to win always. That’s, you know, and that’s, you can have fun even in like fighting for some of the last positions. [00:58:00] It just depends on like, where you are on track and if you can keep it stable on track that’s like the biggest thing and after that comes like pace kind of just um they’re like it’s very personal thing learn how to brake learn how to turn and then um yeah after that at some point you can start adjusting setups but setups should really be like one of the last steps because for example me like i don’t in formula 4 i usually drive the official setup because it’s You know, they’re good enough to, uh, to be quick, and, um, I’m at this point always driving top split, and I’m usually in the top five, so, you know, and that’s just with the iRacing setups, and I know that Formula 4 isn’t, like, the most competitive, but, um, there are some pretty quick people in there, and me being close to them is already, like, a great reward for all the practice I’ve spent.[00:59:00]

Yeah, so, yeah, and maybe, wait, maybe, um, for getting into sim racing in the first place, uh, don’t worry too much about gear, uh, the more important thing is kind of to just get started and just try it out, see if it’s for you, and also what kind of racing is for you, maybe you just want to do some street drifting, or maybe you want to do on track racing, or ovals, or, I don’t know, off road tracks, they’re all very different, and there are different games that do different things just better than others.

And, um, just kind of find what you like, and from there, um, it’s a more like a natural progression, in my opinion.

Lyubov Ozeretskovskaya: Absolutely agree with you, especially with, uh, uh, the thing about equipment, uh, because some people just, uh, you know, Getting crazy about equipment, that they, uh, need the best stuff. Um, I always, uh, tell people that you can start with whatever you got.

You got the wheel and pedals, you can [01:00:00] jump, uh, into, like, uh, racing with it and, uh, just to have fun. And, uh Earn some experience, build your skills and just be the part of community and have fun. That’s the main thing, definitely.

Nina Hahn: Yeah, definitely. And also, if you’re just starting out, a direct drive and active pedals will not make you faster.

They just, they just won’t. You need to drive, you need to build your racecraft first to really benefit from the advantages that these kind of systems can bring.

Lyubov Ozeretskovskaya: Yeah, absolutely agree with you. And, uh, before we end the stream, I want to know, uh, What’s, uh, what’s your goals for the future? What are you planning to do in the future?

Um, well, that’s a very open ended question.

Nina Hahn: Obviously, as I mentioned before, I have very real aspirations to do more real life races. Like, I’ve set myself, like, the big goal of someday being [01:01:00] 24 hours of Nordschleife. Which is just it’s that is like my absolute like dream race that I want to be part in at some point.

And yeah, for example, like, recently, I’ve applied for another driver selection in a GT four class. Uh, I don’t know yet, uh, if I get selected and even if I then, um, get selected for the driver selection, I have to like, kind of win it to get the spot, but, um, I really, really hope that that works out and that I, uh, can go there and, um, just drive a GT4 car because it’s, yeah, it’s like, I just love racing and, um, yeah, I hope that that works out.

Apart from that, um, also Maybe then just start, um, the RCN races at the Nordschleife, you know, like the smaller ones that you have to build up to at some point being able, like having the licenses to drive in a 24 hour race. [01:02:00] But also, apart from real racing, um, sim racing, I want to improve my R rating. As I said, I don’t really drive any officials, um, but I really should at least, um, somewhat Last time, I think, I drove, um, and I had like, in three evenings or something, I gained 700 eye rating.

So, my eye rating is really not where it should be, and I would kind of like to have it more like, yeah, where, where I want it. So, um, also just to, yeah, I don’t know, it’s kind of cool if your eye rating is a bit higher, not gonna lie.

Um, but yeah, uh. I don’t know. I kind of want to go back into ovals. Uh, I don’t know how much time I’ll have for that. That’s definitely a secondary goal. And yeah, I don’t know. Apart from that, uh, do the races with the Dream Team, obviously. Can’t wait for those to happen. And also, like, always, like, back, [01:03:00] um, yeah, behind the scenes, there are always, like, I’ve talked to a lot of people here and there, and there are some opportunities that might open up, some that Maybe don’t but you know, you give it a shot and um, that’s that’s what you need to do if you want to you know You just apply for different things some work out some don’t And um, i’m really I really want to make racing more of my career.

I would also love to start streaming Sadly currently my pc doesn’t really support racing and streaming at the same time It’s just um, it’s pushing 10 years. So it’s I need a new pc at some point. But um, You Since I’m, uh, still in education, or again, in education currently, uh, I don’t have that much money to spend on new hardware, so, uh, yeah, but that’s definitely also a big thing that I want to improve in the simracing front.

Lyubov Ozeretskovskaya: Mhm. So, I wish you good luck in real life experience, and in streaming as well, I would love to see your streams in the future. Uh, I hope you’re going to get the [01:04:00] PC and everything set up. Uh, thank you so much for being here, thank you so much for talking with us, see your Amazing and wish you good luck for your life and for racing as well.

Nina Hahn: Yeah, same to you, by the way. Whatever your goals might be, I hope you achieve them.

Lyubov Ozeretskovskaya: Yeah, guys, thank you so much for watching. We will see you next time on Thursday with more Innit Talks. Bye!

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