The Last Garage debuted (in competition form) at last year’s Sim Formula Europe event, and it returned again with a brand new car and track to provide the competitors, some of whom qualified on the weekend around an ice track, very little preparation.
16 drivers took part, with returning champion Devin Braune, three online qualifiers, two wildcard entries and 10 in-person qualifiers split into two semifinals, before a last chance race setting up the final. The track, Zolder, the car, a Donkervoort.
In the first semi-final, Geelhoed started from first and controlled the race, with Niklas Houben second. Florian Bodin saw a gap open up into turn one on the opening lap and gained three places, advancing to the final with them.
Houben’s Team Nitro teammate Tobias Groenewald got into trouble on lap one and looked to be in danger of getting knocked out straight away. However, F1 Esports Champion Jarno Opmeer had a spin while battling for third with Bodin and wildcard entry Ryan Barneveld, and he was out of the race.
Nicolas Hillebrand was on pole for the second semi-final, and it was a race between him and Jernej Simoncic for the win. Devin Braune went off into the gravel through turn three on lap one, securing the top three in a much quieter race.
The last chance qualifier saw much more drama, with a massive stack-up at turn six on lap one flipping Braune’s car upside down, ending the reigning champions’ competition. Groenewald, who had work to do from the mid pack, passed Gian Zoutewelle on the opening lap before the Dutchman spun out of a right-hander.
He then rejoined despite the oncoming traffic, hitting Timo Geurts, who was delayed. Bono Huis and Barneveld were promoted to third and fourth, but the gap ahead to the all-important top two spots was 10 seconds.
Groenewald passed Abe Santema for the win, but they would both finish with lots of time in hand. However, the drama didn’t end there, as the stewards discovered two track cuts by Santema throughout the race. They were forced to demote him to third and promote Huis, who had briefly left the venue, back into the competition.
Sven Geelhoed was on pole for the final and got away cleanly with Simoncic close behind. The pair were nose to tail almost the whole race, with Geelhoed soaking up pressure brilliantly.
When Simoncic made an error with six laps to go, that pressure was only briefly relieved before Niklas Houben took up that role. However, he never truly got close enough, and Geelhoed held on to win Sim Formula Europe 2026.
This competition continues to show that esports, where drivers have little preparation, can be far superior to the grind so many competitors are used to. And The Last Garage continues to improve in the 12 months since its competition debut in 2025.
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