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Sim Formula Europe: Braune conquers new simulator to win

The debut LAN multiplayer race for The Last Garage witnessed the Rocket Simsport driver win.

Sim Formula Europe Braune conquers new simulator to win
Image: Sim Formula Europe / The Last Garage

Devin Braune dominated a competitive final to win Sim Formula Europe’s 2025 edition, held on a new in-development simulator, The Last Garage.

He started second but quickly passed Michi Hoyer impressively at the Anglesey circuit in Wales to take the win.

His fellow German finished runner-up ahead of BS+ Competition’s new signing Nikodem Wisniewski, who finished third.

The week started with an all-new format for drivers to get their heads around; eight invited professional esports competitiors would drive against eight drivers who would qualify their way in on Friday afternoon and Saturday morning at the Dutch sim racing event.

Additionally, neither the professionals nor qualifiers had driven this car and track combination before the event, and most hadn’t even tried the sim. It was a true test of natural talent on Saturday afternoon.

In the first of the semi-finals, disaster would strike immediately for ESL R1 Champion Marcell Csincsik. Going into turn one, he was hit on the inside and barrel rolled, landing upside down in the grass, and ending his event before it even really began.

This gave Michi Hoyer and Nikodem Wisniewski an easy path to the final, but the third and final place was only just hung onto by Bono Huis, who had former World’s Fastest Gamer Rudy van Burren pushing him all the way.

The Last Garage BAC Mono 01
Image: Sim Formula Europe / The Last Garage

In the second semi-final, Devin Braune passed Yuri Kasdorp, who had claimed the lead through the opening turn, and won the race easily.

Kasdorp started to wobble a little after this, and his defence stacked up those behind. Lucas Muller would attempt a move late on Jernej Simoncic, resulting in a spin for the Slovenian, and a penalty for Muller, giving Nicolas Hillebrand a surprise place in the final.

Before the final, there were two more spots up for grabs in the Last Chance race, although these spots were taken fairly easily by Rudy van Burren and Lucas Muller.

While Justin van der Smissen stayed with them early on, he eventually fell away, leaving just eight to decide the title in one 15-lap race.

There would be drama immediately in the final, as technical problems forced Yuri Kasdorp to pull over on the start-finish straight of the opening lap, effectively consigning him to eighth from the beginning.

Sim Formula Europe Devin Braune vs Michi Hoyer
mage: Sim Formula Europe / The Last Garage

Up front, and due to his semi-final result, Michi Hoyer had pole ahead of Braune, an order which remained after the opening lap.

However, Braune made sure it didn’t last long, as he went for a daring move down the inside at the hairpin to take first place. Hoyer didn’t fight too hard, perhaps after seeing earlier incidents he gave more space than usual, but it turned out to be decisive.

Braune was untouchable for the remaining 13 laps, coming home nearly four seconds ahead of the competition.

It was a fascinating competition, one which the like had never been seen before, and maybe won’t ever again.

While it was clear to see The Last Garage has some way to go before it’s a fully-fledged simulator, it’s also clear the drivers enjoyed the handling of the cars, and the hundreds of fans packed into the arena in Maastricht were entertained as well, in a great week for sim racing as a whole.