Zoom meetings sometimes feel like a trip to Las Vegas.

What happens during these video calls usually stays between the people involved. The internet cloud conference room that somehow transports us into the lives of interesting people around the world. Fortunately, the “save” button exists, and those precious minutes can be saved and shared with anyone who takes the time to read this article.

Kevin Siggy walked into the waiting room for the meeting.

After some editing on the video settings, his webcam reveals the configuration of the Slovenian: his chair looked extremely comfortable; the black and red fabric contrasts sharply with the lime green helmet perched on the 23-year-old’s head.

Siggy races for the BMW Redline team. He is fairly new to the group but has been racing simulators for almost a decade. His teammate, Enzo Bonito, was also expected to join the call.

A notification appears: Enzo Bonito entered the waiting room for the meeting.

His phone’s camera connects. Bonito’s hair resembles a lion’s mane. Siggy bursts out laughing. There’s a short pause, then suddenly Bonito is grinning from ear to ear.

Siggy laughs.

Instantly, I feel like these two are very close friends.

“Kevin is my little brother,” laughs Bonito.

“The little brother, yeah. We communicate quite well with each other,” adds Siggy.

A week ago today, the Virtual 24 Hours of Le Mans kicked off and viewers around the world witnessed an incredible endurance race featuring a star-studded roster of drivers, drawn from simulation and real-world racing. .

Team Redline were declared champions in both categories, with Realteam Hydrogen Redline taking advantage of Max Verstappen’s retirement to take the lead and ultimately win.

Jeffrey Rietveld, one of the Realteam Hydrogen LMP drivers, says that experience helped him clear a goal on a major roster.

“There were a lot of good parts [of 24 Hours of Le Mans Virtual], but I think for me, on a personal note, it would have been qualifying where I grabbed pole by just two thousandths of a second beating Max. It’s like a to-do list. You just want to beat him once in your life. So it’s done,” smiles Rietveld.

On the GTE side, BMW Team Redline presented a racing masterclass. Not just in the simulation circuit either. BMW #71, which included Bonito and Siggy, also included professional motorsport drivers Rudy Van Buren and Lorenzo Colombo.

During the race, Van Buren’s racing sim setup broke due to an issue with the downshift paddle. To add to the drama, just two laps later his USB started disconnecting from the PC. It was time to adopt a new strategy.

“We thought that either I finish my stints instead of Enzo first, then we swap, and I go to [Van Buren’s] place with my wheel,” Siggy explained. “Or he comes to us. Literally completes his only stint he did and comes over to my house and finishes in my rig. What he did.

Van Buren drove three hours, on a real tarmac road to get to Siggy’s house, where luckily he was able to finish his last stints. To viewers, the BMW looked calm, cool and confident in the simulation. But Bonito describes the experience as extremely stressful.

“I had to rest. It was, I believe, four o’clock in the morning. I was just finishing my stint at 2 a.m. and had to wake up at seven for my other two stints. And [Siggy] called me at 4 am. The first thing he says is, “Please don’t panic. I was like, Alright, we’re out of this race. I already know.

“I couldn’t sleep anymore.”

Without hesitation, the Redline team found a solution. And luckily for Bonito’s stress level, the #71 BMW held onto its lead and eventually won the GTE class.

When you think of Team Redline, one of the first words that comes to mind is domination.

On paper, they have a plethora of champions in multinational teams that ensure they stay at the top of their game. They put in hours of hard work and training, just like any professional athlete. And they understand all aspects of what it takes to compete at the highest level of endurance racing.

But above all, the bond between teammates is unparalleled. Much of the team’s success is the product of the riders’ mutual admiration.

For Siggy to so willingly offer her house to Van Buren for the good of the team is a very nice sight. Simracing is considered that solo sport of pilots who never really leave the comfort of their own rig. Most teams rely on Zoom calls and Discord chats as their connectivity to each other.

But not the Redline team.

Drivers meet each year at in-person events where teammates have the opportunity to bond face-to-face. They participate in events and are photographed together. They hug, laugh and joke. Like real brothers.

For the past 20 years, the Redline team has been a powerhouse in sim racing. They’ve racked up accolades at the world’s biggest esports events and their star roster continues to grow.

“If you look at the sheer talent we have in the team, that’s the best of the best around the world,” Rietveld said.

They truly are the Michael Jordan of sim racing.

However, every Jordan needs their Scottie Pippen. Without the supporting cast within the Redline team, the #71 BMW might not have achieved victory. When a sim racer so willingly gives up everything to be there for another racer, the team becomes so much more than that: they are a family.

“The relationship we’re building is obviously going to get better as we meet in real life,” Siggy explained.

Bonito accepted.

“I think it’s great to have that connection because at the end of the day you share a car on track. So you have to take care of the same car.

Think of a small car. When we were kids, we were sometimes hesitant to share our Hot Wheels with others. We’re a little worried that someone is pushing this car a little too hard and the wheels will fly off, leaving an immobile piece of metal behind.

Your family is the first person you trust in your life. Even your clumsy little brother who sometimes gets careless with his own toys. In a way, you still share your cars with him because you love him too much to tell him no.

The Redline team embodies what it means to be there for each other. Drivers aren’t shy about sharing their shiny Hot Wheels with their teammates because they truly are one big, happy family.

“We are just legendary riders for a legendary team,” Bonito flashed that toothy smile again.

Siggy, for the umpteenth time during our Zoom call, burst out laughing.

“I definitely agree.”

Congratulations to the Redline team for the double victory! And if you haven’t watched the highlights yet, don’t worry, we’ve got you covered below.