We’re entering the ‘Year of TORA’ in 2017. Ten years ago in November I started up a little series based on the British GT using Forza Motorsport 2 and so started one of the longest projects I think I’ve ever worked on.
Most men develop antisocial hobbies that require a shed or a ‘man-cave’ in order get the most out of it. Mine’s even worse because firstly I’m still in the house and secondly it involved hogging the tv most weekend evenings.
The other really important aspect of a project like this is to have a brilliant support network. I’ve benefited from finding people who felt the same way about sim racing as I did and invested as much if not more time in it over the years. Even more importantly however - and I’m not writing this at gunpoint at all - is to have a very understanding partner. My wife has been hugely supportive of TORA even when many others weren’t and it does help that she’s partial to a bit of racing herself and agrees that any race lasting less than four hours isn’t worth it! Top lass!
MEMost men require a shed or man-cave for their hobby, mine's worse!
People who know me well will agree I’m rather good at hiding my light under a bushel. As such I have always been taken aback by the almost universal praise TORA receives from members of the gaming and motorsport industries alike. Yet it’s the belief of those people and the opportunities they’ve given TORA that have had the biggest impact over the years. I can pin down a few key events that probably gave the staff behind the scenes the greatest boosts in those early formative years.
First and foremost was recognition by the MSA in 2010. Aside from the groundbreaking - and Guinness Book of Records making - nature of the decision it also cemented our future direction. TORA wasn’t going to be just some other racing community from that point onward. Positioning ourselves as a bridge between the virtual and real racing environments was and still is our key mandate.
MHBeing the bridge between virtual and real environments is our key mandate
TORA has come a long way from the first race with only four cars and a handful of members to one of Europe's biggest sim racing communities with multiple championships in two major timezones and with great support from games developers.
British GT has been a major inspiration for TORA - now it's here officially!
In 2012 the TORA staff took on its biggest challenge by hosting a live ‘event’ at Silverstone during the Britcar 24h. This was done in partnership with Patrick Mortell at Toyota specialists, Rogue Motorsport. Microsoft UK also brought along a whole load of kit as well units previewing the all new Forza Horizon. It was an amazing few days and despite the lack of sleep and very British weather it was deemed a huge success and it really put us on the map with the national motorsport scene.
TORA with the Rogue Motorsport Toyota MR2 - Britcar 24 2012
Things have really ramped up in the last year with amazing support from the British GT Championship with whom TORA operates an official eSports series. We’ve also seen official backing from WIX Racing for the TORA Touring Cars, Race Tech magazine with the TORA Endurance Championship and an outstanding partnership with CJ Wilson Racing bringing the Cayman Cup to our growing North American fanbase.
I’m also massively thankful for the support and advice from Ella Barrington of Base Performance Simulators near Banbury and the incredible support from John Hindhaugh and Eve Hewitt without whom many of TORA’s projects would not have happened. You’d not be able to hear my dulcet Devonian tones each month on #TRS without them! It’s scary to think our first on air mentions with radiolemans.com were all the way back in 2008 and I was lucky enough to meet John for the very first time at the Le Mans Series round at Silverstone in 2009.
In 2017 the massive effort behind the scenes from the staff team will see massive IMSA and WEC inspired endurance racing series. There’s also more Indycar with a presence from Penske and a second season from CJ Wilson Racing to look forward to as well as more touring cars, more British GT, more TASCAR and more besides!
FIA WEC inspired competition will be a major feature of 2017
I do occasionally get the impression that people think anyone can run a community like TORA. That’s just not the case. It takes dedication and time that many would reserve for a full time job! All the staff are volunteers and some have been members for over three quarters of TORA’s lifespan.
It’s safe to say that the new year will be a very special time as we look back at how far we’ve come but also look forward at some of the utterly amazing projects still in the pipeline. It’s gone to be a very special anniversary indeed.
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