Gamers8 gathered some of the world’s best sim racers in Saudi Arabia recently. Despite the prize being in the millions, the 17-year-old from Eggedal went home empty-handed.

– On the first day I advanced to 4th and 9th in my group. “I was also on my way to 4th place in the second race, but unfortunately I made a mistake and fell down the results list,” said Biksrud.

Accompanied by the world’s elite i he tells us that there is no room for error. This means that this time he did not advance to the second day of competition.

– As the youngest racer, I still lack the experience that other racers have. “Most of my competitors have been doing sim racing since before I was born,” Biksrud said with a laugh.

Waiting for a new rig

In Saudi Arabia, this race was run on a different racing rig to the one he trained on himself. That might be the reason for the competition results.

– It would definitely be an advantage to drive a vehicle that I know well, said the 17-year-old.

The Heroic team he rides for has ordered the same rig used in this competition. He was looking forward to using it.

Also read

Oskar (14) is nearing the top of the world in sim racing

– Very satisfied

– Even though this time I did not qualify for the final, I am very satisfied with the position I obtained in the two races that I was able to run. “And I also showed that on a good day I can compete with the best riders in the world,” said Biksrud.

At the end of the team competition Hero Teamjust outside the final as the team’s four riders made several mistakes in the opening laps.

Also read

Eggedal’s Oskar Biksrud (13) was in the world go-kart final

The only part time driver

The 17-year-old is the only one of 48 drivers in Saudi Arabia who does not do sim racing full-time. In the fall, he will start his final year in the sports department at Buskerud high school in Åmot.

– It’s a challenging combination to go to school and at the same time be a part-time employee on the Heroic team. It’s hard to find enough time for schoolwork and enough training hours on the racetrack, something other full-time racers don’t have to think about, Biksrud said.

For example, the 17-year-old said that in the final week before the race in Saudi Arabia, he spent seven hours on the rig every day.

– The goal is to make a living from driving

– Once I finish school, my dream is to become a permanent driver, so that I can fully concentrate on driving, said Biksrud.

– How much does a full time sim racer earn?

– The best have a fixed monthly salary of more than NOK 50,000 and receive more than one million NOK in a race. Therefore, I can earn a very good income, but of course it depends on whether I do well on the field, says Biksrud.

– What are his plans for the future?

– During the fall I will ride eight online races in the 2023 ESL R1 Gamers8 racers championship. The main goal is to reach the final. “The dream is of course to be able to drive well so that I can get on the podium in several races,” concluded the promising sim racer from Eggedal.