The 2022 ATK Pro Series has concluded, and our Sim Racer Zaahir Essa rounded off proceedings as the fastest South African in the standings. Finishing 2nd behind Englishman Harry Spiers, Zaahir was in touching length of the ultimate title, but an unfortunate crash in the final race put paid to his chances.

We caught up with him to get his thoughts on the season as a whole, and what is next for him and the sport going forward.

Cars.co.za: How would you rate your season from what you were aiming for and what you achieved?

ZE: I set myself a pretty high standard with the ultimate target from the beginning; to win the championship! Unfortunately, the last two races did not go to plan, and I just fell short in the final race to finish 2nd overall in the championship, but the highest-placed SA driver. I am tough on myself, so I am of course disappointed that I did not go on to win it, but I still had great success in the championship and fell to a worthy winner.

Cars.co.za: Every driver has favourite tracks and favourite race conditions. What were some of your highs and lows in this regard over the race series?

ZE: I would say the first race was the highlight for me. I probably enjoy Kyalami the most, and the grid was the most stacked for the first race with the highest competition. With no clue how I would perform in a car I had never driven previously, I went on to win our home race which was quite a surprise! The low moment was, without a doubt, the final race of the season. It was a showdown with my title contender Harry Spiers. Whoever beat the other would win the championship. In a freak accident so early in the race, I lost control of the car and damaged it heavily. It was tough to deal with, especially because I feel I perform best in the actual races and this turned out to be the championship-deciding moment.

Cars.co.za: After your start at Kyalami as you mentioned, you were very much the driver to beat throughout the series. What were some of the elements that made the final few races that much more challenging?

ZE: Things were very well placed with 3/5 races completed. Unfortunately for the 4th race, I was out of the country for a couple of weeks and had no practice or preparation time – which, for those not involved in sim racing, means I would not realistically be challenging for any top spots in this high-class field! That put me on the back foot for the final round, and of course, the way the final race ended was terribly unlucky. It goes to show that no matter how things are going, you have to push to the end and never know where you will end up.

Cars.co.za: What is it about the ATK Pro Series that you think makes it such a strong racing prospect for the future, and how can it continue to make progress?

ZE: It’s always been a high level of production from them, and this season it was open to international competition. They will only continue to build on this success to maintain their premier class category in the South African sim racing scene and expand beyond.

Cars.co.za: As the top South African finisher, what are some of the things that local drivers can look to do to not only become more competitive in the ATK Pro Series but also in taking on more international fields in future?

ZE: Exposure to the highest levels of competition is always an eye-opener. But it is the only way to improve once you see how you fare against the ultimate benchmark. The championship could have gone either way right to the final round, so it is good to know that South Africans are already competing at the highest levels of pace already!

Cars.co.za are proud of Zaahir’s achievements in this year’s series and is confident that the example he set will pave the way for more local Sim Racers to make their mark in the sport.

Look out for more content coming soon with Zaahir, as he continues to work with us in sharing his racing expertise and vast experience in Sim Racing.

ATK Pro Series Championship Results