He came, he saw, he conquered – Ragnar Simuland.
The Estonian racing driver Ragnar Simuland had a very successful debut season in circuit racing. With proper homework in testing before and during the season, he had no problem adjusting to race cars from karting and won the champion’s title in the V1600 class, driving Toyota Yaris car serviced by Rsparts.ee motorsport team. 9 races, 9 podiums including 3 race wins. And no doubt, we hope to see him again in 2025!
- Can you tell us more about your kart years?
I started karting when I was 12 years old, training first on a hobby kart, and then 3 years driving a racing kart. I have mixed feelings about the karting era – I was mostly fast, but I also often ran into problems and bad luck. I won various titles and last year won a bronze medal at the Estonian Championship in the Rotax Max class. But racing karts was definitely a good platform to get used to speed and side by side racing.
- Circuit racing. Why such choice and how did your first season go?
In my opinion, circuit racing is one of the logical next steps after karting. The first season went very well. The plan was to take a year to get used to it, but after the first final of the first stage, things immediately got serious, and even in the small V1600 class there was unexpectedly a lot of exciting racing at every stage. I am very pleased with the choice of class for this first year, and I was also very positively surprised by how friendly and good the atmosphere is in the tents and between the drivers at the paddock. And of course, I am also happy with the title I won.
- How would you encourage new kart drivers to join and start circuit racing?
Circuit racing cars look cool, they are fast and interesting to drive/look due to their weight and suspension. In addition, compared to formulas, thanks to the covered wheels, circuit-racing cars generally allow for even closer wheel-to-wheel racing, and the first wheel contact does not mean that it’s the end of the race or the race weekend.
- Which of the Baltic Tracks you enjoyed the most and why?
Previously, I had only driven at the Estonian PorscheRing and probably because of that I still feel the most comfortable there. Bikernieki, however, is in a very beautiful environment and has an interesting track. The Kaunas track has the steepest ups and downs. I think that at the moment I prefer the Riga track for myself precisely because of the atmosphere and uniqueness.
- What is planned for 2025?
If all goes according to plan and the moon and stars align correctly, you might see me competing in the most competitive BMW 325 CUP class.
- What is your dream in motorsports?
I could see myself driving higher class cars on European tracks, competing with the top World and European drivers.
- Thank you to fans, family, sponsors?
I want to thank my family for the opportunities that I have had to get involved in racing. The fans have also been awesome and that is important! I would like to thank the team RS Parts for always supplying me with a good car and helping to make the 2024 season enjoyable, and especially Mikk Maaten, who seems to have an extra inner sense of mission to promote circuit racing. We are looking for sponsors and those interested in seeing their logo on my car can write to me!
