The Setup He Doesn't Touch — How a 15-Year-Old Made His Claim Testable

Finishing near the top of a sim time attack takes two skills: driving, and engineering the car. The second is rarely a small part. Suspension, gearing, aero, tyre pressures — whoever works the numbers hardest usually ends up on top.

César, 15, does not do that part.

"Unless it is something very important, I do not adjust the car. I run the default setup. That way I also train adaptability and versatility."

Two of the three results he offered carry the same note attached: achieved without touching the setup.

One is a global top ten in an official RaceRoom time attack, driving a 1990s touring car — an Opel Vectra. The other is a win by roughly seven seconds on a wet Rally Japan stage in a current Rally1 Toyota Yaris, in an official WRC Generations league. Neither car was adjusted.

He lives in Siero, in Asturias, northern Spain. The project is called CI.Racing. On Instagram it has 4,850 followers and around 80,000 views a month, and it is still growing.

Car culture was in his life before he can remember it. But it began properly at seven or eight, through the video game Gran Turismo. About a year later, in his first karting session, it was settled.

"That sensation of being in contact with the car, when you feel the car starts to drive itself — only motorsport has ever given me that."

■ The one number that touches a real vehicle

Sim results prove you are good at the sim. In his file there is exactly one point of contact with a real machine.

A rental kart at his local circuit, Karting Pola. Seventh overall. More than 4,000 lap times are registered in that classification. He is a tenth of a second off the record.

He gets there in a ten-minute session, once every two months.