The Next Level Racing® Global Ambassador Program is a core focus for us, reaching all corners of the world. Next Level Racing® Ambassadors are chosen through a meticulous process, and our drivers represent our values at the highest levels of Esport competition. We sit down with Kamil “Khaki” Pawlowski, one of our global ambassadors, for a short chat about his sim racing career. Pawlowski has an incredible track record, being Project Cars World Champion on three occasions in 2016, 2017 and in 2019.
Where did it all start for you?
Getting a copy of Gran Turismo 2 as a birthday present when I was five was enough to fall in love in racing games right off the bat! I got my first racing wheel at age 13, and since then, my interest in racing has never faded. I started to compete with real people in online leagues, always comparing myself to better drivers. Later, at the age of around 17, I started competing in my first Esports competitions on Project Cars, achieving first really big successes, followed by my first World Championship title!
What equipment do you use and how important is it to your driving?
I use a Next Level Racing® GTTrack with Thrustmaster hardware (Thrustmaster TS-XW Racing Wheel and T-LCM Pedals) mounted on. A good wheel and especially load cell pedals are really necessary to get the most of the feedback feeling given by the car and to be consistent. But in my opinion, a good cockpit is even more important, especially when it comes to longer training sessions and endurance races – the GTTrack meets all of my requirements, which are great comfort, good racing position and awesome stability and rigidity. And it looks soo cool!
What has been your greatest achievement in your sim racing career so far?
There are definitely couple of achievements I’m really proud of, including my World Champion titles in Project Cars 1 & 2, or standing on real podiums at race tracks during SRO Esports GT Series. However, the World’s Fastest Gamer Finals is what I consider as my greatest achievement and the best time of my life, where I could make my biggest dreams come true, experiencing real racing in many different racing cars on the most famous tracks in California, including Laguna Seca and Willow Springs!
What is next for Khaki? What is your next goal in your career, or for 2021?
I’m participating in the ”Dream 2 Drive”, a driver development programme, searching for racing talent in the whole Europe from the sim racing world. My main goal for 2021 is to win this competition, which would allow me to take a huge step into the motorsports world, making me a real racing driver and helping to chase my dreams!
Could you name one top tip for aspiring drivers that want to follow in your footsteps?
Practice a lot, and always try to compare yourself to faster drivers – watch them drive and learning from them to get all of the driving techniques nailed to perfection! Everyone must have already heard to not giving up a thousand times, but it really is a key to success. Be patient, practice, observe, learn, and compete!
