Portrait of Tim Heinemann: From SimRacing to the real racing adventure

Tim 100 % focused while at the first official DTM test drive at the Red Bull Ring in Austria

Taking the leap to real racing with the help of SimRacing? Well, Tim Heinemann has set an example and shows that SimRacing is more than just dull gaming and leisure activity in front of the PC. He demonstrates that becoming a professional race driver is possible even without a lot of money. All you need is the necessary stamina, ambition, and talent.

Out there are many youngsters struggling to raise money to start racing professionally despite having lots of talent. SimRacing is the greatest solution for that problem. I hope I’m an inspiration to others so that those people feel empowered to follow my way and achieve even greater than I did.

Tim Heinemann, race driver and KW employee

Today we present Tim Heinemann’s story. Since 2016, Tim has been a part of the KW automotive. Back in the day, he decided on a traineeship as an industrial clerk. Since then, Tim has been working in sales for our motorsport department and is very close to his passion in his day-to-day life. In addition to numerous well-known motorsport series, Tim is racing in the DTM for the first time this year.

Since he was a little boy, Tim was impressed by motorsports. In 2006 – when he saw his first Formula 1 race – he was sure where his career path should lead. He watched the German driver Michael Schuhmacher in his red F1-car and thought: “I want to become a race driver one day!”. But how can someone without having any connection to motorsports fulfill this dream? For many young racers, the motorsports career is already in their cradle. The conditions are mostly good to drive in popular motorsports series one day – for Tim, it was different and he needed another master plan.

The solution: Kart sports. It didn’t take long until the first victories rolled in. A few months later he became Junior champion. Gripped by passion, Tim wanted to compete in the ADAC Kart Masters and started his first season. It went well – however, due to high costs, Tim needed to end the season earlier than planned. But even though many young racers make the leap into real motorsports mainly through karting, Tim didn’t let it get him down. There must be other ways to make the dream come true!

DTM Virtual Championship 2015

Tim participated in his first SimRacing competitions, and he was successful quickly. In the RaceRoom challenge 2010, Tim made it into the first position. This way his passion for professional SimRacing was ignited. More placements on the podium and two impressing second positions at the Meet & Beat Timo Glock Challenge 2012 and the DTM Sprint Cup were following. At the ADAC SimRacing Trophy Tim won two years in a row. He also won the DTM Virtual Championship of 2015. Despite Tim Heinemann’s success in SimRacing, the thought of driving real races never really left his head.

AMG eRacing Competition 2017

The victories in the AMG eRacing Competition in 2016 and 2017 qualified Tim for the AMG Driving Academy in Valencia and Imola. There, he showed true brilliance. Even the instructors and DTM legend Bernd Schneider remembered his talent. After Tim and Bernd competed against each other on the racetrack, Bernd Schneider was even more convinced. Since then, he is a trusted companion on Tim Heinemann’s path. Thanks to him, Tim starts in his very first race in 2018 – the GT4 Sprint Cup – and makes it to position 3.

One racing event follows the next

In 2019, Tim starts his first full racing season in the ADAC GT4 Germany for HP Racing. He makes it to seventh place with a total of two wins – a result that is something to be proud of.

The second championship in the DTM Trophy

In 2020, Tim starts his DTM Trophy career. There, he drives the Mercedes-AMG GT4 and becomes champion with a lead of more than 100 points. In the following years, Tim started in the DTM Trophy again and won the title of 2022 in the Toyota GR Supra. Also, Tim is no stranger to the popular 24h-race and the NLS of 2021. This year it is the first time that he competes in the DTM 2023. We’re already excited about the upcoming DTM season and wish all the best on and off track for Tim and his team Toksport WRT.

The first of eight races starts next weekend from 26th to 28th May 2023 in Oschersleben. Further dates are to be found in the DTM calendar. Here’s to eight exciting, fair, and safe DTM rounds in 2023!

Tim Heinemann’s Porsche 911 GT3 R for Toksport WRT

More information about Tim Heinemann and the KW automotive Group on Social Media:

@tim.heinemann

@kwautomotivegmbh

@kwsuspension

Photos: Gruppe C Photography, Archive Tim Heinemann (Private)

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