Our showmaster Matthew Trivett aka Sadokist.

It was undoubtedly a surprise for many fans when they discovered that Matthew Trivett is part of the PESC commentator’s team for this season. Sadokist – as he’s mostly called in the Esports community – has been a successful caster at some of the biggest events worldwide. That’s why we are very delighted to welcome him as our showmaster at the Hockenheimring. To get to know him better, we asked him about his life, his racing career and his opinions on the Porsche TAG Heuer Esports Supercup by iRacing.

Time to get to know you. So let‘s start with some personal questions. Pizza Hawaii? Great or never ever? 

Great! Personally, I am a BBQ chicken kind of guy, but I think pineapple is perfectly acceptable, and it breaks up the palette very nicely. I’m more concerned about those who put kiwi on pizza. 

First thing in the morning? Social Media check or healthy breakfast? 

Well, there is a problem with this question to begin with:

I would love to tell you that I am the most healthy person that I know, and that my diet is perfect. But that would be a lie. Most days I have a cinnamon bun for breakfast, with a black coffee in my special mug: it has a dog on it that resembles mine. The only time I have a healthy breakfast is when it is readily available to me at the hotel.

However, even if this question did not say “healthy” breakfast, I still stood no chance. As bad as it might be, I am famous for shutting off my alarm and immediately opening the notifications that I missed overnight. It is probably a habit that I could do without, as it tends to weigh my mind down a little too much early in the day!

Would you rather cancel Social Media or go bald? 

At 32, I’ve been trying to fight the slow and subtle receding hairline that is common in my family for a while, while also trying to limit my social media intake. Therefore, I see arguments for both sides. I think social media has become a very serious problem; anyone who has watched The Social Dilemma on Netflix will understand what I am talking about. However, I think that social media does still have the potential to be a really great thing, and I think it has brought a lot of good to the world, as well. Therefore, I think it would be best if I swallow my vanity and hope that my head is a nice shape of round without any dents that I do not know about, for the sake of everyone else. (Laughing.)

So, as a new caster for the PESC, how’d you like your first season? 

I have very much enjoyed being part of the Porsche Tag Heuer Esports Supercup by iRacing this season. Not only have I always been a fan of Porsche and Porsche Motorsport, I obviously have a huge place in my heart for Esports as a whole, so it was a very natural fit that I am very proud to be a part of. I have said since the inception of the series that it is the pinnacle of simracing - the driving talent, the fact that it is a One-Make/spec series, and that it is on a platform as big and as popular as iRacing means that it has the deepest field of talent on the planet. Additionally, I have always felt that the Porsche One-Make-Series are the best real-world spec series, internationally, for drivers to prove themselves. The cars are raw, fast, and provide incredible racing. I still have a dream to race in a Porsche One-Make-Series, even if just for a one-off drive, at some point. 

From a commentator stand point, it has also been very interesting. I am normally in the play-by-play/lead commentator role, so to be in the analyst/colour role for this series has been a fun and new challenge that I have enjoyed getting used to. Paul, Will and Connery have all been very patient with me, and great to work with.

What do you think about the All-Stars races as a novelty in the PESC? 

I have been very impressed with the All-Star races. Not only are they a great way to bring in some of the most charismatic and fun people who have supported simracing for years as well as Porsche works drivers that we have come to adore in the real world, but it is a great way for people to interact with the series through their favourite personalities. I have also been very impressed with the quality of driving, as well. Sometimes, when you bring in influencers that are used to driving a million different cars and tracks over different platforms, you aren’t sure how familiar or prepared they will be on any given week, but that does not seem to be the case with the All-Star race at all. They have all shown great class and skill while providing excellent entertainment!

Do you prefer racing in real-life or virtual racing?

 

I am absolutely into simracing. I think it has a massive importance, skill ceiling, and place in the motorsport world, and has already played an immense role in developing both cars and drivers. It was a large part of the reason I was able to return to car racing as a better driver than my first endeavours after ten years away from the sport! Cost, access, experience; I could go on for hours on this topic alone, and I would love to do that at some point, but I will save the suspense on the subject for later as I do not want to exceed the word count on the Porsche website in doing so. (Laughing.)

That said, nothing beats the thrill of racing in real life, even if it is not possible for everyone in many cases. The G-forces, the adrenalin, the element of fear and consequence that creates a higher level of risk/reward, are all things that sim cannot replicate. 

If you sit a race car and sim rig in front of me and tell me to choose? I am picking the race car every single time. 

But: if you told me that I could have one, not the other, for the rest of my life? I might very well choose sim. 

What’s your favourite track? And why? 

 

That I have driven? Nordschleife, without a doubt. What an amazing place! 

 

Your first memory of racing? And what was the first racing game you ever played? 

 

My first memories of racing were when I was a track rat at the age of 2 or 3, when I used to go with my Dad on race weekends and hang out in the pits. I was a pretty normal sight, usually playing ball hockey in the tech garage while Dad was on track or busy fixing one of the many things he broke – sorry, Dad. 

The first racing game I ever played was a Formula 1 game on Super Nintendo that I was too young to recall the name of, which hardly counts. The first game I played with a steering wheel, though, was CART: Precision Racing, which came out in 1997. I remember that my father was endlessly trying to beat the A.I. and getting frustrated that he could not. One day when he was cutting the grass, my then 11-year-old brother came outside and excitedly proclaimed that he had beaten the A.I., and thus was the first of us to win a race… My father, in disbelief, asked how he had managed to do that, to which my brother very quickly replied “Easy! Just turn their skill down to 60%.”

It was in that moment that we all learned that wits were as important in racing as raw skill!

Your prediction for the grand finale at Monza? 

It has been so hard to make predictions this season, given how insanely close the competition has been. Without hesitation we will see an incredible draft battle, but I’m going to say we will have a podium finisher that has not seen the top 3 all season. Graham Carroll comes to mind, as he has not had a top 3 all year in 8 rounds, and last year he managed to win both races at Monza. 

Biggest surprise in this year‘s PESC season? 

 

I will give you 3:

Charlie Collins: he has been rapid as a rookie, and a massive part of why Joshua Rogers is doing so well, as he was in a perfect position to support him, while also notching up a number of very impressive results along the way. 

Mitchell deJong: he has steadily improved in the series, and this season has been a contender from the get go. He is also flying the Coanda flag in the NASCAR series on iRacing, which is a whole new challenge for him, and he has been doing quite well. He's been great at balancing his duties throughout the season.

The fact that only 4 drivers have won a race, despite how close and how competitive the series has been. There are easily another 10 drivers that are capable of winning, but just haven’t been able to put it together. I actually had to double check the results myself, as I didn’t believe it.