Esports Superstar Leads Lycans into First Place at National Competition
Thursday 1st May 2025
Our Esports team, the Loughborough Lycans, achieved a remarkable victory this week, as student Joseph Redfern clinched the title in the 2025 Student Racing League (SRL) LAN Finals, held at the prestigious Williams Racing HQ in Grove, Oxfordshire.
The SRL, launched by Williams Esports in 2023, has become a cornerstone in collegiate sim racing, offering students nationwide a platform to showcase their talents. This year's competition saw participants from over 30 educational institutions vying for the top spot.
In a nail-biting final race set in Las Vegas, Joseph took the National Champion trophy, delivering an outstanding performance, and winning by a staggering 8.59 seconds.
Reflecting on his achievement, Joseph shared: “I dreamt of this when I was younger. I've been doing it since 2017. It's my dream to drive a real car, and I've just been doing it every week [to practice], and finally, it's paid off. Best day of my life for sure!”
Joseph's triumph has now earnt him an all-expenses-paid opportunity to participate in Prodigy Week, set to be held in the United States in autumn. This exclusive event allows him to transition from virtual racing to testing real-world race cars, bridging the gap between esports and traditional motorsport.
This victory adds to the Lycans' impressive track record, including a third-place finish in the previous year's SRL and a national title in Rocket League.
Curriculum Manager for Sport and Esport at Loughborough College, Danny Lee shared: “Loughborough College's commitment to integrating esports into its curriculum, combined with partnerships with industry leaders like Williams Esports and Motorsport UK, continues to provide students with unparalleled opportunities in both virtual and real-world racing arenas.”
