With the McLaren Shadow semi-finals event just two months away, excitement is building for the first critical stage in determining our Shadow champion.

Sweden’s Lasse Wiman will join fellow Scandinavian Henrik Drue and ChinaJoy qualifier Xiang Gao in December’s semi-final, which will be contested at the McLaren Technology Centre.

Like Henrik, Lasse almost fell into gaming by accident, qualifying for the Shadow semis via mobile gaming app Real Racing 3.

It’s the easiest and most accessible way for anyone to enter the contest – but be quick, the final qualifier closes on Sunday (Oct 21)!

We sat down with Lasse to find out more about the man himself. 

What’s your favourite type of car to race online?

I really enjoy fast cars like Köenigsegg One:1 or McLaren P1 GTR. The grip and brakes on these type of cars suits my driving technique.

What’s your favourite racing game?

Easy - I've never been a gamer so the only racing game I really know is Real Racing 3.

Favourite non-racing game?

I’m a music lover, so before RR3 I played a music quiz game called SongPop.

Favourite (real-life) racing driver?

Ronnie Peterson. Unfortunately he died after an accident at the 1978 Italian Grand Prix, just after he signed a contract with McLaren. But still an icon in Sweden.

Favourite (real-life) race track?

Spa-Francorchamps, because of its high-speed corners and layout.

What does McLaren mean to you?

McLaren means pure race cars, built both for race track and the road.

Any tips for McLaren Shadow hopefuls?

Be patient, try to find the boundaries of track and car and try to find milliseconds wherever possible.

There’s still a spot left for another Real Racing Winner to come to the semis. Is there anybody we should watch out for?

I've been racing for over five years and met a lot of very skilled racers both in OMP and TT. I could name 10 racers with potential to win, but if I have to mention one it will be Alessandro C, who has great talent for adapting to the track and car very quickly. We also had a lot of good and fair fights over the years.

What gave you the edge to make it through?

I was second in first competition which was a bit annoying! So close but still so far away. I decided to push the limits a little further in every corner in the second competition, and stayed focused in every attempt to set the fastest lap.

Any tips for having fun and staying healthy and positive when gaming?

It’s about finding a balance between family, work and game time. Try to be relaxed when racing and have fun. It's important to see it as just a game.

What does gaming mean to you?

For me it’s just a way of disconnecting from real life for a short while.

When you’re not working/gaming, what are you doing?

My wife means everything to me and I spend as much time as possible with her. The kids have moved out, so we have two dogs now that require a lot of attention! A long walk in the forest every day really cleans my head of stress built up during working day. Travelling and exploring unfamiliar places, preferably hiking in the mountains with the wife and dogs.