For years, Ian “Crimsix” Porter dominated the world of Call of Duty. A three-time world champion and one of the most decorated esports athletes in history, his name was synonymous with intensity, discipline, and results.
But in the world of motorsport, results don’t care about your past accolades. You start from zero.
Two years into his transition from gaming legend to race car driver, Porter is proving he belongs—on track, in the paddock, and in the high-pressure world of professional motorsport. Now competing with RAFA Racing Team in the Toyota GR Supra GT4 EVO2, Porter is not only earning respect, but also finding purpose in a new arena.
“The Supra is phenomenal,” Porter says. “It’s the first front-engine car I’ve ever driven on track. I thought it would be a big learning curve, and it was at first—especially at Daytona,” he said.
“But by the time we got to COTA, which I knew well, everything clicked. I’m just liking the car more and more.”
That “click” isn’t just about comfort behind the wheel—it’s about progress. RAFA Racing has given Porter the environment and the challenge he was craving. Last season, he competed in Porsche Sprint Challenge North America – winning the GT4 championship and taking 10 race wins from 14 starts.
This year, he’s part of a huge multi-car team, training alongside seasoned teammate and VP Racing SportsCar Challenge championship leader Kiko Porto.
“It’s kind of like being back in Call of Duty again,” he says.
“There’s that pressure in the air—competition, expectations. That’s when I’m at my best. Last year, I won more races, but I’m having more fun this year because I’m constantly being pushed. I have a teammate who’s faster, more experienced, and it’s making me better every weekend.”
For Porter, sim racing became more than just a training tool. It’s where this entire journey began. Following his retirement from esports, he found himself craving a new challenge.
Through connections with elite sim racing teams like Team Redline (Max Verstappen’s sim racing team), he threw himself into the world of virtual racing—and quickly realized the challenge ahead.
“I was a bit of a laughingstock at first,” he admits. “Jumping straight from CoD content to the top-level sim racing leagues, it was rough. But it gave me access to people who taught me what I needed to know. That crash course saved me years.”
That work ethic—refined over years of professional gaming—has become a central part of his identity as a racer. He’s shed more than 70 pounds since starting his motorsport journey, thanks to an intense commitment to training, nutrition, and race fitness.
“Kiko was 90 pounds lighter than me when we started,” Porter says with a laugh. “Seeing his lap times, I knew I had to step it up. Now it’s cardio every day, strict diet, the whole thing. I feel better than I ever have.”
Behind the scenes, Porter has also immersed himself in the business side of motorsport—essential for bronze-rated drivers who need to bring both speed and sponsorship.
“My goal is to race at Le Mans. Rafa (Martinez) and Kevin (Conway) have been clear with me: it’s not just about being fast. You have to be valuable to a program. That means relationships, marketing, everything.“
Working with team leader Conway has only elevated his focus.
“Kevin’s expectations are sky-high,” Porter says. “It’s not written anywhere, but you feel it—he expects Kiko to win, and he expects me to be right behind him. It’s relentless, but I thrive in that kind of structure. Last year, it was more laid-back. This year, it’s about chasing the perfect lap. That changes everything.”
RAFA Racing’s rapid rise has provided Porter with the perfect platform. The organization, which includes the RAFA Racing Club and an expansive media and hospitality arm, has grown at an unprecedented rate, building both on-track and off-track influence.
“It’s crazy what Rafael has built,” Porter says. “From the club to the race team to the media content, it’s just nonstop. He dreams big—and then he does it. There’s a wheel brand, event hospitality, GridRival collabs, everything. And the vision is what keeps it all moving.”
That vision includes Ian Porter as a central part of the story: a former esports icon building a second act in the most competitive environment imaginable. And while he may still hesitate to call himself a professional race car driver, there’s little doubt he’s earning that title.
“I’ll always say I’m a race car driver, but sometimes I still wonder—when do you really become a ‘professional’?” Porter reflects. “Maybe it’s not a label. Maybe it’s just a mindset. And right now, I’m all in.”
As Porter pulls into Mid-Ohio this weekend, his Toyota Supra will wear a fresh livery. But more importantly, it will represent the next step in a journey defined by risk, reinvention, and relentless progress. From the warzones of Call of Duty to the apexes of GT4 circuits, Ian Porter is chasing greatness—again.
