GP3 2K freezes during track loading

I recently installed GP3 2K on my win 10 x64 system.
I used the decrypted exe and installed GPx patch. I run it in debug mode.
The game is configured to run in software mode. Gives me the best results as DGvoodoo results in a PO of 150% and higher.
I can run the graphics test and all runs fine.
When I want to start a race, the track loading screen appears, and after the loading bar is 100% full, nothing happens.

Did somebody else experience this and know how to fix it?
I also installed GP3 v1.13 and that game runs perfectly fine. (Also in software mode.)

System:
Intel i7 6700k
16 GB RAM
Nvidia RTX 2060 graphics card.
Windows 10 x64 version 20H2.

update: When I run the game in hardware mode, the tracks get loaded and I get into the race.
weird.
I'd like to use software mode for the better framerate.
Hardware mode is abysmal.