- IMSA Esports Global Championship will be held on iRacing in October and November.
- First IMSA race series fully geared towards Esports racers in collaboration with VCO.
- Haasper: “IMSA deserves a world-class Esports racing championship – and it is fantastic that we at VCO can do our bit to make this series happen and bring about success.”
Munich – At its annual ‘State of the Sport’ presentation, the North American motorsport association IMSA also announced a new initiative in Esports racing on Friday. In collaboration with Virtual Competition Organisation (VCO), IMSA will hold a race series fully geared towards Esports racers for the first time in October and November, with four races on the leading simulation platform iRacing. As a proven partner when it comes to live broadcasting the championship, RaceSpot TV is also on board.
The IMSA Esports Global Championship will be contested by virtual GT3 cars of brands also represented in the real-world IMSA championships: BMW, Ferrari, Lamborghini, McLaren, Mercedes-AMG and Porsche. In the TCR class, the teams will go head-to-head in Hyundai and Honda models. The format is inspired by the real-world IMSA races. Each race lasts 2:40 hours, with two drivers sharing the cockpit. The season is scheduled to get underway on 16th October, at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta. Then a week later, further points and victory will be up for grabs at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. With the two races at Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Daytona International Speedway following on 6th and 20th November.
“IMSA deserves a world-class Esports racing championship – and it is fantastic that we at VCO can do our bit to make this series happen and bring about success,” said Florian Haasper, CEO of VCO. “Countless real-world motorsport organisations are now represented in Esports racing. But IMSA in particular with its unique diversity of cars and formats has everything needed to wow fans virtually as well. We are really excited about this partnership.”
“The IMSA Esports Global Championship is the next step in our esports presence after the success of the IMSA iRacing Pro Series and the IMSA Triple Crown Challenge,” IMSA President John Doonan said. “IMSA was among the first motorsports organizations to recognize the potential of working with iRacing to blend the gap between sim racing and real racing by including our manufacturing partners. We’re excited that eight OEMs competing in IMSA this year will be participating in the IMSA Esports Global Championship, and we expect that number to increase in the coming years.”
Entry slots for the 2022 IMSA Esports Global Championship will be awarded by invitation. More details about the championship and the full rulebook will follow in the coming weeks.
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Overview of the IMSA Esports Global Championship:
16th October 2022, Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta
23rd October 2022, WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca
6th November 2022, Indianapolis Motor Speedway
20th November 2022, Daytona International Speedway
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About iRacing
iRacing is the world’s premier motorsport simulation. With hundreds of cars and tracks from nearly every major racing discipline, iRacing partners with some of the world’s premier manufacturers, drivers, and motorsport sanctioning bodies, to deliver an unparalleled driving experience. From World Championship and special event competitions to public, hosted, and league racing, there’s an iRacing event out there for users of all skill levels and racing backgrounds. Learn more about iRacing and join more than 200,000 active iRacers today at www.iRacing.com.
About VCO
Virtual Competition Organisation (VCO) brings together different stakeholders in Esports, from simulation or gaming platforms and interested partners to active teams, drivers and the community. In a rapidly growing sector, VCO stands for professionalism, focus and a broad media presence. With its international network, VCO provides solutions for the best possible conception and implementation of Esports projects of all kinds.
Contact for Media Requests
Alexander Mey
Phone: +49 (0)89 45 23 50 91 03
mey@vco-esports.com
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