Formula E launches virtual championship

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Formula E is aiming to reach new audiences with the launch of its first virtual championship – Race Off Pro Series.

The virtual championship will run alongside the regular championship, with events being held ahead of on track action in Long Beach, Paris, Berlin, and London.

Formula E is determined to continue following and creating trends, teaming up with the leaders in the eSports marketplace for the project.

Microsoft, who have been at the front of online competitive racing, will provide the platform for fans to compete on – Forza Motorsport 6.

“Competitive gaming is at the heart of Forza and we are always working to innovate in the growing arena of eSports by engaging automotive and gaming enthusiasts in this new type of motorsports,” said Dan Greenwalt, creative director of Turn 10 Studios, part of Microsoft. “Forza Motorsport 6 is a natural fit for this partnership with Formula E.”

Formula E CEO Alejandro Agag sees the new virtual championship as something that might be the future of motor racing as the sport embraces the digital age.

“We have shown with initiatives such as the eRace in Mexico and the Race Off exhibition events that Formula E is committed to embracing the world of eSports, and the creation of this championship takes this to the next level,” he said.

“Putting fans at the heart of the championship is part of our DNA, which is why we created FanBoost, and allowing the best video gamers to race on the same stages as our world class drivers further enhances this. As always we are working with world class partners to achieve this, including Xbox, Turn 10 Studios and ESL.”

The first event will start at 12pm GMT on March 24th. A rivals event will open in the Forza Xbox live lobby and entrants will compete in a time trial on the Long Beach circuit in an unmodified Formula E trial. When the time trial closes at 11.59pm GMT on March 31st, the fastest 10 players will be invited to compete in a live Pro Series final on April 2nd.

The top two drivers from each round will win an all-expenses paid trip to London for a final Race Off and a share of the €15,000 prize fund.

Round 1 – Time trials: March 24 to March 31, Final: April 2 Round 2 – Time trials: April 14 to April 21, Final: April 23 Round 3 – May 12 to May 19, Final: May 21 Round 4 – May 26 to June 2, Final: June 4 Grand Finale – July 2 to July 3

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Image courtesy of FIA Formula E Media

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