The new season of the Le Mans Virtual Series debuted today. The full press release is available below. Keep in mind that the entire event will take place in rFactor 2. The five-round series features a $250,000 prize fund and more flexible regulations for professional drivers.
The Le Mans Virtual Series, a collaboration between Motorsport Games Inc (NASDAQ: MSGM) and the Automobile Club de l’Ouest (ACO), returns this September with even more elite endurance eSports competitions that have drawn world motorsport champions, captured global attention, and received accolades from teams, drivers, and fans alike. The announcement was made today at the ACO’s annual press conference, which took place in advance of the 90th running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
The successful virtual Le Mans series last year culminated in a thrilling virtual 24 Hours of Le Mans in January 2022. Among the 200-driver lineup were Formula 1 World Champion Max Verstappen and INDYCAR Champion Alex Palou, as well as many other major motorsports manufacturers and drivers. During the five-month season, an impressive total television and digital audience of more than 81 million people was recorded (Source: YouGov Sport).
All five rounds of the upcoming series, like the 2021/22 series, will be held online on the rFactor2 platform, including the Virtual 24 Hours of Le Mans, the climax of the premier endurance sports championship. This format allows teams to compete virtually on simulators all over the world for a total prize pool of $250,000. A trailer for the Le Mans Virtual Series 2022 can be viewed HERE for an exciting preview.
A change in driver requirements has been made to allow for greater flexibility in professional drivers’ schedules, which have now been fully restored following the disruption caused by the global COVID-19 pandemic. Rather than being required to drive for the entire season, teams must enter a professional driver in at least one regular round of the series (i.e., Rounds 1–4).
The 2022/23 calendar features some of the world’s most famous and recognizable circuits across three continents, challenging real-world and simulator drivers and thrilling millions of eSports fans worldwide. The 8 Hours of Bahrain, new for 2022, is a more modern classic that sits comfortably alongside the historic and legendary status of Monza, Spa, Sebring, and, of course, the most iconic venue of them all, Le Mans.
The rounds will be as follows:
- Round 1: 8 Hours of Bahrain, Bahrain September 17, 2022.
- Round 2: 4 Hours of Monza, Italy October 8, 2022
- Round 3: 6 Hours of Spa, Belgium 5 November 2022
- Round 4: 500 Miles of Sebring, USA December 3, 2022
- Round 5: 24 Hours of Le Mans Virtual 14/15 January 2023
Some of the world’s most well-known and prestigious brands will give their full and continuous support to the Le Mans Virtual Series: Thrustmaster as Official Hardware Partner, Rolex as Official Watch Partner, Total Energies as Official Energy Partner, Goodyear as Official Tire Partner, Algorand as Official Blockchain Partner and LEGO® Technic as Official Engineering Partner.
Pierre Fillon, President of the ACO, commented: “We are very pleased to have supported and followed the success of the Virtual Le Mans Series to date with, as a highlight, the 24 Hours of Virtual Le Mans. The link between real-life motorsport and eSports is an essential element for our manufacturers and teams, and we believe it has an important role to play in attracting a new and younger audience, both on and off the track. We all look forward to another excellent season of esports competition.”
Le Mans Virtual Series CEO Gérard Neveu said, “Last year’s Le Mans Virtual Series was extremely successful and we strive to improve every year. The audience figures and performances we saw in 2021-22 greatly acknowledge the support of our impressive portfolio of partners, the collaboration of elite manufacturers and the commitment of the best simulation racing teams, including our reigning champions, Team Redline. We are confident that we will continue to attract champions from all different categories of motorsport and sim racing, and that we will be able to produce another exciting and professional esports series for the massive global audience of gamers and spectators to enjoy.”
The vision of the virtual series remains as prestigious and recognizable as the real-world FIA World Endurance Championship, which includes the 24 Hours of Le Mans as its main event. The esports series will continue to use rFactor 2 as its platform, which focuses on the simulation racing audience and provides a more authentic racing experience. Le Mans Virtual Series’ focus on greater race analysis and strategy and professional race broadcasts are expected to further drive fan interest and participation. As in previous years, FIA-licensed drivers and sim racing experts compete together in the Le Mans Virtual Series in LMP or GTE models. Further details on the entry list for the Le Mans Virtual Series, as well as when and where to watch the races, will be revealed in early September 2022.
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