The virtual world and the real world are getting closer and closer. This time, Fanatec goes a step further and brings us this surprising news that will surely arouse the curiosity of many sponsors and pilots around the world. We leave you with the official notes by Fanatec CEO Thomas Jackermeier.
We’ve all seen real-world pro drivers compete in sim racing, but it has always been for fun, for charity, for practice, or for bragging rights. But what if sim racing events counted towards a real-world championship? We’ve made it happen. Our multi-year deal with SRO Motorsports Group introduces a brand new concept to merge sim racing and motorsport even closer together.
Fanatec is now the title sponsor of the GT World Challenge Powered by AWS and the new GT2 European Series.
Yes, we are talking about the real cars.
But this is the more exciting part:
For the first time in global motorsport history, sim racing will directly influence the outcome of a real-world championship.
During all five rounds of the GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup and Total 24 Hours of Spa, esports contests will be hosted using Assetto Corsa Competizione, the official video game of the Fanatec GT World Challenge Powered by AWS. Both Pro and Silver teams will nominate one actual race driver to participate in a virtual race which awards championship points. The official rules and regulations will be announced at a later date.
THIS. IS. BIG.
Real race drivers earn championship points with simracing in the Fanatec GT World Challenge Powered by AWS (previously known as Blancpain GT3 series) pic.twitter.com/HXIVlV365E— Fanatec (@fanatec) January 22, 2021
This is truly a groundbreaking milestone for motorsport as well as for esports. Never before have we seen an athlete compete in both virtual and real life for championship points. This increases the importance of sim racers for race teams and in future you will rarely see a race driver who is not training in a simulator at home. I hope other racing series will follow as this is a great way to reach a young audience and allows online-races at any time of the year at minimum cost. A great and entertaining addition to the loud and exciting track racing we all love.
And of course in this series, the new BMW M4 GT3 will use a Fanatec steering wheel. It all comes together and S.R.O. and ourselves have even bigger plans.
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