With the return of the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile Motorsport Games later this year, more information is being revealed about for formats being used, and Assetto Corsa Competizione will be used for the racing esports component.
Think of the event like an Olympics for motorsport, seeing as vehicles are not allowed by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). The first was held in 2019 for Silver and Bronze-rated drivers across multiple disciplines such as GT3, TCR and Formula 4.
When the Gold, Silver and Bronze medals were totted up, it was Russia who took overall laurels ahead of Australia and Italy.
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the event was postponed in 2020 and 2021 but returns this year in Marseille between 26th-30th October. Assetto Corsa Competizione will be the platform used for the racing esports competition as part of the main event.
There was an esports component to the 2019 running too, then entitled the ‘Digital Cup’, but it used Sony’s Gran Turismo Sport. It was won by Australia’s Cody Nikola Latkovski.
GT Sport was accredited by the FIA for esports competitions, such as the Gran Turismo World Series, for four years between 2018 and 2021, although that now appears to have ended.
Each FIA National Sporting Authorities (ASNs) can nominate a single driver for the esports competition, with a knock-out format whittling down an expected 80 competitors to just 20 finalists.
Custom Circuit Paul Ricard
The esports competition will be held across three days, 27th-29th October, during the FIA Motorsport Games competition inside Circuit Paul Ricard’s Mistral Hall, using GT3 cars on a custom build of the French venue for the event.
“Working hand in hand with ASNs, we strongly believe that the FIA Motorsport Games Esports discipline can help to introduce competitors from non-traditional motorsport countries and unearth stars of the future,” said FIA Esports Commission President, Niroshan Pereira.
“We are very pleased to be the choice of the FIA for the Motorsport Games,” highlighted co-founder and Executive Manager of Kunos Simulazioni, Marco Massarutto.
“We love racing and sports, and with Assetto Corsa Competizione each player has the opportunity to prove that skills, focus, and dedication can make the same difference in esports as when racing on a real track.”
Registration has been open since 15th June and is processed through the respective National Sporting Authorities. The final will be live-streamed, produced by AK Informatica.
