One of the most decorated and highly successful teams in the iRacing sphere of sim racing is taking a big leap into the upcoming realm of Rennsport. The Apex Racing Team is usually known for their iRacing efforts, but in 2023, they’re one of the 12 incredibly stacked esports teams joining the ESL R1 series.
Just days after a double class win in the top split of the iRacing Daytona 24 powered by VCO, the Corby-based team announced their four drivers for the inaugural ESL R1 season. The championship-studded cast of drivers includes Peter Berryman, Jamie Fluke, Yohann Harth and Kevin Ellis Jr for the first season.
Apex will be utilizing the Audi R8 LMS GT3 evo II, Audi being the same manufacturer that they were in during the iRacing Daytona 24 over the weekend to win the IMSA GTD class with the No. 99 team.
Unlike their sim racing rivals such as Porsche Coanda and Team Redline, the Apex Racing Team members have stayed mostly on the iRacing platform. Granted, in last year’s Esports Racing League competition, Apex did venture into other sims to compete in it, such as rFactor 2 and Assetto Corsa Competizione.
It should also be noted that all four drivers have initially qualified for the right to race in this year’s Porsche TAG Heuer Esports Supercup on iRacing, which is scheduled to start in about two weeks. Everyone but Berryman, who requalified through Contender, finished in the top half in points last year.
However, with a PESC roster not yet confirmed by iRacing, one has to wonder if all these big names like the Apex quartet, like new MOUZ racer Maximillian Benecke, like the Porsche Coanda group, are all focusing on the new venture in Rennsport, or if they’re able to double dip…
All of the inaugural ESL R1 racing gets underway in Poland at the IEM Expo Katowice in just a few weeks, on the 11th and 12th of February, 2023.
APEX RACING TEAM ESL R1 DRIVER LINE-UP
- Peter Berryman
- Jamie Fluke
- Yohann Harth
- Kevin Ellis Jr
