A chance for sim racers to move up into real-world racing exists with the return of the 2021-22 edition of the DTM Esports Championship powered by MediaMarkt.
Taking place on the RaceRoom Racing Experience simulation platform, 29 drivers will qualify for the season that takes place from 10th March until the Grand Finale on 28th April.
The competition is based in Germany, but is open to all participants who are aged 16 or older. 26 of the 29 qualifiers will come from the online RaceRoom Racing Experience competition system.
The qualifications started with the first Leaderboard Challenge on 17th December, and that will run through 3rd January. A second Leaderboard Challenge will take its place and run through 16th January.
Top times will qualify for the shootout races. The first Leaderboard Challenge leaders will compete on 6th January and the second will take to the track on 20th January. From those races, 26 top drivers will be decided based on points earning and will move on to the six-race season.
This first Leaderboard Challenge will utilize the Audi, BMW, Mercedes-AMG, Porsche and brand-new McLaren DTM cars on the service at the Nürburgring. Leaderboard Challenge 2 will take place at the Hockenheimring.
The other three spots in the season will come from a MediaMarkt boot camp. German sim racers have had the opportunity since 1st November to visit one of the ten MediaMarkt locations in Germany that are participating in the program to lay down a fast enough time to qualify.
Qualifying drivers from that will be invited to the boot camp where the Top 3 drivers will be added to the season roster.
Once in the six-race Cup Season, drivers will score points based on the DTM points system, with winners earning 25 points and 10th place finishers collecting only one point. Bonus points will also be awarded to the Top 3 qualifiers.
All points will be doubled in the Grand Finale which takes place at Portimão. The full schedule can be found below, and more information on the competition can be found on the DTM website.
2021-2022 DTM ESPORTS CHAMPIONSHIP QUALIFYING SCHEDULE
| 1st November 2021 | MediaMarkt qualifications starts |
| 17th December 2021 | Leaderboard Challenge 1 starts |
| 31st December 2021 | MediaMarkt qualifications ends |
| 3rd January 2022 | Leaderboard Challenge 1 ends |
| 3rd January 2022 | Leaderboard Challenge 2 starts |
| 6th January 2022 | Shootout 1 |
| 15th January 2022 | Boot Camp starts |
| 16th January 2022 | Boot Camp ends |
| 16th January 2022 | Leaderboard Challenge 2 ends |
| 20th January 2022 | Shootout 2 |
2021-2022 DTM ESPORTS CHAMPIONSHIP SEASON SCHEDULE
| Race #1 | Imola | 10th March 2022 |
| Race #2 | Norisring | 24th March 2022 |
| Race #3 | Lautsitzring | 7th April 2022 |
| Race #4 | Spa-Francorchamps | 10th April 2022 |
| Race #5 | Red Bull Ring | 21st April 2022 |
| Race #6 | Portimão | 28th April 2022 |
