Further details of the upcoming ESL-powered and Rennsport-utilising esports championship have been revealed today, 12th January 2023.
The new competition will be called ESL R1 and marks a return to sim racing for the esports event organiser.
A new teaser video was shared on social media, showcasing the Audi R8 GT3, Mercedes-AMG, Porsche 911 (992) GT3 R and BMW M4 GT3 – the four of the six cars announced for the upcoming Rennsport simulation platform so far.
It also revealed the 23rd January 2023 date for the full reveal, where teams and rivers are expected to be announced, alongside the date of the first event.
The concept is expected to be based around in-person LAN events, as seen with ESL’s esports championships for titles such as CS:GO and tested at the Rennsport Summit 1 in Munich last year.
As reported by Traxion.GG last week, several top racing esports stars are expected to jettison existing teams and sign for ESL-based squads for the competition, with Maximilian Benecke and Tommy Østgaard poised to move.
Several other driver and team announcements are expected, and it is understood that some of these will be completing the 24 Hours of Le Mans Virtual this weekend before announcing any changes.
Traxion.GG understands that at least one existing esports team with extensive experience on iRacing is touted to have signed a deal with Audi, potentially with manufacturer backing – but neither the team nor Audi was able to comment at this time.
