Sim racing will not be represented at the 2026 Esports World Cup.
The live LAN event, created by the Esports World Cup Foundation with funding from Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), featured a motorsport-replicating category for the past two years.
For those appearances, it was paired with nascent platform Rennsport ahead of its release.
In 2024, Team Redline and Kevin Siggy won the team and driver competitions, respectively. One year later, the outfit repeated that victory.
The Saudi Arabian event is known for its lavish presentation and extraordinary prize money. Last year, for instance, there was a total prize pool of $500,000 for the Rennsport drivers and teams.
However, relative to other game types at the event, viewership seemingly struggled. The free-to-play Trackmania, meanwhile, has an existing loyal following and esports base, with popular creators such as Wirtual and GranaDyy, plus events such as the Trackmania World Tour.
“Trackmania has always been one of gaming’s purest level playing fields: same car, same track, no RNG – it is all about precision, memory, and nerve,” said Fabian Scheuermann, Chief Games Officer, Esports World Cup Foundation.
The 2026 EWC will feature a total prize pot of $75 million between 6th July and 23rd August and across 24 games. The Trackmania element will feature 32 players and a $500,000 prize pool. Other games featured include Rocket League, Fortnite, Counter-Strike 2 and EA Sports FC 26.
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