GT World Challenge Esports Series announced by SRO

Not content with an esports competition that will count towards real-world GT World Challenge Europe team points and running a British GT esports championship, race organiser SRO has unveiled a new virtual series for esports competitors – the GT World Challenge Esports Sprint and Endurance Series.

There will be 31 events in total using Assetto Corsa Competizione spanning May to October 2021, with Fanatec being a leading partner for the races.

The Sprint race series will consist of 10 events for the European series, with America and Asia each contesting five. There will be hot lap qualifying to determine race-entry, which is open for all. For the 44-car single-driver grid, races will last 60 minutes and include a mandatory pitstop. A top-five result in each race gains automatic access to the next continental Sprint race.

As for the Endurance events, the aim is to involve leading esports teams with squads of three or four drivers. Entry will also be determined by a single hot lap qualifying – but teams will not have to re-qualify for each subsequent round. There will once again be a 44-car grid and driver changes will be mandatory.

Each race format and length changes slightly for each of the Endurance series races. We’ve listed the calendar for both championships below.

For both series, access is not free – the qualifying is subject to a entry-fee which in turn will be used to create a “significant” prize pot. Registration is open now via the SRO esports website.

GT World Challenge Esports Sprint Series 2021 Europe calendar

• 21st May – Monza
• 11th June – Circuit Paul Ricard
• 25th June – Hungaroring
• 9th July – Brands Hatch
• 23rd July – Zandvoort
• 13th August – Spa
• 10th September – Misano
• 24th September – Nürburgring
• 15th October – Imola
• 29th October – Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya

GT World Challenge Esports Sprint Series 2021 America calendar

• 22nd May – Kyalami
• 26th June – Donington Park
• 24th July – Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps
• 14th August – Hungaroring
• 23rd October – Suzuka

GT World Challenge Esports Sprint Series 2021 Asia calendar

• 20th May – Brands Hatch
• 24th June – Zandvoort
• 22nd July – Misano
• 12th August – Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps
• 14th October – Suzuka

GT World Challenge Esports Endurance Series 2021 Europe calendar

• 22nd May – Monza – Three-hour race
• 5th June – Circuit Paul Ricard – Six-hour race
• 7th-8th August – Total 24 Hours of Spa – 24-hour race, obviously…
• 11th September – Nürburgring – Six-hour race
• 16th October – Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya – Three-hour race

GT World Challenge Esports Endurance Series 2021 America calendar

• 17th July – Bathurst – Six-hour race
• 25th September – Bathurst – 12-hour race
• 30th October – Monza – Three-hour race

GT World Challenge Esports Endurance Series 2021 Asia calendar

• 17th July – Laguna Seca – Six-hour race
• 18th September – Suzuka – 10-hour race
• 30th October – Monza – Three-hour race

GT World Challenge Esports Series 2021 entry fees

Sprint Series $10/€10 – Endurance Series – €500

That’s all the information we have currently. Let us know if you’ll be taking part via social media.