iRacing and the International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) have teamed up to launch the 2023 edition of their IMSA Esports Global Championship series.
The championship is set to mirror the real-world IMSA sportscar series, with separate classes for GTP prototypes (Acura ARX-06, BMW M Hybrid V8, Cadillac V-Series.R and Porsche 963) and GT cars (BMW M4 GT3, Ferrari 296 GT3, Lamborghini Huracan GT3 Evo, Mercedes-AMG GT3 2020 and Porsche 911 GT3 R 992).
LMP2, LMP3 and individual GTD and GTD Pro classes will not be available, however.
Top teams, including the likes of Team Redline, Williams Esports and Coanda Esports are all set to take part, with drivers competing for a £25,000 prize pool. It has not been revealed whether the series will be open to all iRacers, or whether it will operate on an invitation-only basis.
The series consists of four, 2hr 40 minutes-long rounds using iRacing’s officially-licenced IMSA content, including trips to sportscar meccas like Watkins Glen, Sebring, Road Atlanta and Daytona. The 2023 IMSA Esports Global Championship will also be run in association with the acclaimed esports broadcaster and organiser Virtual Competition Organisation (VCO).
“In its debut season the IMSA Esports Global Championship proved to be a success, with upwards of 180,000 viewers for the four-race championship,” commented IMSA President John Doonan.
“We are particularly excited by the fact that many of the world’s leading marques will again be participating in the series, giving sim racers and teams a unique opportunity to work closely with those world class racing programs,” he concluded.
Will you be watching the self-proclaimed ‘world’s foremost sim racing sports car series’ this winter? Will you be tuning into IMSA’s Petit Le Mans from Road Atlanta this weekend?
Let us know in the comments below.
2023 IMSA Esports Global Championship calendar
- Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta, Sunday 5th November
- Watkins Glen International, Sunday 12th November
- Sebring International Raceway, Sunday 3rd December
- Daytona International Speedway, Saturday 16th December
