Motorsport UK’s UK FF1600 Esports Cup returns for 2026, targeting ‘non-pro’ drivers 

• UK FF1600 Esports Cup aims to showcase up-and-coming sim racing talent
• Organised by Motorsport UK, series offers pathway to full-time British F4 Esports Championship drive with professional sim team

The UK FF1600 Esports Cup returns for 2026, with the Motorsport UK-organised sim racing series once again aiming to find and nurture up-and-coming virtual racing talent.

Using iRacing’s Ray FF1600 open-wheeler, drivers with an iRating of 7,500 or less are encouraged to participate in pre-qualifying, which is set to run between the 24th and 30th of August. This can be found via the ‘Time Attack’ menu in iRacing’s UI, with the prospective drivers tasked with piloting the Ray around Snetterton’s 200 layout using a fixed setup.

The top 25 will be invited to take part in the UK FF1600 Esports Cup season, with eight double-header rounds set around some of the UK’s best circuits. For the first time, however, Round 7’s venue will be subject to the results of a fan vote.

Entry to pre-qualifying is free, but to join the full championship, all drivers must have a Motorsport UK Esports membership (£27.99 annually) and have paid the £75 entry fee.

British F4 Esports Championship

The UK FF1600 Esports Cup is the official feeder series to the British F4 Esports Championship, and an officially recognised UK championship. The 2025 edition featured sim racing teams from Formula 1 outfits Ferrari, Williams, Aston Martin, Red Bull and Alpine, with Drivers’ champion Henry Moore winning the UK FF1600 Esports Cup in 2023.

The top two UK FF1600 Esports Cup finishers will receive free entry to the 2027 British F4 Esports grid, with Heusinkveld prizes up for grabs.

For more details on eligibility and how to enter, please visit the official landing page here, or the Motorsport UK Esports Discord server here.

UK FF1600 Esports Cup 2026 Calendar

• Practice Event 16th September Silverstone National
• Round 1 23rd September Donington Park GP
• Round 2 30th September Thruxton
• Round 3 14th October Snetterton 300
• Round 4 21st October Oulton Park Int’
• Round 5 28th October Silverstone GP
• Round 6 11th November Knockhill
• Round 7 18th November Fan Vote
• Round 8 25th November Brands Hatch GP

UK FF1600 Esports Cup 2026 key information

• Dates – 9am BST 24th August – 11:59pm BST 30th August 2026
• Hosted at the top of the ‘Time Attack’ section of iRacing
• Car – Ray FF1600
• Track – Snetterton 200
• Fixed car setup
• All nationalities welcome
• No Motorsport UK Esports membership or entry fee required to enter pre-qualification
• Top 25 drives, with the fastest times at the end of the Time Attack will be invited to enter the main championship

UK FF1600 Esports Cup 2026 eligibility criteria

• Drivers must be 13 years old or over
• Drivers must not have reached more than 7,500 iRating (Formula Licence)
• Drivers must never have held a ‘Pro’ iRacing licence
• Drivers must have no affiliation (e.g. driver, coach, ambassador, academy driver) to a team who has ever competed in the British F4 Esports Championship

2026 UK FF1600 Esports Cup prizes

• The winning driver will receive a Heusinkveld Ultimate+ Black 2-pedal set
• The second-place driver will receive a Heusinkveld One steering wheel
• The third-place driver will receive a Heusinkveld Sprint 2-pedal set