The virtual counterpart to the GT World Challenge championships is returning for 2023, and it will include a new in-person LAN championship alongside the existing online formats.
The collaboration between the SRO and AK Esports uses the officially sanctioned Assetto Corsa Competizione platform and a field of GT3 machinery.
The online sprint championships for Europe, America and Asia continue in a largely unchanged format, as does the Intercontinental online endurance series which sees multiple drivers per car and includes a virtual 24 Hours of Spa.
Another returnee is the in-person Fanatec GT Pro Series, which happens during real-world race weekends using drivers competing in that weekend’s race. More details for this championship’s format are expected at a later date.
The headline addition is the new SRO Esports Sim Pro Series, which will utilise the same Fanatec Arena as the GT Pro Series, but is open for sim racing teams and drivers.
This builds upon the one-off SRO Esports Racing Night held during the 2022 24 Hours of Spa. We were at that event, one by then-Ferrari driver David Tonizza, and it was enjoyable to see the drivers racing together in the same environment.
This will see 24 entries partake, with 23 determined ahead of each event and the final slot open to a hot-lap qualifier at the race weekend.
Five rounds will make up the new competition, one at each Endurance Cup race: Monza, Circuit Paul Ricard, Spa-Francorchamps, the Nürburgring and Barcelona.
€75,000 is up for grabs, meanwhile, an additional €88,500 will be split across the online championships.
Last season, the AKKODIS ASP Team was crowned overall Fanatec GT Pro Series champions, while Veloce won the Mobileye Intercontinental GT Challenge title and James Baldwin was the GT World Challenge Europe Esports victor.
2023 SRO Esports Sim Pro Series calendar
- 22nd April – Monza
- 3rd June – Circuit Paul Ricard
- 30th June – Spa-Francorchamps
- 29th July – Nurburgring
- 30th September – Barcelona
In-person LAN. Prize money pool: €75,000
2023 Intercontinental GT Challenge Esports powered by Mobileye calendar
- 20th May – Bathurst 12 Hour
- 17th June – Kyalami 9 Hour
- 15th July – 24 Hours of Spa
- 19th August – Suzuka 10 Hours
- 16th September – Indianapolis 8 Hour
Online, endurance. Prize money pool: €58,000
2023 Mobileye GT World Challenge Esports Europe calendar
- 3rd May – Monza
- 24th May – Circuit Paul Ricard
- 21st June – Spa-Francorchamps
- 19th July – Nurburgring
- 23rd August – Barcelona
Online, sprint. Prize money pool: €18,500
2023 Mobileye GT World Challenge Esports America calendar
- 6th May – Laguna Seca
- 10th June – Circuit of the Americas
- 22nd July – Silverstone
- 5th August – Watkins Glen
- 2nd September – Indianapolis
Online, sprint. Prize money pool: €6,000
2023 Mobileye GT World Challenge Esports Asia calendar
- 31st May – Imola
- 28th June – Donington Park
- 12th July – Bathurst
- 9th August – Kyalami
- 6th September – Suzuka
Online, sprint. Prize money pool: €6,000
Chat with the Community
Sign Up To CommentIt's completely Free