The Porsche TAG Heuer Esports Supercup has a new ladder system in store for the 2022 edition of the popular road series on iRacing.
Introducing the Porsche TAG Heuer Esports Supercup Qualifying Series and Porsche TAG Heuer Esports Supercup Contender Series, the two new divisions that will help set the grid for the 2022 Porsche TAG Heuer Esports Supercup Series.
In a move similar to the eNASCAR Road to Pro ladder, the PESC ladder will involve a more open, less confusing method of advancing that is open to the masses starting on 31st July. Drivers with higher iRating will have the greatest opportunity to earn points in the Qualifying Round, but possibly dominating the second or even third split on a weekly basis could also yield a pass to the next round.
The Top 15 in the Qualifying Series standings will advance to the Contender Series. Those 15 qualifiers will go up against the bottom 20 drivers from the 2021 PESC standings to determine who makes the big show in 2022. By the way it reads, the field size for the 2022 edition of the top series will be reduced from 40 to 35 as only 15 will advance out of the contender round.
In the Qualifying Series, points will be awarded based on the iRating and number of drivers in each split. The Qualifying Series also only has one race per event, whereas the Contender Series will feature a sprint race and a feature with its own set points structure. It does have a slight limitation, however, as it is only open to those with an iRacing Road ‘B’ 4.0 license or greater. Sorry, rookies!
This marks the fourth year of competition in PESC since it began in 2019. In 2021, Joshua Rogers won his second title in the series, defeating a slew of competitive drivers to do so. Rogers took the title over names such as the 2018 iRacing Rallycross World Champ Mitchell deJong, 2018 VRS GT iRacing World Champ Maximilian Benecke and the reigning champ from 2020 Porsche TAG Heuer Esports Supercup Series, Sebastian Job.
The official rules can be found on iRacing’s forums. The Qualifying Round kicks off in Germany at the Hockenheimring and will continue for six straight weeks through 4th September. The Contender Series begins on 25th September and will also continue for six straight weeks through the end of October. The Contender races will be live on the Porsche Twitch channel.
Porsche TAG Heuer Esports Supercup Qualifying Series Schedule
- 31 July 2021 – Germany: Hockenheimring (18 laps)
- 7 August 2021 – Spain: Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya (18 laps)
- 14 August 2021 – Austria: Red Bull Ring (20 laps)
- 21 August 2021 – USA: Road Atlanta (18 laps)
- 28 August 2021 – USA: Long Beach Grand Prix Circuit (26 laps)
- 4 September 2021 – Germany: Nürburgring Grand-Prix Circuit (14 laps)
Porsche TAG Heuer Esports Supercup Contender Series Schedule
- 25 September 2021 – Germany: Hockenheimring (9/18 laps)
- 2 October 2021 – Spain: Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya (9/18 laps)
- 9 October 2021 – Austria: Red Bull Ring (10/20 laps)
- 16 October 2021 – USA: Road Atlanta (9/18 laps)
- 23 October 2021 – USA: Long Beach Grand Prix Circuit (13/26 laps)
- 30 October 2021 – Germany: Nürburgring Grand-Prix Circuit (7/14 laps)
Images included from the Porsche Newsroom