Race is on to find fastest virtual driver in Canada
Many past the age of 40 — yes, I am in this age category — would probably scoff at the notion of online gaming being considered a legitimate sport.
I mean, we know what is and is not a sport, right?
A real sport is played on the field, or on a frozen sheet of ice, or on the court where the best of the best routinely amaze us with feats of skill and athleticism as they compete for glory and their place in the pantheon of all-time greats.
Yes, there is still some debate as to whether playing video games should be considered a sport or not, but there is no argument that competitive gaming — commonly known as electronic sports or e-sports — has hit the big time.
What was once a hobby, now has professional leagues, teams, sponsors and
media deals with the likes of Disney that sees tournaments broadcast on ESPN and ABC, along with multimillion-dollar prize pools. And the audience is vast. ESPN estimates 427 million people worldwide will watch some form of esports in 2019.
And if you’re at all curious about this growing phenomenon and might want to try your hand, the 2019 Canadian International AutoShow is ready to scratch that itch.
In conjunction with WorldGaming Network, a leading organizer of e-sports competitions that is owned by Canadian entertainment giant Cineplex Entertainment, the AutoShow is hosting a racing competition in order to crown Canada’s fastest (virtual) driver.
The competition, Pfaff Forza Motorsport 7 WorldGaming Network Canadian Challenge, is open to every Canadian 14 and older with access to an Xbox One game console. At stake is $20,000 in cash and prizes, plus a chance to race with Pfaff Motorsports.
Competitors can join through online qualifying at Worldgaming.com and in person at the AutoShow, which runs until Feb. 24 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. Entrants that choose to qualify at the show will be able to use VRX racing pods designed to give gamers a real state-of-the-art racing experience. The Grand Finals will be hosted live at the show on Feb. 24.
“We’re very excited to partner with WorldGaming Network for the second year in a row to engage with racers, virtual and real, across the country,” says Laurance Yap, creative director at Pfaff Automotive Partners. “For us, the WorldGaming Network Canadian Challenge bridges the gap between the virtu- al and real racing worlds — the winner of the tournament will have the chance to test a Pfaff race car in 2019 and become part of our company’s long history of developing Canadian driving talent. Holding the tournament live at the AutoShow, with nine days of live qualifiers, and a one-day live final, really takes the championship to the next level.”
The interest in e-sports mirrors the growth of the AutoShow’s exhibit. This year’s showcase is almost twice the size of the one staged in 2018. In addition to WorldGaming, Pfaff, Castrol and Xbox are lending their support to the event.
“E-sports is the fastest-growing feature at the AutoShow and the fastestgrowing attraction in sports entertainment,” says Jason Campbell, general manager of the show. “Hosting the Pfaff Forza Motorsport 7 WorldGaming Network Canadian Challenge adds another level of excitement to the attraction.”
The forum where players will test their skills — Forza Motorsport 7 — is a sprawling racing game that features more than 700 cars that can be raced on 200-plus configurations at more than 30 locations, including Silverstone, WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca and the Nürburgring. All race cars and venues are rendered in photorealistic graphics that feature 4K resolution.
“Forza 7 Motorsportis already a leading title in racing, and this is the event that competitors have been waiting for,” says Wim Stocks, general manager of WorldGaming Network. “Massive thanks to all our partners who made this competition possible. Fans and car lovers alike will be able to experience first-hand how far our Canadian players are willing to push it to win incredible prizes.”
Interested parties can obtain more information and register at WorldGaming.com/Forza7CC.