New Le Mans esports for race gamers

The Automobile Club de l’ouest will launch a Le Mans esports series at Silverstone in August, using the Forza Motorsport game series as its platform.

The series will be run in partnership with the Motorsport Network, as well as Microsoft through the Forza video game, while Paris-based esports company Glory4gamers will manage the format and the events.

Elite esports gamers and amateurs can compete in a series of offline qualifying events at WEC’S Fuji round on October 13-14, the 2019 Autosport International Show and the Sebring round on March 15, with each of those events acting as a regional qualifier for a grand finale. The “unique” final will take place at the 2019 Le Mans 24 Hours next June, with the fastest qualifiers to meet and compete against leading real-life drivers.

Further details regarding the competition’s format will be announced at the WEC Silverstone round on August 18-19, but it will have “many innovations and authentic details” and will have prizes.

“We are delighted to be able to launch this new esports series at our British round in August”, said WEC CEO Gerard Neveu. “We know from the worldwide fan survey we carried out last year that we have a growing number of younger fans following us on social media. This allows us to speak to them via a medium they love – and one they are very good at.”

Neveu added that FA Racing – Fernando Alonso’s gaming team – would be part of the series.

“This exciting partnership with the world’s greatest motor race underlines Motorsport Network’s convening power. It is a clear statement of our intent to bring motorsport to a new audience and offer our many millions of fans and customers around the world a new way to be passionate about the sport,” said Motorsport Network EMEA president James Allen.

“As the world’s largest motorsport media platform, we see esports as central to our growth strategy and we are therefore the natural partner for this epic race. The 24 Hours of Le Mans is close to my heart for many reasons, not least because my father was a class winner in 1961.”

To register your interest in competing, visit lemansesports.com.