Sim Racing Esports Events summary
Dominic Brennan
Member, Administrator
We’ve been treated to some remarkable esports racing events in recent weeks, starring some of the biggest names in virtual and real-world racing, and there’s much more to come! Here’s a selection of what we have to look forward to:
F1 Esports Virtual Grand Prix
What is it: F1 2019-based competition running in place of every postponed Grand Prix. Arsenal striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was be among the guest stars logging on to show off his sim-racing skills at the Virtual Monaco Grand Prix, on Codemasters' F1 2019 game. Aubameyang, Ocon and Bottas were be joined by Virtual GP regulars Alex Albon, Antonio Giovinazzi, Lando Norris, Charles Leclerc, Nicholas Latifi and George Russell. A Pro Exhibition Race starring the full lineup of sim racers from the F1 Esports Pro Series precedes each Virtual GP. An estimated 18.9 million people watched the first four events.
When: Most recent race took place Sunday May 24.
Where: Official Formula 1 YouTube Channel (https://www.youtube.com/user/Formula1/featured), Twitch, Weibo, Facebook, and selected international TV broadcast partners.
Monaco highlights: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PzW-4bVGl40
SRO E-Sport GT Series
What is it: Assetto Corsa Competizione-based, five-round championship and grand finale. Separate classes for real-world drivers, top sim racers, and public qualifiers. Fanatec joins as Official Partner.
When: Round 4 starts May 31st, full schedule available here: https://sro-esport.com/
Where: All races broadcast globally on GT-World-Challenge.com, the GT World YouTube channel, and the SRO Motorsports Twitch and Facebook pages. Motor Trend On Demand, The Race and Motorsport.com also air coverage. More information here: https://sro-esport.com/sro-e-sport-gt-series-confirms-extensive-television-and-online-coverage-for-2020-championship/
Previous round replay: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JBAoZvnN8xU
ABB Formula E Race At Home Challenge
What is it: rFactor 2-based, nine-event fundraising partnership with UNICEF. All-electric street racing esports competition featuring all the teams and drivers from the ABB FIA Formula E Championship, as well as a selection of top sim racers.
When: Next round Saturday May 30 at 1630 CET (started April 18th, every Saturday until June 13th)
Where: https://www.fiaformulae.com/en/watch/ways-to-watch
Previous round highlights: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jw-PeObOGDE
eNASCAR iRacing Pro Invitational Series
What is it: iRacing-based exhibition series featuring a cross-section of competitors from the NASCAR Cup Series, NASCAR Xfinity Series, NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series, and a group of NASCAR dignitaries.
When: Final race took place on Saturday May 9 at 2100 CET (North Wilkesboro Speedway)
Where: Full race replays on official NASCAR Youtube channel, broadcast live on FOX Sports 1 in the US. Full schedule and race replays available here: https://www.enascar.com/iracing-pro-invitational-series/
Final round highlights: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t1dPzrW0i_c
The Race All-Star Series
What is it: rFactor 2-based, five-round campaign featuring a pro-driver competition with two-car entries from Mercedes-Benz-AMG Petronas Esports, Aston Martin, BMW, Williams Esports, Bentley, and Venturi. Pro racing drivers and sim racers compete in two separate categories, plus the Legends Trophy, starring Fernando Alonso, Sebastian Vettel, Juan Pablo Montoya, Jenson Button, and many other motorsports stars.
When: Next round Saturday May 30 at 1800 CET
Where: The Race YouTube Channel (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i8iZ48hdoEQ), ESPN in the US.
Previous round replay: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EHv0ghX26e0
‘Not the … GP’ Series
What is it: F1 2019-based alternative series to the Virtual Grand Prix with a variable format to raise money in support of UNICEF. Top drivers and other famous names including Charles Leclerc and Lando Norris.
When: Most recent race took place Saturday May 23.
Where: Veloce Esports Twitch channel: https://www.twitch.tv/Veloce_Esports
Previous round highlights: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uKbfiXqitQA
Porsche Community Legends
What is it: RaceRoom-based, open-to-all sim racing challenge. In the grand finale, the Top 5 racers of each weekly final get the chance to compete against Porsche Factory Drivers, and can win sim racing hardware from Fanatec.
When: 3rd weekly qualifying round May 3-8, 3rd weekly final: May 12, Grand Final May 18.
Where: Full information here: http://game.raceroom.com/en/championships/51, live streams available on the official Porsche Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/Porsche/featured
Previous round replay: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pWOVwLTxpTE
DTM Esports Challenge
What is it: RaceRoom-based DTM challenge - a field of 15 invited DTM Allstars (a mix of current DTM drivers, former DTM drivers, DTM Trophy drivers, Influencers/VIPs) is joined by 5 Challengers for 5 live racing events during May 2020.
When: Round 5 starts May 31, 2pm CET
Where: 'The Race' YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWCUwqTgGv8
Previous round replay: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O7TpNEVYTyU
BP Supercars All-Star Eseries
What is it: iRacing-based Supercars 10-week race series with the full line-up of real-world Supercars drivers.
When: Series started April 8, and is live from 7pm – 9pm AEST every Wednesday night. Full schedule available here: https://www.supercars.com/allstars/schedule/
Where: The action will be broadcast on Fox Sports 506, Kayo, Supercars.com, Supercars Facebook Page and Supercars Teams' Facebook Pages, and via motorsport.tv.
Previous highlights: https://motorsport.tv/program/bp-supercars-all-stars-eseries/2060
Comments
You guys are pretty awesome at Fanatec. I've been on youtube trying to find all the different events going on and just get lost in all the b.s. that's on there. Last place I expected to find this information today and yet here it is. I've just recently started using Fanatec products and have been 100% Satisfied with the Products, Service, and Extras (forum, blog) you guys have provided. 100% you guys have made my sim racing experience that much better.
Thank you for the kind words Michael!
Just wanted to add I've been really enjoying all the e-racing events emanating since the lockdown myself. I've been following pretty much all of them since the get go including getting more familiar with the majority of real world pro, legends, sim masters and content makers who many I may not have been familiar with before were it not for these events. I've also found they're so professionally produced including the running commentary hosts it makes them so much more enjoyable to watch.
I'm hoping when things get back to normal we'll see a continuation of such events and participation. The participants seem to be enjoying themselves as well racing again with some of their peers, especially the legends, who otherwise may not have gotten the opportunity they're currently enjoying.
Updated again for this weekend's events.
Hey Dom,
How about giving your customers an update on the massive pre-order delays and commenting on why the pre-order dates strategically get pushed back a week to two weeks at a time?
Please tell me that there is at least one person at Fanatec US that prioritizes their paying customers over PR events and feels that they shouldn't be treated like garbage?
The post below would be the best place for a response since that is the one with the most amount of upset and frustrated customer who feel like they have been betrayed by what is supposed to be the one of the "best" out there.
Unless if we hear something back, many of us have already filed BBB complaints, others are contemplating it. And in addition, I personally, will reach out to every positive piece of marketing and every PR channel Fanatec has form the F1 E-sports League to the i-Racing League to RaceRoom to Tim Stevens at Road Show to Barry Rowland at Sim Racing Garage to anyone else that I can find and let them know exactly how Fanatec feels about its customers.
It's a downright shame and quite appalling that this is what it has come to.
Dom,
Like many others here in the US and elsewhere, I've been trying to send a message to tech support after not being able to do so using Fanatec's support messaging page, which, lacks a "SEND" button!!! I've tried to reach support on the phone as well, but it's always busy, and I don't have the time to call repeatedly on the slim chance of getting through to speak with a live tech on the other end of line. I'm glad I didn't, considering the time and cost John and others have had to expend in their attempts to do the same...
If you do respond to John Satule above, please let us all know who to contact to arrange repairs and replacement parts (like my V3 Pedals' fried board).
Post updated again for this weekend's events.
Hi Frederick,
I was in contact with John privately several days ago. I have also sent you a PM.
Dom
[Fanatec Community Manager]
Hello!
are there any new on the DD+ release? I preOrdered and paid the full amount of 999€ at the 20th of october, since than silence. Would be cool when Fanatec would be cool to the peops who stands behind them, I mean who will thrust Fanatec in the situation we got now. I was one of them and I give Fanatec alot of thrust but it wouldnt be nice when Fanatec kick that with their feets :(
this announcement must be some kind of a joke right ?
LOTS of resources for advertising, sponsorships, every where you look in sims themselves are FANATEC ad signs!
Customers actually want the products they paid for?
Sorry, we’re mostly a sponsorship and advertising company.
Ship my order!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Or give my money back!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
😂
Could you check order 1808345? It was placed over 2 months ago, and it is still not shipping, I'm moving soon which means I will never receive it!
I can wait, but at least help me change the shipping address of this order..... NO WAY YOU GUYS CAN'T DO THAT.....
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