The motorsport “Formula E” is set to become virtual in the form of a rFactor2-based esports competition.
“Formula E: Accelerate” will feature 24 esports racers in a head-to-head battle to win a share of a €100,000 prize pool. Participants will also get the chance to get behind the wheel of a Gen2 car. Formula E previously delved into going virtual with its “Race at Home Challenge”, which was held due to the sport’s suspension caused by COVID-19.
Here’s an official description of the esports competition:
“Formula E: Accelerate is a six-race competition that kicks off at the end of January and concludes in March at the Grand Final with double points on offer for the sim racing stars. The virtual races will take place at inch-perfect digital recreations of tracks from real world locations like Berlin’s Tempelhof Airport, Hong Kong Harbourfront and Red Hook City in New York City, among others.
“Live on Thursdays from 19:00 UTC, each 25-minute Formula E: Accelerate race will be broadcast in a 90-minute programme, featuring Formula E drivers, Team Principals and other special guests.”
Running from 28th January till 25th March, the competition will consist of six events, which can be viewed either through the official website or via the ABB Formula E YouTube channel.
Formula E: Accelerate will be presented by Jack Nicholls, the lead commentator for Formula E and Derin Adetosoye, a broadcast journalism student who has previously co-hosted BBC Bitesize. Derin was selected after winning Formula E’s “Open Talent Call for Presenters”.
Formula E: Accelerate is a prime example of the growing popularity of esports, with the scene seemingly now reaching to every corner of the world of sports. Esports might be virtual, but the achievements of those involved in this rapidly-growing industry are very real.
The first round of the competition kicks off at 8pm BST on January 28th and can be streamed live via YouTube, Twitch and Facebook.
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