After the success of the Le Mans 24 Virtual, Motorsport Games have announced the Le Mans Virtual Series and in a few years, a dedicated Le Mans game to go with it!
Image credit: Porsche
Motorsport Games have just confirmed that the immensely successful Le Mans 24 Virtual will return at the start of next year as the finale of a five round championship dubbed the Le Mans Virtual Series.
This isn’t the ACO’s first dive into the world of fully sanctioned esports championships, as they attempted this with the Le Mans Esports Series which was held on Forza Motorsport 7. However with the immense success of the Le Mans 24 Virtual on rFactor 2 and the acquisition by Motorsport Games of rFactor developers Studio 397, it only made sense to move to the famed racing simulator.
The first four rounds will take place remotely but the final round will be held as an LAN event at the 2022 Autosport International show in Birmingham, UK. 38 entries across both the LMP and GTE classes will compete for a piece of a prize pool made up of $250,000! Each entry will consist of five drivers, of which will feature both real world professionals and the top esports racers.
Dedicated Le Mans game in 2023
Earlier this year, Motorsport Games also announced their intentions to create a dedicated video game for the FIA World Endurance Championship and the 24 hours of Le Mans, set for a 2023 release date to coincide with the 100th anniversary of the first ever running of Le Mans.
This will be the first dedicated Le Mans video game in over 20 years, since the 1999 game Le Mans 24 Hours which was released in America as Test Drive Le Mans.
What next for the 24 Hours of Le Mans Virtual and @LeMansEsports?
— Motorsport.com (@Motorsport) July 21, 2021
And how about a new video game based on the world’s most famous sportscar race? 🎮 #LEMANS24
Get the latest insight from @MSportgames‘ Motorsports Advisor @GerardNeveu09 👀👇https://t.co/sPc6gL27rn
This is but one in a series of big moves by Motorsport Games who are quickly deepening their involvement with the virtual racing world when it comes to both major esports competitions and developing racing games. This Le Mans game announcement came not long after they announced they were creating dedicated video games for both British Touring Cars and IndyCar.
Event Schedule and Further Details
The entry list for the Le Mans Virtual Series will be revealed in a live stream on 7 September. The official schedule for the series is as follows:
R1: 4 hours of Monza – 25 September 2021
R2: 6 hours of Spa – 16 October 2021
R3: 8 Hours of Nürburgring – 13 November 2021
R4: 6 hours of Sebring – 18 December 2021
R5: 24 hours of Le Mans Virtual – 15/16 January 2022
In the Le Mans Virtual Series announcement, ACO president Pierre Fillon had this to say:
“Following the real 24 Hours of Le Mans in August 2021, we are delighted to now launch the Le Mans Virtual Series which will include as its highlight the 24 Hours of Le Mans Virtual. The link between real-life motorsport and esports is now an essential element for our manufacturers and teams, and we all look forward to an excellent season of esports competition”
Let’s change the game again.#LeMansVirtual returns as a five round premier endurance championship, including a 24-hour finale and a $250K prize fund.
— Le Mans Virtual (@LeMansVirtual) September 1, 2021
Watch Round 1 LIVE at Monza on 25th Sept. Set a reminder now: https://t.co/sbGVIfek89 pic.twitter.com/srPH63AraI
Be sure to follow all updates for the series through @LeMansVirtual on Twitter to find out how you can watch the broadcast of what is likely to be one of the top esports racing championships. The Le Mans Virtual Series has arrived.
Will you be tuning in to the Le Mans Virtual Series? Tell us on Twitter at @OverTake_gg or in the comments below!
