Fanatec parar simracing med riktig GT3-racing

Det stod tidigare idag klar att Fanatec skrivit ny deal med folket bakom GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup för att para simulatorracing med verklig racing, på riktigt. Under årets GT3-säsong kommer förare i verklighetens GT3-cup även att tävla i en virtuell variant (i Assetto Corsa Competizione) där poäng som de tjänar i den virtuella världen kommer att tillgodogöras deras ställning i verkliga GT-serien. Banbrytande, såklart, och ett kvitto på hur mycket denna subgenre växt de senaste åren och på hur realistiskt simracing blivit på slutet.

Saxat ur den officiella pressreleasen:
"In 2020, Fanatec and SRO Motorsports Group began a hugely successful esports partnership. Now it will expand with a multi-year deal that will see Fanatec become the title sponsor of the GT World Challenge Powered by AWS as well as the new GT2 European Series. The GT Sports Club concept has evolved into the GT2 European Series which will have five rounds in the 2021 season featuring high-powered models from Porsche, Audi, KTM, and Lamborghini.

Sim Racing and Real Motorsport merges together.
Fanatec and SRO will integrate sim racing and real-life racing during all five rounds of the GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup including the Total 24 Hours of Spa. Assetto Corsa Competizione, the official video game of Fanatec GT World Challenge Powered by AWS, will be used to host esports contests at each event where both Pro and Silver teams nominate one actual race driver to participate in a virtual race which awards championship points. This groundbreaking concept will see sim racing directly influence the outcome of a real-world championship, a first in global motorsport, and sets the benchmark for other series to follow. The official rules and regulations will be announced at a later date.

Fanatec CEO, Thomas Jackermeier:
"This is truly a groundbreaking milestone for motorsport as well as for esports. Never before have we seen an athlete compete in both virtual and real life for championship points. This increases the importance of sim racers for race teams and in future you will rarely see a race driver who is not training in a simulator at home. I hope other racing series will follow as this is a great way to reach a young audience and allows online-races at any time of the year at minimum cost. A great and entertaining addition to the loud and exciting track racing we all love."

Stephane Ratel, SRO Motorsports Group founder and CEO:
"We are proud to be at the forefront of another revolutionary moment as the first championship to merge virtual and real racing. It is clear that GT racing is immensely popular within the esports community, which speaks to its potential globally. As a leader in its field of expertise, Fanatec can play a crucial role in the project."