+ Assetto Corsa Competizione - Pro-Am driver format - real-world calendar
+ Register: Simracing.gp
+ More info: Motorsport UK Esports
A new officially sanctioned sim racing series, the British GT Esports Cup, signals the Intelligent Money British GT Championship’s return to virtual motorsport in 2024.
A partnership between the series’ real-world organiser, SRO Motorsports Group, and Britain’s governing body, Motorsport UK, plus Simracing.GP will allow gamers of all abilities to compete for a nationally recognised esports title on Assetto Corsa Competizione (ACC) this February and March.
Not since 2021 has British GT been officially represented in the virtual arena, while this year’s championship is also the first to be officially backed by Motorsport UK.
At British GT Esports Cup’s heart are several important elements that echo its real-world counterpart.
First and foremost is the Pro-Am driver format based on Simracing.GP’s proprietary ranking system. Each driver must have completed at least five races on ACC with SGP to ensure they have an accurate rank. As many as 40 full-season GT3 entries, each comprising a Pro and Am driver, will be accepted.
2024’s calendar also closely resembles the real thing thanks to a mix of one, two and three-hour races at Oulton, Silverstone, Donington, Spa-Francorchamps, Snetterton and Brands Hatch. Six events comprising eight races will take place from early February until mid-March.
Assetto Corsa Competizione – the official game of another SRO series, Fanatec GT World Challenge – is also highly regarded within the sim racing community. And the likes of Snetterton, Donington and Oulton all owe their places in ACC to the British GT DLC released in early 2021.
Prizes are available, too. In collaboration with British GT, Motorsport UK Esports are pleased to offer:
+ 1st Place Team - x4 Hospitality tickets (x2 tickets per driver) to a 2024 British GT Round of their choice PLUS x4 Grid Walk passes
+ 2nd Place Team - x4 Hospitality tickets (x2 tickets per driver) to a 2024 British GT Round of their choice
+ 3rd Place Team - x4 General Admission tickets (x2 tickets per driver) to a 2024 British GT Round of their choice
In addition, Next Level Racing have provided a HF8 Haptic Cushion which will be awarded to a driver selected at random out of drivers who have competed in all six rounds of the championship.
Adam Eley, SGP Head of Sales and Marketing: “It’s thrilling to be able to provide the first Motorsport UK racing on ACC, and what better way to do it than partnering with the iconic British GT Championship.
“For SGP it is always important that we continue to provide opportunities for drivers of all abilities, which is why the Pro-Am format is just so exciting.”
Paul Crawford, Motorsport UK Esports Manager: “It feels great to finally announce our first championship on the ACC platform. The fact that this is in collaboration with such a prestigious championship in British GT makes it all the more worth the wait.
“This championship comes as an excellent addition to our Motorsport UK Esports membership allowing all members to compete in the championship at no additional cost.”
Lauren Granville, Intelligent Money British GT Championship Manager: “In 2015 British GT became the first SRO series to stage an officially sanctioned esports championship. Now, after a two-year hiatus, I’m delighted to see it return with a new format and under new management on the Assetto Corsa Competizione platform.
“Motorsport UK already organises several national sim series, while the Simracing.GP team is one of the best in the business. The new format will also allow gamers of all abilities to compete – a significant change from British GT’s last esports championship in 2021 and the wider current SRO Esports environment.”
British GT Esports Cup FAQ:
+ Registration: Open now until 17:00 January 31
+ Software: Assetto Corsa Competizione (PC only)
+ Classes: GT3
+ Driver pairings: 1x Pro and 1x Am based on SGP’s ranking system
+ Eligibility: Motorsport UK Esports membership and at least five ranked ACC races with SGP
British GT Esports Cup calendar
February 3 – Oulton Park – 2x 1-hour
February 10 – Silverstone 500 – 1x 3-hour
February 17 – Donington Park – 1x 2-hour
March 2 – Spa-Francorchamps – 1x 2-hour
March 9 – Snetterton 300 – 2x 1-hour
March 16 – Brands Hatch GP – 1x 2-hour
About Simracing.GP
SGP is a dedicated sim racing platform that aims to make your sim racing life easier.
If you are a driver, finding races has never been easier. If you want to organise races for others but have always been put off by setting up servers and messing around with forms and spreadsheets then SGP is there to remove all the pain points.