The TORA British GT eSports Championship will once again visit seven different venues in 2019 after series organisers, The Online Racing Association, revealed the calendar live on Radio Le Mans this evening (December 20).
Now in its fifth season, British GT’s only official eSports series allows anyone around the world with Forza Motorsport 7, an XBox One or PC and internet connection to compete in a wide variety of GT3 and GT4 cars, including new models due to be introduced next season.
Turn 10 Studios’ cross-play feature, which allows PC users to compete against their console counterparts, contributed towards more than 250 drivers entering British GT eSports races throughout 2018, while real-world teams also threw their official weight behind several virtual contenders.
TORA’s calendar is intended to mirror that of British GT’s. But with all real-world tracks not currently available in the sim, several circuits with similar characteristics have been chosen as suitable substitutes.
Thus 2019 begins at the legendary Watkins Glen, a venue that appears very similar to Oulton Park which hosts British GT’s opening round one week later. Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya is next up in place of Snetterton before Silverstone mirrors its real-world event.
The Nurburgring, a circuit British GT visited in 2012, is up next ahead of a trip to everyone’s favourite: Spa-Francorchamps. Brands Hatch then takes place three weeks after the real-world championship’s penultimate round at the same track before Mugello closes out the campaign one week before British GT’s Donington decider.
Aligning the eSports championship with British GT has resulted in a high level of authenticity implemented across the series. Spaces are reserved on all liveries for real-world championship partner decals, windscreen banners and number panels, which ensures the virtual grid represents British GT even more accurately.
TORA President Matt Hunter: “I’m really proud to be partnering with British GT for a fifth consecutive season and to continue bringing their official eSports championship to the sim racing community. 2018 produced the series’ largest-ever entry with over 250 drivers. Ultimately the FTR team dominated with their fleet of Porsches but, with driver changes and new cars becoming available, the 2019 season is already looking to be the most competitive yet.
“We also saw an unprecedented number of real British GT teams engage with their virtual counterparts and hope to see even more follow in the footsteps of Barwell, Team Parker Racing, Century Motorsport, Beechdean AMR, Cyber Racing and Invictus Games Racing in 2019.”
For more information please visit http://forums.theonlineracingassociation.com/. Entries will open in early January.
2019 TORA British GT eSports Championship
Round 1: Watkins Glen International – April 14
Round 2: Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya – April 28
Round 3: Silverstone GP – May 12
Round 4: Nurburgring GP – June 20
Round 5: Spa-Francorchamps – July 28
Round 6: Brands Hatch GP – August 25
Round 7: Mugello – September 8