Category: pr

• European campaign kicks off with back-to-back contests on Friday and Saturday
• 60-minute Sprint Series outing followed by three-hour Endurance race  
• Strong entry lists for both formats as Europe’s leading sim drivers and teams chase victory

The 2021 GT World Challenge Europe Esports Championship will begin with a bang this week when both the Sprint and Endurance Series tackle their season-opening events at Monza (21/22 May). 

The iconic Italian circuit will provide the stage for a one-hour Sprint race featuring single-driver entries on Friday evening, followed by a three-hour Endurance contest for multi-driver teams on Saturday afternoon. As ever competitors will do battle using Assetto Corsa Competizione, the official game of Fanatec GT World Challenge Powered by AWS.

They will test themselves on the sweeping high-speed curves and technical chicanes of Monza, a track that rewards bravery and punishes mistakes in equal measure. The same venue staged last month’s inaugural Fanatec Esports GT Pro Series contest, launching the groundbreaking virtual series in which professional drivers compete for real-world points. 

Now the Temple of Speed is set to play host to the very first GT World Challenge Europe Esports events, kicking off a packed season of action for the continental championship.

Sprint Series impossible to predict as 46 car prepare to do battle

The Sprint Series opener will begin a sequence of 10 races, each lasting 60 minutes and featuring a mandatory pit stop. The entry list for Friday’s contest was decided by a hot lap qualifying process in which hopefuls were able to try their hand in any of the 11 GT3 models available in Assetto Corsa Competizione, with the fastest four drivers on each manufacturer leaderboard earning their spot. 

This fiercely contested battle included many of the continent’s top sim racers. Ferrari esports driver David Tonizza secured his place aboard a 488 GT3 by topping the Italian marque’s rankings, while BMW representative Arthur Kammerer was equally impressive at the wheel of an M6 GT3. There was remarkable parity among the Lamborghini contingent, with just 0.045s separating a top-four led by Polish ace Dominik Blajer, while Aenore Rose and Davide Chiesa posted identical fastest times in the Honda NSX GT3.

One-lap specialist Amir Hosseini guaranteed his involvement by recording the best effort in a McLaren, while the field will be further bolstered by leading sim racers James Baldwin (McLaren) and Nils Naujoks (BMW), who secured their participation by conquering the British GT Esports Championship’s GT3 and GT4 classes. 

These names represent just a handful of the 46 drivers who will chase glory in Friday evening’s race. The top-10 finishers will register points towards the Sprint Series standings, while the top-five will have the added incentive of a guaranteed place on the grid for round 2. Live streaming will begin on the SRO YouTube and Twitch channels at 21:00 CEST, with the competitive action set to get underway at 21:10. 

Leading esports and real-world teams form ultra-competitive Endurance entry

While the Sprint Series caters for individual sim racers, Endurance events will see teams of up to four drivers competing for victory. The opening three-hour contest will feature a hugely competitive 34-car grid, with all 11 GT3 marques represented by at least one entry. 

There are some serious players involved. FDA Esports Team and Jean Alesi Esports Academy will both chase victory using Ferrari equipment, while BMW will be represented by the leading G2 Esports outfit. Williams Esports will run with an Aston Martin, while HPD JAS Pro Europe will tackle the Monza event with a pair of Honda NSX GT3s. 

A number of real-world squads have also committed to the virtual series, including AKKA ASP by GTWR (Mercedes-AMG), Team Rocket RJN (McLaren), Haupt Racing Team (Mercedes-AMG) and Saintéloc by R8G (Audi), the latter competing in partnership with international star Romain Grosjean. What’s more, McLaren factory ace Ben Barnicoat will compete for the JOTA squad, just as he does in Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe Powered by AWS. 

Barnicoat will not be the only real-world driver competing for Endurance Series victory: British GT racers Michael O’Brien, Angus Fender and the multi-talented James Baldwin also feature on the Monza entry list. They will go up against the best in the sim racing business in a three-hour contest at the Temple of Speed.

Live streaming of Saturday will begin at 17:00 CEST, allowing for 10 minutes of build-up before the race goes green at 17:10. It will be the first of five Endurance Series events staged under the GT World Challenge Europe Esports banner, highlighted by the Total 24 Hours of Spa on 7-8 August.

The European campaign will be the second of three continental GT World Challenge Esports Championships to launch following Thursday’s opening Asian contest (20 May), while the American season kicks off on Saturday (22 May). Each is organised by SRO Motorsports Group in partnership with Fanatec, Kunos Simulazioni, AK Informatica, Pirelli and The Sim Grid.

ENTRY LISTS

Monza Sprint Series

Monza Endurance Series

SRO MOTORSPORTS GROUP’S OTHER ESPORTS ACTIVITIES

GT World Challenge’s tri-continental sim racing programme complements the Fanatec Esports GT Pro Series, a five-event championship for professional racing drivers that awards real-world points. This and the British GT Esports Championship, which concluded in April, uses the acclaimed Assetto Corsa Competizione software developed by Kunos Simulazioni, which sets the standard in driving realism with its highly authentic physics, stunning graphics and photo-realistic weather conditions.

2021 GT WORLD CHALLENGE EUROPE ESPORTS CHAMPIONSHIP CALENDAR

21 May – Monza – Sprint (21:00 CEST)
22 May – Monza 3 Hours – Endurance (17:00 CEST)
5 June – Circuit Paul Ricard 6 Hours – Endurance
11 June – Circuit Paul Ricard – Sprint
25 June – Hungaroring – Sprint
9 July – Brands Hatch – Sprint
23 July – Zandvoort – Sprint
7 August – Spa 24 Hours – Endurance
13 August – Spa-Francorchamps – Sprint
10 September – Misano – Sprint
11 September – Nürburgring 6 Hours – Endurance
24 September – Nürburgring – Sprint
15 October – Imola – Sprint
16 October – Barcelona 3 Hours – Endurance
29 October – Barcelona – Sprint

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• New series to test leading sim drivers and teams using Assetto Corsa Competizione
• Minimum €50,000 prize money guaranteed across three continents

Registration is now open for the new GT World Challenge Esports Championships in Europe, Asia and America, with all three set to stage their maiden races this month. 

Utilising the highly authentic physics and unmatched driving realism of Assetto Corsa Competizione from Kunos Simulazioni, each continental championship will comprise a Sprint Series for individual sim drivers and an Endurance Series catering for leading esports teams. A minimum of €50,000 prize money is guaranteed across the three continents and competitors hoping to stake their claim can register now at SRO-esports.com.

Entry to Sprint Series events will be determined by hot lap qualifying sessions. Up to 44 single-driver cars can compete in each one-hour race and registration will remain open for the duration of the championships. The full-season Endurance Series grids will be determined by single hot lap qualifying sessions dedicated to each continent, with 44 cars able to make the cut. Teams wishing to compete in Europe must register by 16 May, while in Asia and America the cut-off date is 11 July. 

The European campaign will launch at Monza, with the iconic Temple of Speed hosting a one-hour Sprint race on 21 May and a three-hour Endurance contest on 22 May. Hot lap qualifying for both events will run from 10-16 May and, with significant prize money up for grabs, the competition promises to be fierce.

Asia will launch its GT World Challenge Esports season with a Sprint Series race at Brands Hatch on 20 May, while its opening Endurance event will be a six-hour run at Bathurst on 17 July. Qualifying for the Sprint round will be open from 10-16 May, while the Mount Panorama hot lap session runs from 5-11 July. 

The American championship gets underway with a Sprint Series event at Kyalami (22 May) and a six-hour Endurance race at legendary Californian venue Laguna Seca (17 July). Sprint qualifying will be open from 10-16 May, while Endurance teams can stake their claim for a place on the grid from 5-11 July. 

The GT World Challenge Esports Championship is the latest virtual racing initiative organised by SRO Motorsports Group in collaboration with Fanatec, Kunos Simulazioni and AK Informatica, with additional support provided by The Sim Grid. Each event will be streamed live across YouTube, Twitch and Facebook, with an expert broadcast team guiding fans through the action.

> Five-round virtual series staged on Assetto Corsa Competizione for the first time

> Multi-class format combines sim racing qualifiers with real-world teams and drivers

> GT4 champion wins Fanatec prize bundle and real-world Intelligent Money British GT experience

> 60-minute races streamed live on Sunday evenings

> Pre-register now at britishgt.com/esports 

 

The British GT Esports Championship enters a new era this spring when SRO Motorsports Group and its technical partner, AK Informatica, stage Season Seven on Assetto Corsa Competizione for the first time.

Following six successful years under The Online Racing Association’s stewardship, the Intelligent Money British GT Championship’s official virtual series moves in-house to become part of SRO’s burgeoning esports portfolio. ACC’s recent update also ensures that British GT’s sim calendar can feature all five of its regular UK circuits for the first time, as well as the majority of GT3 and GT4 machinery that populate its real-world grid.

Season Seven also introduces a new esports championship format that brings together the stars of real and virtual GT racing, as well as the general public.

GT3 will feature 20 drivers and teams with real-world GT experience, while the GT4 class – which shares the same grid as GT3 – is reserved for 20 sim racers who qualify via a hot lap competition prior to round one. As well as scoring points, GT4’s top-10 finishers earn automatic entries for the following event, while the remaining spaces are determined by subsequent hot lap qualifying staged within a four-day period prior to each round. 

Both class champions will earn automatic GT World Challenge Europe Esports entries, while the GT4 title winner also nets a real-world Intelligent Money British GT VIP experience at a round of their choice (subject to UK government coronavirus restrictions). But that’s not all: the latter also receives an incredible Fanatec sim racing bundle featuring a Clubsport Steering Wheel Formula V2, Clubsport Pedals V3 and Podium Wheel Base DD1 – a total prize fund worth approximately €2,000.

The five one-hour races – all of which feature a mandatory pitstop without driver change – take place on Sunday evenings within a six-week period this March and April. As is tradition, the campaign begins at Oulton Park before visiting Snetterton, Brands Hatch and Silverstone ahead of the British GT Esports Championship’s very own #DoningtonDecider on April 25.

Fans needn’t miss a moment of any round thanks to TV-quality livestreaming and commentary on SRO’s Youtube and Twitch channels, as well as British GT’s Facebook page.

Like its counterparts in Europe, Asia and America, British GT’s esports series will be staged on Assetto Corsa Competizione’s PC software under the renowned supervision of AK Informatica who provide first-class technical assistance, championship management and BoP services across SRO’s virtual portfolio.

Sim racers wishing to contest the GT4 class can pre-register now before Oulton Park’s public hot lap competition begins on March 15. Championship organisers have already contacted real-world British GT teams to discuss their GT3 entries and drivers.

 

2021 BRITISH GT ESPORTS CHAMPIONSHIP CALENDAR

March 21 – Oulton Park (Hot lap qualifying: March 15-18)

March 28 – Snetterton (Hot lap qualifying: March 22-25)

April 4 – Brands Hatch (Hot lap qualifying: March 29 – April 1)

April 11 – Silverstone (Hot lap qualifying: April 5-8)

April 25 – Donington Park (Hot lap qualifying: April 19-22)

• McLaren driver uses canny strategy to ensure crucial track position
• Sicilia second following strong recovery, Dietrich takes third after Statsenko spin
• Perez Companc stretches fuel mileage, finishes as best Pro Series driver

Nils Naujoks combined strategy with speed to secure a masterful victory in the SRO E-Sport GT Series grand finale at Suzuka. The McLaren driver ended Sunday night’s two-hour Assetto Corsa Competizione race in complete control, winning by a little over six second and earning the overall title for 2020. 

The deciding race followed a five-round series, organised in collaboration between the SRO E-Sport GT Series, Kunos Simulazioni and Ak Informatica. Mikhail Statsenko (Audi) started from pole and led the first hour, fending off significant pressure from Amir Hosseini (Mercedes-AMG) and then Enzo Bonito (Ferrari). The Audi pilot qualified for the finale via the Am Series and produced expert defensive tactics to retain his place at the head of a highly competitive field.

There were a number of incidents in the chasing pack. The most notable came after 20 minutes when a collision at the final chicane earned Hosseini a 10-second stop-go penalty and dropped Silver Series champion Jesus Sicilia (Aston Martin) down the order. Though he was able to continue, the Spanish driver appeared to be out of running for a top-three finish.

The mid-race pit stops introduced fresh drama as strategy began to come into play. Chris Hoeke (Porsche) appeared to have snatched the advantage when he exited the pits ahead of Statsenko, only for the German driver to be hit with a penalty for violating track limits. Statsenko still wasn’t clear of trouble, however, as Naujoks went deeper than most into the first stint. The German had run sixth for most of the opening hour, but produced excellent mid-race speed to give himself a shot at glory.   

It worked perfectly. Naujoks emerged just ahead of Statsenko, earning crucial track position over the Audi driver. With 50 minutes left on the clock, the McLaren ace set about building a cushion at the head of the field. Statsenko, meanwhile, had problems emerging in his mirrors as the fast-recovering Sicilia loomed large. This was to prove vital to Naujoks, as his closest challenger was left to focus on defence rather than attack. The McLaren eased away throughout the second stint, eventually winning by 6.165 seconds. 

Second went to Sicilia, who forced his way past Statsenko around the outside of the final chicane with just six minutes left on the clock. Statsenko subsequently spun at 130R, allowing Jan-Marcel Dietrich (Porsche) to move into the final podium position. Giorgio Simonini (Audi) and Bonito (Ferrari) completed the top-five, followed by long-time leader Statsenko.

Ezequiel Perez Companc (Mercedes-AMG) finished as the top Pro Series driver. The Argentine ran remarkably long into the opening stint, allowing him to lead overall for several laps. Perez Companc could then push until the finish and was ultimately classified 14th, three spots clear of fellow Pro Series driver Andy Soucek (Bentley). 

For race winner Naujoks, Sunday night’s contest was an example of hitting top form at the ideal moment. Though hotly tipped for glory, he could only manage a best result of third during the Silver Series championship and finished seventh in the standings. But, in the all-important Suzuka showdown, the McLaren man was unstoppable.

• Pro, Silver and Am Series drivers to battle for glory at iconic Japanese circuit
• Two-hour contest scheduled for 21:00 CET start on Sunday 2 August

The stars of the 2020 SRO E-Sport GT Series will go wheel-to-wheel this weekend (2 August) in a winner-takes-all Assetto Corsa Competizione contest at Suzuka.

The race will crown the virtual competition’s overall champion, with a 33-car entry list featuring top-performers from the Pro, Silver and Am Series bidding for glory. It follows a five-round series, organised in collaboration between the SRO E-Sport GT Series, Kunos Simulazioni and Ak Informatica, that ran with great success between April and June. 

Getting underway at 21:00 CET on Sunday 2 August, the deciding battle will take place at Suzuka, a 5.8km figure-eight circuit that is widely considered to be among the most challenging in global motorsport. While the races at Silverstone, Spa-Francorchamps, Nurburgring, Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya and Kyalami each lasted for one hour, the finale will undergo a format change, with a two-hour duration and mandatory pit stop adding further excitement to proceedings. 

The hot favourites can be found among the Silver Series entrants, all of whom are expert Assetto Corsa Competizione racers. Much will be expected of Jesús Sicilia, who was crowned champion after steering his Aston Martin to Silver Series wins at the Nurburgring and Kyalami. McLaren drivers Patrick Selva and Arthur Kammerer are both proven front-runners, while Andrea Capoccia (Audi), David Tonizza (Ferrari) and Kamil Franczak (Lamborghini) must also be considered strong contenders to secure the overall title.

Among the Pro drivers hoping to beat them on Sunday, Kyalami winner Luigi di Lorenzo should be one to watch in his Aston Martin. The Italian closed the Pro Series in fine style by winning at Kyalami and was a podium contender throughout the season. David Perel will also look to uphold the honour of real-world competitors, with the devoted sim racer once again competing at the wheel of a Ferrari 488 GT3. 

Andy Soucek had relatively little experience of gaming before contesting the championship, but quickly adapted to the challenge and scored a number of strong results. He will tackle the event at the wheel of a Bentley, as will 2018 Total 24 Hours of Spa Silver Cup winner Romain Monti. The striking livery of Madpanda Motorsport will also be on the grid, with driver and team principal Ezequiel Perez Companc campaigning his Mercedes-AMG GT3.  

Having qualified for the championship via a public hot lap competition, the top Am Series drivers will now have the chance to make a bid for overall glory. Samir Ibraimi clinched the title despite not taking a race win, with consistent podium finishes giving the Porsche driver top spot. The likes of Florian Hasse (Audi), Paolo Muia (McLaren) and Mikhail Statsenko (Audi) will also hope to master Suzuka and triumph in Sunday’s race. 

Following a pair of free practice sessions and qualifying, the deciding race is set to go green at 21.00 CET. It will air across a variety of online platforms, including the GT World Challenge Powered by AWS website, the GT World YouTube account, and the SRO Motorsports Twitch and Facebook pages. 

By tackling five rounds and now a deciding finale, each driver has invested considerable time and effort in the virtual contest. Indeed, the top-three finishers in Sunday’s race will receive a trophy to recognise their achievement. It promises to be the most competitive SRO E-Sport GT Series event yet as 33 contenders battle to be crowned overall champion for 2020.

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Entry list

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• Deletraz earns Pro championship for Porsche after measured run to third at Kyalami
• Sicilia takes Silver win and snatches dramatic title triumph for Aston Martin
• British brand sweeps Kyalami event as Di Lorenzo captures Pro victory

  The SRO E-Sport GT Series was decided in dramatic fashion today, with a pair of tense Assetto Corsa Competizione races at Kyalami bringing the curtain down on the five-round championship.

  Louis Deletraz captured the Pro Series title by finishing third in the season-ending contest, concluding a hugely impressive campaign by the Porsche youngster. His championship success looked secure for much of the race, though a fierce battle for victory saw Luigi Di Lorenzo (Aston Martin) narrowly defeat Jordan Pepper (Bentley) to complete a run of five winning brands in as many races. 

  In the Silver Series, Jesus Sicilia (Aston Martin) snatched the title in dramatic fashion. Starting the day fifth in the standings, he took victory on the road to seal the championship, edging title rival Kamil Franczak (Lamborghini) to claim the crown. 

  Both races simulated a 5am start, the Pro contest beginning in ideal conditions with the morning sun rising over Kyalami. Deletraz entered the decider with a nine-point championship lead and, having qualified on pole, was in the perfect position to complete the job.

  The Porsche man initially held his advantage, but was quickly passed by a determined Di Lorenzo. Deletraz was also overtaken by impressive wildcard competitor Angus Fender, only for the McLaren to spin after what appeared to be contact with the Porsche. For a moment the Swiss driver’s title looked to be in jeopardy, but no penalty was issued. Deletraz was nevertheless relegated to third when Jordan Pepper made his way past, the South African enjoying his best run since winning the Silverstone opener. 

  Deletraz still had the championship under control at this stage, but with his rival Ben Barnicoat (McLaren) surging from 16th on the grid to run fifth at the end of the opening lap he could not afford to make any mistakes. Meanwhile, the main action was taking place out front. Di Lorenzo initially pulled a healthy gap, but Pepper put his Kyalami knowledge to work and began to reel the Aston Martin in. 

  Their battle came to a head shortly after the 40-minute mark, when Pepper got a run on Di Lorenzo and launched up the inside entering The Crocodiles. Door-to-door contact followed, with Pepper coming off worse as his Bentley rotated 90 degrees and briefly came to a halt. He was able to continue and maintained second spot, though Di Lorenzo had disappeared up the road. 

  But their battle did not end there. Over the following 20 minutes Pepper wiped out a five-second advantage and was on Di Lorenzo’s tail yet again by the closing laps. The Aston Man held firm, however, crossing the line to secure his maiden series victory by just half a second.

  The gap to third was 17 seconds, but that did not matter to Louis Deletraz as he wrapped up the Pro Series title. A run of three successive podiums, and points finishes at all five rounds, make the Porsche man a very worthy champion, with Barnicoat shadowing him in both today’s race and the final standings. 

  Michael O’Brian (McLaren) completed the top-five, followed by Scott Malvern (Bentley) and a pair of McLarens driven by Ben Tusting and Fabrizio Crestani. David Fumanelli was the top Ferrari in ninth, while erstwhile title contender Lorenzo Marcucci finished 10th in his Audi.

  

  While the Pro race was bathed in morning sunshine, the Silver Series hopefuls faced a dawn downpour for their decider. Seven drivers remained in contention for the championship, and with points leader Patrick Selva starting from 31st on the grid and second-place man Arthur Kammerer 35th, there was everything to play for over the final hour of competition. 

  At the front poleman Franczak knew that a win could net him the big prize, but his chances took a knock when he made contact with Jack Keithley (Bentley) at the start. This allowed Sicilia to jump from fourth into the lead, swinging the championship advantage towards the Aston Martin driver.

  Sicilia had already shown his wet weather prowess by earning a superb win at a drenched Nürburgring, but he faced a very worthy opponent in Franczak. Competing in the colours of FFF Racing, the Lamborghini driver quickly moved into second spot and set about reducing the six-second gap that Sicilia had built early on. 

  The race developed into a game of cat and mouse, with Franczak closing to within a few tenths only for Sicilia to retaliate and pull away once more. Meanwhile, the other title hopefuls fell by the wayside. The McLaren trio of Selva, Kammerer and Nils Naujoks struggled with significant success ballast, while David Tonizza (Ferrari) was hit with a drive-through and Andrea Capoccia (Audi) could not progress beyond ninth. 

  This meant that the battle for the race win would decide the destination of the championship. Franczak threw everything at Sicilia, but he could not break out of the Aston Martin’s spray. A superb win for the Spanish ace ensured that he took the title, becoming the only driver in either series to win multiple races.

  A mark of the leading duo’s performance was that third-placed Chris Hoeke (Bentley) was more than 20 seconds adrift at the finish. Giorgio Simonini (Audi) and Alexandre Vromant (Lexus) completed the top-five, the latter scoring his first points of the season. The same was truth of Tariq Gamil (Bentley), who beat Jan-Marcel Dietrich (Porsche) to sixth spot. Amir Hosseini (Mercedes-AMG) was eighth, while Capoccia and Keithley completed the top-10.

  While the titles have been decided, a grand finale race will give the star performers from each class another chance to demonstrate their Assetto Corsa Competizione skills. This winner-takes-all contest will feature the top-20 from both the Pro and Silver standings, as well as the 10 best Am Series competitors, with a date and location to be announced ahead of the event.

  Deletraz and Sicilia will be among the hot favourites to challenge for victory in this all-star contest. Having emerged on top from a close-fought series of races against ultra-competitive opponents, each driver has earned their title of 2020 SRO E-Sport GT champion.

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  Race results and standings

   

  Pro Series

  Final race results

  Final standings

   

  Silver Series

  Final race results

  Final standings

   

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• Kyalami to host Pro and Silver Series deciders on Sunday afternoon
• Am Series decider to run on Saturday evening at Bathurst
• Jimmy Broadbent joins Silver field as wildcard entrant

Assetto Corsa Competizione takes centre stage this weekend when a trio of one-hour races will bring the curtain down on the 2020 SRO E-Sport GT Series.

Champions will be crowned in both the Pro and Silver Series on Sunday afternoon, with each staging its deciding contest at the Kyalami Grand Prix circuit, while the Am Series reaches its climax on Saturday evening at Bathurst. Kyalami won the right to host the Pro and Silver finales by topping an extensive social media poll, beating stiff opposition from Bathurst, Suzuka and Laguna Seca. The Am venue was selected by a public vote on the RaceDepartment forum, with the legendary Australian track dominating the tally.

With the venues chosen, the stage is set for this weekend’s action. Four drivers representing three different brands are in contention for the Pro Series title, with Louis Deletraz (Porsche) holding the advantage after securing a fine victory last time out at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. Having scored in all four races, the Swiss ace sits on top of the table with 59 points. 

This gives Deletraz a 10-point cushion, though his Barcelona triumph will mean he carries additional success ballast this weekend. His closest challenger is Lorenzo Marcucci (Audi), who secured victory at Spa and chased Deletraz home at Barcelona.  

Nürburgring winner Ben Barnicoat is next on 43 points and, unlike his chief rivals, the McLaren man will race without ballast. Ivan Pareras is the final title protagonists, though with 36 points on the board and 25 to score at Kyalami the Audi ace will need to win and hope that his rivals hit problems at the South African track.

This quartet lead a highly competitive grid that features nine different brands. McLaren will be the best-represented, with seven drivers – including wildcard Angus Fender – choosing the 720S GT3. Ferrari and Bentley will each count on six competitors, while Aston Martin, Lamborghini and BMW will also be out in force. The Mercedes-AMG line-up is bolstered by Alex Fontana, who will carry the colours of his GT World Challenge Asia Powered by AWS squad Zun Motorsport Crew.

The Silver Series title battle is even closer. McLaren racer Patrick Selva leads the way following his victory at the Silverstone opener and a runner-up finish last time out at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. He is closely followed by fellow 720S pilot Arthur Kammerer, who won at the Spanish track and trails Selva by just two points.

But the McLaren contingent will face a significant weight penalty at Kyalami, with Nils Naujoks having completed a podium sweep for the brand at the Barcelona event. As such, David Tonizza (Ferrari) and Audi racer Andrea Capoccia are both firmly in the hunt on 31 and 32 points respectively. Jesus Sicilia (Aston Martin), Naujoks and Kamil Franczak (Lamborghini) also remain mathematically in contention, though the latter pair will require a win to stand any chance of clinching the crown. 

The Silver grid will feature special guest for its concluding contest, with YouTuber and sim racing aficionado Jimmy Broadbent tackling Kyalami at the wheel of a BMW M6 GT3. A total of 10 brands will be represented, with a quartet of Lexus drivers adding the Japanese marque to the field. 

Coverage of the Pro and Silver Series races begins at 13:45 CET on Sunday and will air on TV and across a variety of online platforms, including the GT World Challenge Powered by AWS website, the GT World YouTube account, and the SRO Motorsports Twitch and Facebook pages.  

The Am Series will also conclude this weekend by tackling Bathurst’s Mount Panorama track on Saturday evening, when no fewer than eight drivers will have a chance to snatch the title. Samir Ibraimi (Porsche) leads the way, but both Michele Nerbi (Porsche) and Florian Hasse (Audi) are within seven points of the leader heading into the decider, which will go live on the RaceDepartment Twitch channel at 21:00 CET. 

In addition to the silverware on offer this weekend, drivers will also be competing for a place in the SRO E-Sport GT Series grand finale. This will feature the top-20 Pro and Silver Series competitors, as well as the 10 best Am racers, with a date and location to be announced ahead of the event.

For now, however, all focus is on upcoming action. With multiple title contenders in each class, the competition is closer than ever as drivers launch their final push for glory. A thrilling weekend of sim racing is in store as the SRO E-Sport GT Series heads into its deciding battle.

With multiple title contenders in each class, the competition is closer than ever as drivers launch their final push for glory. A thrilling weekend of sim racing action is in store as the SRO E-Sport GT Series heads into its deciding battle. 

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Entry lists

Pro Series

Silver Series

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Live Coverage Schedule #SROEsports Kyalami – Sunday 21 June

13:45CET on air

14:00CET Pro Series race

15:15CET Silver Series race

16:30CET off air

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The fans have spoken. Following a hotly contested social media poll that saw thousands of votes cast, Kyalami has won the right to stage the next SRO E-Sport GT Series event, which takes place on Sunday 21 June.

Both the Pro and Silver Series will contest their championship-deciding Assetto Corsa Competizione races at the 4.5km South African venue, which beat fierce competition from Bathurst, Suzuka and Laguna Seca to top the public poll. Kyalmai will follow in the footsteps of Silverstone, Spa, the Nurburgring and Barcelona, with each having hosted an SRO E-Sport round since the virtual series launched in April. 

First opened in the early sixties, Kyalami returned to the international calendar last year when it successfully hosted the Intercontinental GT Challenge Powered by Pirelli season decider. It also enjoys considerable racing heritage, staging 23 world championship South African Grands Prix among other major meetings. The track became available to Assetto Corsa Competizione players in February 2020 through the Intercontinental GT Pack and has proven immensely popular with sim racers. 

Both the Pro and Silver Series championships are finely poised ahead of the closing contest. Porsche’s Louis Deletraz tops the Pro class following his victory at Barcelona, while Patrick Selva is just two points clear of fellow McLaren driver Arthur Kammerer in the Silver standings. Coverage begins at 13:45 CET on 21 June and will air on TV and across a variety of online platforms, including the GT World Challenge Powered by AWS website, the GT World YouTube account, and the SRO Motorsports Twitch and Facebook pages. 

• Louis Deletraz gives Porsche maiden win in Pro Series race
• Arthur Kammerer leads McLaren top-four sweep in Silver Series
• Voting set to open for location of next event

  The SRO E-Sport GT Series delivered another double dose of sim racing action at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, with Porsche ace Louis Deletraz (Pro) and McLaren’s Arthur Kammerer (Silver) taking top honours at the Spanish circuit. 

  Deletraz had already impressed by scoring points in each of the previous three events and came agonisingly close to sealing victory last time out at the Nurburgring. The youngster scored a richly deserved win in today’s race, resisting significant pressure throughout the one-hour Pro Series contest to capture a maiden series triumph for Porsche. 

  Starting from pole in his GPX Racing-liveried machine, Deletraz maintained the advantage into turn one ahead of fellow Porsche man Federico Leo. The Italian was making his first appearance in the series as a wildcard and showed instant speed at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. 

  While there was contact further back the leading runners were unaffected and quickly settled into a rhythm, with Deletraz heading a three-car pack consisting of Leo, Lorenzo Marcucci (Audi) and Arthur Rougier (Audi). The majority of the race ran in this order, with overtaking proving tricky at the Spanish circuit. 

  When a move came, it was expertly executed. Marcucci got a run on Leo on the approach to turn 10 and forced the Porsche to hug the inside line as they approached the apex. This gave Marcucci a significantly better exit and the Audi was able to sweep past and into second spot. 

  While his rivals squabbled over position Deletraz made his escape, establishing a gap of two seconds that would prove crucial over the final few laps. Marcucci made progress, but Deletraz had enough in hand to win by a little under a second from the Audi racer. 

  Leo completed the podium after a fine showing, though as a wildcard the Italian was not eligible to score championship points. Rougier was fourth ahead of Ivan Pareras, ensuring that a trio of Audis joined two Porsches among the top-five. 

  Dan Wells was classified sixth, the best result this season for the championship’s leading Lamborghini representative. Behind him, Ezequiel Perez Companc (Mercedes-AMG), David Fumanelli (Ferrari), Nicolas Hillebrand‏ (Ferrari) and Andy Soucek completed the top-10. David Perel, who dropped from sixth on the road to 11th following a 30-second post-race penalty, took the final point thanks to wildcard Leo finishing third.

  By winning today’s contest, Deletraz moves to the top of the Pro Series standings with 59 points, 10 clear of Marcucci. Ben Barnicoat slips to third after a difficult race at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, while consistent performer Pareras jumps to fourth thanks to another strong finish. 

  

  While it was Porsche and Audi that dominated the Pro contest, McLaren equipment was unstoppable in the Silver Series. Arthur Kammerer earned his first win of the season at the wheel of the 720S GT3, jumping ahead of poleman Patrick Selva at the start and keeping his cool throughout the race. Kammerer needed to be faultless, with no margin for error as Selva looked to reclaim the lead, and delivered an inch-perfect performance to claim victory.     

  Nils Naujoks took third place in his McLaren, charging past the Lamborghini of Kamil Franczak shortly before the half-way mark. This freed him up to hunt down Selva and, by the closing stages, Naujoks was right on his fellow McLaren driver’s tail. The two fought until the final corner, with Selva just hanging on to take runner-up spot. The McLaren of Jura Petritchenko also passed Franczak to complete a dominant top-four sweep for the British marque – and ensure significant success ballast next time out. 

  After fifth-placed Franczak, Jan-Marcel Dietrich (Porsche) was sixth ahead of Spa winner Andrea Capoccia (Audi). Chris Hoeke (Porsche), Tobias Pfeffer (Audi) and David Tonizza (Ferrari) completed the top-10, the latter extending his record of scoring at every race. This was not enough to maintain his championship lead, however, with Selva now top of the table on 45 points. Kammerer heads the chasing pack on 43, while Tonizza slips to third with 32 points.   

  Organised in collaboration with Kunos Simulazioni and Ak Informatica, the SRO E-Sport GT Series is staged using Assetto Corsa Competitzione, the official video game of GT World Challenge Powered by AWS. The Pro and Silver Series will conclude their five-round campaigns on 21 June at a venue to be decided by an online fan poll, with Bathurst, Kyalami, Laguna Seca and Suzuka up for selection. Voting will take place across the SRO social media channels and is open from 21.00 CET tonight (31 May) until Friday 5 June at 20.00. 

  Where the action moves to next remains to be seen. But, with four world-class circuits to choose from, there is no question that round five will deliver another must-see sim racing contest as the SRO E-Sport GT Series reaches its climax. 

   ___

  Results and standings

  Final Pro Series Results

  Final Silver Series Results

  Pro Series standings

  Silver Series standings

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  Final Round 21 June – Fan vote 

  Voting will take place across the SRO social media channels

  Open from 21.00 CET tonight (31 May) until Friday 5 June at 20.00

   

  

• Pro and Silver Series tackle round four at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya 
• Am Series set for third event at the Nürburgring
• Zak Brown, Dani Clos, Matteo Bobbi and Federico Leo join Pro field as wildcards

The SRO E-Sport GT Series enters a crucial phase this weekend (30/31 May) with a trio of one-hour races setting the virtual championship up for its deciding battle.  

Organised in collaboration with Kunos Simulazioni and Ak Informatica, the multi-event competition features real-world drivers (Pro Series), leading sim racers (Silver Series) and public qualifiers (Am Series) using Assetto Corsa Competizione, the official video game of SRO Motorsports Group. 

Once the initial championship is decided the best performers from each class will progress to a winner-takes-all grand finale. On Sunday afternoon the Pro and Silver Series contenders will each compete at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, while the Am Series moves to the Nürburgring for a Saturday evening showdown.  

Ben Barnicoat (McLaren) took a knife-edge Pro Series victory over Louis Deletraz (Porsche) last time out at the Nürburgring, effectively securing both drivers a place on the grand finale grid. The event also saw an impressive drive from Lorenzo Marcucci, who finished seventh despite carrying significant success ballast following his impressive victory at Spa. 

Marcucci sits third in the championship, followed by Luigi di Lorenzo (Aston Martin) and Silverstone winner Jordan Pepper (Bentley). Each of these drivers also looks set to qualify for the deciding contest, but the battle to join them remains highly competitive. Indeed, at this stage of the season a single strong result could be all it takes to secure a place in the grand finale. 

Among those looking to book a spot, David Perel represents the leading Ferrari representative having taken fifth-place finishes at Silverstone and the Nürburgring. It could also be time for a Lamborghini driver to hit the front, with Dan Wells emerging as the Italian marque’s top performer thus far. AC Milan footballer Alessio Romagnoli also continues to represent the brand after making a strong debut at the previous event.  

The Mercedes-AMG GT3 has been consistently fast at the Barcelona circuit in real-world racing and the manufacturer’s virtual drivers will hope to replicate this form on Sunday. Rival marque BMW will also target a strong result at the Spanish track, with 13th-place Benjamin Tusting currently the Bavarian brand’s top championship performer. 

A number of wildcard entrants will join the grid for the Barcelona contest. Porsche’s roster will include experienced Italian duo Matteo Bobbi and Federico Leo, while Bentley’s line-up is bolstered by former GP2 racer and F1 test driver Dani Clos. Finally, Jenson Button steps aside for Zak Brown, with the McLaren Racing CEO at the wheel of the brand’s 720S. Brown has plenty of real-world GT experience to call upon, notably contesting the Total 24 Hours of Spa in 2010 and 2011.  

The Silver Series has been impossible to call, with three winners from as many races ensuring that a clear favourite has yet to emerge. Jesus Sicilia (Aston Martin) won the rain-lashed Nurburgring contest in dominant fashion, making his move for the lead after 40 minutes and then carving out a 25-second advantage.  

But, despite not securing a win in 2020, it is Ferrari ace David Tonizza who leads the standings. The Italian is the only driver to score in all three rounds and tops the table with 31 points, four clear of Sicilia and Silverstone winner Patrick Selva (McLaren). 

With 25 drivers registering points over the opening three races the battle to secure a spot in the grand finale is especially fierce. The question ahead of the Barcelona contest is whether another new winner can emerge. Arthur Kammerer (McLaren), Amir Hosseini (Mercedes-AMG), Kamil Pawłowski (Lamborghini) and Nils Naujoks (McLaren) have all threatened to make a breakthrough and will hope to deliver at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. 

Coverage of the Pro and Silver Series races begins at 13:45 CET on Sunday and will air on TV and across a variety of online platforms, including the GT World Challenge Powered by AWS website, the GT World YouTube account, and the SRO Motorsports Twitch and Facebook pages. What’s more, the public vote to decide the venue for the final championship race will open once the broadcast concludes.  

The Am Series promoted by RaceDepartment will also be in action this weekend, staging its third event at the Nurburgring. Samir Ibraimi (Porsche) leads the standings after two rounds, followed by Silverstone winner Nizar Sahraoui (Bentley) and Mikhail Statsenko (Audi), who triumphed last time out at Spa. The action will take place on Saturday, with a broadcast team featuring Vicki Butler-Henderson and Martin Haven going live on the RaceDepartment Twitch channel at 21:00 CET. 

With three crucial contests taking place at two world-class circuits, it promises to be another exciting weekend of virtual action as the SRO E-Sport GT Series enters its deciding phase.

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Entry lists

Pro Series

Silver Series

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Live Coverage Schedule #SROEsports Barcelona – Sunday 31 May

13:45CET on air

14:00CET Pro Series race

15:15CET Silver Series race

16:30CET off air

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2020 Calendar Pro & Silver Series

Round 1 – Silverstone – 26 April

Round 2 – Total 24 Hours of Spa – 10 May

Round 3 – Nürburgring – 17 May

Round 4 – Barcelona – 31 May

Round 5 – Track to be decided by public vote – 21 June 

Grand Final TBD 

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