The Top Racing Leagues and Championships in Sim Racing

The Top Racing Leagues and Championships in Sim Racing
Figure 1: A Sim Racing Centre

Sim racing isn’t just a game; it’s a full-throttle experience that lets you live out your motorsport dreams to the fullest. With a high-end setup, it’s almost like you’re seated in a real car, gripping the wheel and speeding across iconic tracks worldwide!

If you believe you have got that racing spirit inside you, then there cannot be a better time than now to dive into sim racing championships. One clear advantage of sim racing over real-life track racing is that you don’t need to worry about expensive fuel costs or the risk of damaging your car. Even if you crash, you and your setup stay perfectly safe and ready for the next race.

So, with those worries put aside, let’s introduce you to the top racing leagues in the world of sim racing.

iRacing World Championship Series

Figure 2: iRacing Homepage

iRacing World Championship Series stands as one of the ultimate stages for competitive sim racing that attracts the best of the best virtual drivers from across the globe. It was first established by iRacing in 2010 with the NASCAR iRacing series and the iRacing World Championship Grand Prix Series, focusing on oval and road racing respectively.

While it began with two main disciplines, that’s not all. The iRacing World Championship Series has expanded over time to include various racing formats. As of today, it supports the following disciplines:
  • eNASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing Series: Focused on oval racing, this series is one of the platform’s most prestigious competitions.
  • Porsche TAG Heuer Esports Supercup: A road-racing series featuring Porsche 911 GT3 Cup cars on world-renowned circuits.
  • iRacing Rallycross World Championship: A mix of off-road and on-road racing, delivering exciting challenges on mixed-surface tracks.
  • VRS GT iRacing World Championship: Endurance-focused races featuring team-based events with GT3 cars.
  • World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car World Championship: High-speed dirt track action that showcases exceptional car control.
Each of these sim racing championships follows a structured format with multiple season-long sim racing tournaments where drivers earn points based on their race performances. At the end of each season, the driver with the highest point is declared the winner.

A plus point about the iRacing World Championship Series is that it offers substantial rewards for winners. For example, the latest 2024 eNASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing Series featured a whopping $500,000 prize pool in which Parter White (from Williams Esports) secured first place. He walked away with an impressive $100,000 prize money.

F1 Sim Racing (Formerly: F1 Esports Series)

Figure 3: F1 Sim Racing Homepage

Another top racing league worth mentioning is F1 Sim Racing, formerly known as the F1 Esports Series. It has been Formula 1’s official virtual sim racing championship since 2017 and is powered by the official F1 video game developed by Codemasters.

Soon after materializing, the F1 Esports Series was quick to rise in popularity. In 2018, even the official F1 teams established their own esports divisions to compete in these sim racing tournaments. This integration of real-world teams into the virtual arena further added a layer of authenticity and competitiveness to the racing league which helped to attract top sim talent from across the globe.
The championship follows a structured format:
  • Qualification: Open to anyone with the F1 game, this stage allows players worldwide to compete for a spot in the next round.
  • Pro Draft: Top qualifiers are chosen by official F1 teams to represent them, mimicking the excitement of real-world driver signings.
  • Pro Championship: Drivers compete in a series of races to earn points for themselves and their teams, culminating in crowning the Drivers’ and Teams’ Champions.
F1 Esports Series was rebranded to F1 Sim Racing in 2023. Its prize pool has been steadily growing ever since the inaugural event; with the latest 23-24 Formula 1 Sim Racing World Championship featuring a staggering $750,000 prize pool. It was won by Frederik Rasmussen of Scuderia Ferrari Esports. This victory marked his first championship win after being a runner-up for four consecutive seasons. His performance helped Scuderia Ferrari Esports secure the Constructor's Championship for the first time.

Gran Turismo World Series (Formerly: FIA-Certified Gran Turismo Championships)

Figure 4: GTWS Homepage

When we talk about top racing leagues, it’s impossible not to mention the iconic Gran Turismo World Series. Formerly known as the FIA-Certified Gran Turismo Championships, GTWS has significantly elevated the status of sim racing, practically blurring the lines between virtual and real-world motorsports with its high-stake sim racing tournaments.

This racing league is managed by no other than the developers of the Gran Turismo themselves, Polyphony Digital. The GTWS began in 2018 as the FIA-Certified Gran Turismo Championships, a collaboration between Polyphony Digital and the FIA to legitimize virtual racing with real-world motorsport standards. It features two main competitions: the Nations Cup, where players represent their countries, and the Manufacturers Cup, where racers compete for car manufacturers.

The sim racing championship has a multi-tiered structure as explained below:
  • Online Qualifiers: Open to anyone aged seven and above, participants compete in leagues based on their Driver Rating, ensuring fair play at all skill levels.
  • World Series Rounds: Top drivers advance to intense live events broadcast globally, showcasing the best in sim racing.
  • World Finals: Held annually, this event crowns the ultimate champions of the Nations and Manufacturers Cups. As of writing, the 2024 finals will take place in Theater Amsterdam, Netherlands.
The GTWS is notable for its diverse participation owing to its global reach that spans regions such as Europe, North America, Asia, and even Oceania.

ESL R1 Championship

Figure 5: ESL R1 Homepage

The ESL R1 Championship emerged from a partnership between ESL and RENNSPORT in 2023 with the aim of creating a cutting-edge virtual racing experience.

Where ESL is a leading name in the world of eSports games, RENNSPORT is a simulation platform which utilizes Unreal Engine 5 to deliver ultra-realistic graphics and driving physics. Being relatively new, this racing league has set new standards in sim racing championships.

The ESL R1 Championship runs across two seasons each year—Spring and Fall. Each season includes several online and offline rounds where drivers compete in intense quarter-finals, semi-finals, and final races to accumulate points. The season concludes with a live Major Event that crowns the champions.

Since it's barely been a year since the ESL R1 Championship came into being, there isn’t much of a history here. To date, there has only been 1 complete sim racing tournament of this one of the top racing leagues.
  • Spring Major 2023: Held at the RENNSPORT Summit in Munich, Germany. This event was won by Marcell Csinscik from Hungary.
  • Fall Major 2023: Hosted at DreamHack Winter in Sweden. This event was won by Joshua Rogers from Australia.
When it comes to rewards, the ESL R1 Championship does not shy away from offering substantial financial incentives. For its first two seasons alone, the league gave away a handsome amount of €500,000 prize pool. The allocation includes rewards for both team and driver performances.

Forza Racing Championship (ForzaRC)

Figure 6: Forza Homepage

Developed by Turn 10 Studios in 2016, ForzaRC began as a way to unite the global Forza community through organized competition.

Today it has evolved to become one of the top racing leagues in sim racing. Over the years, the sim racing championship has introduced team-based formats, larger prize pools, and even collaborations with real-world racing entities, such as Porsche. These innovative measures successfully boosted its reputation in both the esports and racing communities.

ForzaRC follows a multi-stage competition format:
  • Online Qualifiers: Open to all players, these events determine who advances to the playoffs.
  • Playoffs: Features heightened competition as top qualifiers battle for a spot in the finals.
  • Finals: The season’s grand event, where the best drivers compete for titles and substantial prizes.
Races in Forza Racing Championship showcases a mix of iconic tracks and cars. This challenges sim drivers to demonstrate their versatility and skills in both individual and team-based formats.

Although no newer ForzaRC sim racing tournaments have been announced as of November 2024, the latest event remains the 2019 Invitational Series which featured a decent $250,000 prize pool. It was won by Williams Esports.

Nevertheless, the Forza community continues to engage in various events and competitions, as detailed on the official Forza website. The introduction of new content, such as the addition of 'Next-Gen NASCAR' in the latest Forza Motorsport update, indicates ongoing support and development within the franchise.

Final Thoughts

Sim racing has truly transformed the motorsport world like never before, offering unparalleled competition through the top racing leagues like the iRacing World Championship and Gran Turismo World Series. These leagues not only showcase the skills of elite sim drivers but also bridge the gap between gaming and real-world racing.

So, what sim racing championship will you participate in first? Share your thoughts with us and let us know in the comments down below!

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