- Single seater Esports racing added to the programme
- GT Esports competition returns for 2024
- All Esports competitions to be staged at the spectacular City of Arts and Sciences in Valencia, Spain
The third edition of the FIA Motorsport Games in Valencia, Spain, this year (October 23-27, 2024) will feature a hugely expanded Esports programme with two gold medals up for grabs across two separate gaming titles.
The GT Esports racers will again have the opportunity to chase gold on the Assetto Corsa Competizione title, but a separate competition will also be staged with racers competing in a virtual version of FIA Formula 4 on iRacing. The Esports GT category will focus on slightly longer races, including a mandatory pit stop. The Esports FIA F4 category will have shorter sprint races, providing more action.
The spectacular City of Arts and Sciences in Valencia will host the Esports competitions, where 24 simulators will be on stage to provide all drivers with identical high-level hardware from an industry-leading manufacturer.
More than 100 drivers representing their home nation's ASN (FIA National Sporting Authority) are expected to compete this year, making Esports the most fiercely contested discipline at the Games.
Sixteen separate disciplines were contested in Marseille in 2022. The 2024 edition will see at least ten new competitions taking place in Valencia, including the new FIA Formula 4 Esports race. It will also feature on-track events for GT, Touring Cars, Single-seaters, Drifting, Karting, Modern and Historic Rallies, Cross Car, Drifting, and more.
In 2024, the Esports competitions – which will be managed by AK Esports – will feature a structure similar to 2022, with a knockout format consisting of a General Qualifying, Quarter Finals, Last Chance, Semi-Finals, and the gold medal Final to decide the results across both categories. All drivers must be at least 16 years old and possess a valid ITD1 license from their respective ASN.
The first two editions of the FIA Motorsport Games in Rome, Italy (2019) and Marseille, France (2022) included GT-based Esports competition, with Team Australia winning the gold in 2019 with Cody Nikola Latkovski and Team UK triumphing in 2022 with James Baldwin.
In Marseille, a total of 57 Esports racers represented their home nation. Not only will the addition of Formula 4 competition significantly boost the number of Esports drivers chasing gold in Valencia, but the entry fee has also been reduced by 20%, meaning it is now €800 per driver across both categories, lowering the barrier to enter the FIA Motorsport Games.
"We are delighted to welcome a second Esports discipline to the 2024 FIA Motorsport Games," said FIA Esports Commission president Niroshan Pereira.
"The Esports GT Category with Assetto Corsa Competizione proved to be hugely popular in 2022, and we have no doubt that the Esports F4 Category with iRacing will be a similar success.
"This addition to the programme will offer ASNs and their selected Esports representatives even more opportunities to shine and compete for medals.
"With the reduced entry fee lowering the barrier to competition, we are hopeful of attracting more than 100 entries across the two Esports categories as the FIA Motorsport Games continues to showcase the skills of the stars of both the present and the future."
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The Assetto Corsa Competizione title will be used for the GT competition for the second consecutive edition of the Games. Developed by Kunos Simulazioni in Italy, Assetto Corsa Competizione is also used for multiple SRO-run GT World Challenge Esports events around the world.
"Cooperating with the FIA Motorsport Games through Assetto Corsa Competizione has been a privilege, and it has been a true pleasure to work alongside a prestigious organisation to spread the word of sim racing at such an international level," said Marco Massarutto, co-founder and Executive Manager of Kunos Simulazioni.
"We continue to work tirelessly to provide the best possible racing experience to our audience and involve the new generations in finding the most talented drivers of the future."
The addition of iRacing further expands the scope for potential entrants for the FIA Motorsport Games. Last year, the Boston-based developer began a partnership with the FIA to feature the FIA Formula 4 car as part of its fiercely contested online competitions.
"iRacing is excited to be a part of the FIA Motorsport Games in 2024. The FIA F4 is one of the fastest growing forms of racing on our service, and we are pleased to see our partnership with the FIA continue to grow through collaborations like this," said iRacing President Tony Gardner.
Entries for the 2024 FIA Motorsport Games are expected to open at the end of February. Competitors interested in representing their country should contact their local FIA National Sporting Authority (ASN). This year’s FIA Motorsport Games will be held from October 23-27, 2024.