Aston Martin is throwing its virtual hat into the digital ring with a 24-hour race around Le Mans, esports style. The British sports car maker follows Lamborghini in announcing it’s getting involved in virtual racing, although Aston’s entry is a little more…how do we put this?…professional in feel than Lamborghini’s.
To remind you, Lamborghini is currently holding open sessions for anyone with a PC and a copy of Assetto Corsa Competizione to compete for a place in live finals at the company headquarters in September. Aston’s inaugural esports soiree, on the other hand, is organised by the ACO, FIA WEC and Motorsport Games and will be on the telly. The ACO being the organiser of the 24 Hours of Le Mans race, and the FIA WEC being the official motorsport body of endurance racing.
Aston has entered three cars into the competition and so will be competing against other manufacturers and teams. As the company itself puts it: “The Aston Martin Vantage GTE will make its official debut as a works esports contender in the inaugural 24 Hours of Le Mans Virtual on 13-14 June, as the full weight of Aston Martin Racing comes together to take on its greatest real-world rivals in a spectacular online simulation of the event”. That's FULL weight. Probably quite a lot.
The online 24 Hours of Le Mans race has been organised as a placeholder to keep fans entertained until the real race takes place, which was postponed as a result of the You-Know-What-19 pandemic and will now happen 19-20 September, all being well. It will begin at 3pm (the traditional Le Mans start time) on Saturday 13 June and will feature up to 50 entries in two classes – LMP2 and GTE.
Competitors include real world racing drivers and players noted for their virtual racing skill – “sim racing superstars”, as Aston Martin refers to them. The rules state that a manufacturer entry must feature at least two FIA-licensed drivers, with four drivers-per-car, and the race will include driver changes, dynamic weather and damage to the cars that can be repaired during the pit stops.
Aston Martin Racing President David King said: “I think all of us, given the chance, would love to be back at La Sarthe on the middle weekend of June contesting the most famous endurance race of them all, the 24 Hours of Le Mans. But under the current the circumstances, this is a great alternative and an excellent opportunity for us to continue to grow our esports programme and build our understanding of this landscape…we’re looking forward to doing battle with our oldest GT rivals in this new arena for the sport”.
Aston’s entries include FIA WEC GTE Pro championship leader and sim racing fan Nicki Thiim, Britain’s Richard Westbrook, who will race in September’s actual event, and three-times Le Mans class winner Darren Turner. AMR works driver Jonny Adam, a three-time GTE Am race winner this season in the Vantage GTE, participates too.
The race will be televised and broadcast on Motorsport.TV and Eurosport.
Keyword: Aston Martin joins esports thing with virtual 24hr Le Mans race