Racing Prodigy wants to level the playing field for budding race car drivers who've got the skills to succeed.
Racing Prodigy has announced the establishment of a new tournament that aims to transform pro Esports racers into bona fide racing drivers.
The Prodigy Racing League is the world's first E2Real sports league in which contestants will compete in four popular gaming titles, including Steet Kart Racing, RaceRoom, rFactor2, and iRacing. 12 tournaments will take place between June and October, and participants will duke it out to receive a Prodigy Pass.
Just 15 individuals will receive this “golden ticket of motorsports,” which will let them race real Radical SR1 racers at Prodigy Week, which takes place at Atlanta Motorsports Park from October 30 to November 1. The lucky 15 will receive expert coaching on communication, racing technique, and more.
In 2024, Racing Prodigy hopes to host a second round with 35 Prodigy Pass winners. This makes for a total of 50 trained drivers, from which Prodigy Racing League teams can choose. The company plans to award the selected drivers with a paid contract and place them in a real-world racing series set to be launched in the United States in 2024.
Company CEO David Cook was inspired by his tenure at Mazda, where he previously led competitions with experienced sim racers. He soon realized that the skills picked up in virtual racing often transferred to the race track – professional gamers were going head-to-head with Mazda's in-house drivers.
Many of us have dreamed of becoming racing drivers, but the reality is that it's an expensive career to pursue if your last name isn't Rothschild. With this initiative, Racing Prodigy wants to democratize the sport and allow more people to achieve their dreams.
“At Racing Prodigy, we are lowering the financial barriers to [entering] motorsports to the same level [as] traditional sports. Gamers just need a console, mobile device, or PC with a wheel and pedals to participate in esports tournaments, which is how we open the sport we love from the few to the many,” said Cook.
“The PRL is the new home for racers of all backgrounds and abilities, where they can chase their motorsports dreams from the screen to the track. We believe everyone should have an opportunity to participate in motorsports, and today is a momentous step forward,” concluded the CEO.
This is very similar in concept to the GT Academy competition, which provided talented Gran Turismo players with the opportunity to become professional racing drivers. One of the more famous people to sail through the GT Academy is Jann Mardenborough, who turned his love of gaming into a motorsport career.
Starting out behind the wheel of a Nissan GT-R, Mardenborough has since enjoyed stints in the Formula Three Championship and the Super Formula Series. His story is so inspiring that they've even made a movie about it.
And thanks to Racing Prodigy's latest competition, the next big thing in motorsports may be discovered and get a chance to live out their dreams. If you're interested, the event kicks off on June 19 with the PRL iRacing GR86 Cup Open Challenge. Contestants must be at least 13 years of age to enter, and registration is now open.
Keyword: New Esports Tournament Will Turn Gamers Into Pro Racing Drivers