The FIA Motorsport Games has announced that its esports competition will be staged in Assetto Corsa Competizione for the 2022 event, replacing Gran Turismo.
This year’s expanded competition features 17 different motorsport disciplines, which will see drivers from the 146 member sporting associations around the world compete for medals.
Much like the Olympics, the nation which picks up the most gold medals will be the overall winner, although it remains to be seen if reigning, 2019 champion Russia will be permitted to take part.
As with the original six-event Motorsport Games, esports will be one of the categories. Cody Nikola Latkovski, representing Australia, won that “Digital Cup” event, which was staged in Gran Turismo Sport. Bernal Valverde of Costa Rica and Stefano Conte of Italy took silver and bronze respectively.
With the recent absence of FIA branding from Gran Turismo 7’s flagship esports series, there was a question mark over whether Gran Turismo would return for the FIA’s own esports competition — and the answer is now a very firm “no”.
Instead the 2022 event will run on Assetto Corsa Competizione, with the racers using that game’s GT3 cars. GT3 will also be the focus of three other on-track disciplines, in GT, GT Sprint, and Endurance, at the Games.
The FIA is expecting more than 80 racers to take part in the finals — the highest number of entries in any of the 17 events — with a knockout format over three days whittling the field down to a final 20.
They’ll then race for the medals on Saturday October 29, at the Mistral Hall venue overlooking the main straight at Circuit Paul Ricard — which hosts this year’s event.
If you wish to take part, you’ll need to speak to your local FIA national sporting authority (ASN), which may be running its own qualification competition.
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