After a successful debut in 2023, Honda Racing is bringing its Gran Turismo 7 esports event back this year — and opening the live final to players around the world.
The Honda Racing eMS 2024 follows on from the 2023 event in which a reported 200,000 players tried their hand at one of two age-bracketed time trial challenges in GT7. While the time trial itself was open to players around the world, the live final — held on December 10 — was restricted to players resident in Japan.
For 2024 the format is similar. There’ll once again be a month-long hotlap event, available to players around the world, with two different events open to different age groups. Both the groups – 18+ and 17 and under – will be driving the legendary Honda RA272, replacing the Honda Civic Type R used last year.
As yet, tracks haven’t been specified, with the 2023 event focusing on lap records set by the Civic at the Nurburgring and Suzuka. Although the chosen header image for the event would seem to give a hint of one of the circuits, we’re going to have to wait and see.
The two time trials will run from Friday August 2 to Sunday September 1, and all participating players will receive a Honda Civic (FL5) Type R in special Super Taikyu Series 2024 livery and an avatar for use in GT7 which commemorates the 60th anniversary of Honda’s participation in F1.
When the time trial ends, the top ten drivers in each of the two categories will be invited to a live final on December 1 in Japan. Although the U17 category is again restricted to Japan residents only, five of the ten spots in the 18+ are open worldwide — with the remaining five going to the top four Japanese players and the 2023 champion. You may not be too surprised to learn that this is Igor Fraga!
The live final takes place, once again, at Honda Welcome Plaza Aoyama in Tokyo, Japan. This will be co-hosted by Honda’s new Honda Racing eMS Ambassador and Japanese VTuber (Virtual YouTuber) Inugami Korone, as Honda seeks to expand the appeal of virtual motorsport to a wider audience.
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