Le Mans esports Series announced.

[PJTierney]

This showed up earlier today, announced during a news broadcast at Le Mans:

Motorsport Network and 24 Hours of Le Mans launch esports series

The world’s greatest motor race, the 24 Hours of Le Mans and its organizer the Automobile Club de l’Ouest (ACO), have formed a joint venture on esports with Motorsport Network, whose platforms represent the largest audience of motorsport and auto enthusiasts in the world. The powerful new platform will be called Le Mans esports series.

The online series will be launched online on August 18 to coincide with the FIA World Endurance Championship round at Silverstone (6 Hours of Silverstone – August 19). A series of offline qualifying events will also take place at WEC rounds in Fuji, Japan in October (Asia qualifier), Autosport International Show, Birmingham in January (Europe & Middle East qualifier) and Sebring, Florida in March (US & Lat Am qualifier).

Competitors will be working towards qualification for a unique grand finale to be staged during the 2019 24 Hours of Le Mans race weekend.

The event is open to all categories of competitors; from the elite esports drivers to amateur gamers the world over. The fastest qualifiers from the online game will also have the chance to race against and to meet the leading drivers from the world’s most iconic endurance race.

The Le Mans esports series will be based at the outset on the Forza Motorsport platform, in partnership with Microsoft. The events and format will be managed by Paris-based esports company Glory4Gamers. The series will feature many innovations and authentic details to excite and challenge gamers. Further details of the Le Mans esports series, the formats, prizes and unique features will be revealed at a press conference at the Silverstone WEC round in August. For further information and to register your interest, go to www.lemansesports.com.

[PJTierney]

This looks to be completely separate from the Forza Racing Championship, with a different esports partner (Forza RC uses Gfinity).

Although Forza Motorsport 7 isn’t explicitly mentioned, it’s the only likely candidate for this as it’s the most recent Forza Motorsport title.

[Swerve_C10]

Thanks