Electric Racing Series Formula E Finally Enters Virtual Racing Show
[April 17, 2020]
The coronavirus has affected pretty much every business, motorsports included. But racers are gonna race, so it didn’t take long for many sanctioning bodies to assemble virtual racing series to supplement their cancelled real-life series, most times opting for iRacing’s popular racing simulator software. Sadly, it took even less time for some NASCAR drivers to show their true personalities by rage-quitting or blurting out something inexcusably offensive during their virtual races. Luckily, not everything is NASCAR.
But from IMSA to SCCA to F1 and beyond, of the racing series we expected to jump in wholeheartedly and lead the virtual racing charge was the all-electric formula car racing series ABB Formula E. But rather than continuing to be on the forefront of technology, as the series is in real life, Formula E instead opted to shower its fans with a barrage of press releases reliving glory days. Luckily, that has changed, and as it turns out, Formula E has quite possibly done the best job entering the ever-expanding virtual racing universe.
“As part of Formula E's fundraising partnership with UNICEF, the all-electric street racing series will enter the virtual world with the ABB Formula E Race at Home Challenge – a nine week Esports competition featuring all the teams and drivers from the ABB FIA Formula E Championship, as well as a selection of top gamers,” Formula E announced this week.
According to Formula E organizers, donations from the virtual racing competition, which will utilize the rFactor 2 simulator software, “will be directed to UNICEF to comprehensive emergency projects around the world, such as those contributing to the supply of personal protective equipment for healthcare workers and setting up home learning schemes for children currently out of school.”
Good on you, Formula E – although Formula E fell short on the details regarding whether UNICEF donations will come from series sponsors, fans, the series itself, or elsewhere.
iRacing does not currently feature Formula E race cars, while rFactor 2 houses a pretty snazzy rendering of the Gen2 car.
Over the course of nine weeks, the ABB Formula E Race at Home Challenge will showcase two simultaneous virtual racing components, the first being drivers from the real-world series, and the second being comprised of gamers and influencers. There’s also a decent prize for the top-performing non pros: “The winning gamer will make the transition from the gaming world to secure real-life track time on a Formula E circuit during a race weekend,” Formula E announced.
“Races will be staged each Saturday beginning with a pre-season test event on April 18, before point scoring commences the following weekend,” the Formula E press release reads. “Points are then accumulated over consecutive race weekends contributing to the overall standings in the build-up to the Grand Final on June 13.”
Unlike some of the other new professional virtual racing series, ABB Formula E plans to level the playing field through the use of spec simulator hardware setups. To that end, every Formula E pro driver will compete using a simulator supplied by Playseat, utilizing Fanatec wheel and pedals, with PC, monitors, and other peripherals supplied by Asus.
Each weekend’s 90-minute broadcast of the virtual racing series will feature commentators Jack Nicholls, Nicki Shields, and Dario Franchitti, and will allow fans to watch the virtual action of both the Formula E pro drivers and the gamers. Race broadcasts will appear via Formula E’s YouTube channel, Facebook page and Facebook Gaming site, Twitch channel, and via @FIAFormulaE on Twitter. Race coverage will even make it to the airwaves via FOX Sports.
As for real-world Formula E races, competition weekends are still being cancelled due to the worldwide pandemic, most recently cancelling the June 21 Berlin E-Prix weekend, so it’s unknown when the actual race cars will take to the track. But, at least for now, there’s the ABB Formula E Race at Home Challenge.
(Image courtesy Formula E)
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