Tag: Motorsport News

  • V10 R-LEAGUE SIM RACING GETS TV DEAL

    Gfinity and Abu Dhabi Motorsport Management (ADMM) have announced distribution agreements for its new virtual racing competition – the V10 R-League – with three of the world’s leading broadcasters.

    This sets the V10 R-League up to be one of the most widely syndicated esports competitions, with broadcast coverage in over 75 countries worldwide, having a potential reach of 150 million households.

    Season 1 of the Global Racing Series will be available on BT Sport, ESPN networks and platforms and STARZPLAY Arabia, as well as across team and talent channels in a unique broadcast and digital hybrid distribution plan.

    BT Sport and STARZPLAY Arabia have signed a multi-year agreement for exclusive rights in the UK and Ireland, and across the MENA region, respectively, whilst ESPN will carry the V10 R-League for Seasons 1 and 2 in the US, Canada, the Netherlands, Latin America, the Caribbean and Oceania across its networks and platforms.

    The Season 1 opener highlights will air as-live in a two-hour show on BT Sport 2 from 7pm GMT on Monday 7 September, with each of the seven rounds broadcast weekly at the same time. All of the racing in full will be made available for anyone to watch for free the following morning, after the highlights show, on btsport.com and the BT Sport App.

    BMW Motorsport SIM Racing Team and Porsche24 Redline recently joined Red Bull Racing Esports, Williams Esports, Team Fordzilla, YAS HEAT, BWT Racing Point Esports and JAESA Team Suzuki to complete the line-up of teams going head-to-head in the uniquely formatted V10 R-League.

    Each week there will be four ‘matches’ made up of three race challenges, on the world’s most iconic circuits, with two teams going head-to-head in each ‘match’ on the Assetto Corsa game in the V10-powered car designed exclusively for this Global Racing Series. Competing from home on a full racing rig, the professional sim racing teams are battling over the £100,000 prize pool.

    V10 R-LeagueV10 R-League

    Hosts confirmed for V10 R-League

    The hosts of the V10 R-League broadcasts have been confirmed as Rachel Stringer, Nicolas Hamilton and Ben Daly, for the inaugural series. Each host brings a wealth of experience in motorsport, acting as a valuable asset to shape the League.

    Sports presenter Rachel Stringer has covered a range of motorsport disciplines in her presenting career as well as major sporting competitions from Wimbledon to the Premier League. In recent years she has also hosted some major global esports events and competitions. Rachel is a massive motor racing fan and is currently the pit lane reporter covering British Superbikes for Eurosport.

    Second to join the host line-up is Nicolas Hamilton. He has racing knowledge that comes from his first highly competitive outing in the Renault Clio Cup series in 2011, to becoming a points-finisher in the British Touring Car Championship this year. Sim racing is something he is really passionate about, and he comes from a famous racing family with his brother Lewis also being a keen sim racer.

    Completing the roster is YouTube star Ben Daly, also known as Tiametmarduk. Ben is one of the most popular voices in sim racing, speaking almost daily to his 500k+ audience on YouTube. In 2011, Ben ‘Tiametmarduk’ Daly embarked on his journey as a YouTuber and now, over 230 million views later, Ben is among the most watched sim racing content creators in the world. He brings with him his vast experience of commentating on racing leagues and events.

    Simon Green, Head of BT Sport, said, “Lockdown has demonstrated a huge appetite for virtual motorsport, and we are delighted to expand our innovative work with Gfinity to bring this exciting new sim racing format to UK fans exclusively to BT Sport subscribers on Mondays and free to all online the next morning.”

    John Clarke, CEO at Gfinity, said, “Growth is driven through innovation. The Global Racing Series and the V10 R-League did not exist three months ago. With a clear vision, a great partner in ADMM and a lot of hard work today we have a unique made for broadcast racing format, with a new virtual car that roars, which has captured the imagination of three of the world’s most forward-thinking broadcasters.”

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  • WILLIAMS F1 TEAM SOLD TO US INVESTORS

    Longstanding Williams F1 team has been sold to US investment firm Dorilton Capital having been on sale since May. Thankfully, the Williams name will remain on the grid. 

    The announcement comes during the same week that all 10 constructors signed the Concorde Agreement, which hopes to bring about a more level playing field in Formula One for years to come.

    Dorilton Capital has also announced that it has no plans to move the traditional base from Grove in Oxfordshire.

    An announcement from Williams said: “This marks the beginning of an exciting new era in the history of Williams, which with its new owner, is well positioned to capitalise upon the sweeping rule changes coming into Formula One with the new Concorde Agreement.”

    Williams F1 has been a part of the grid since 1977 and has taken nine constructors championships and seven world drivers championships in its time, although their last championship came in 1997 with Jacques Villeneuve. Williams hasn’t won an F1 race since 2012.

    Deputy team boss, Claire Williams, said: “This may be the end of an era for Williams as a family owned team, but we know it is in good hands. The sale ensures the team’s survival but most importantly will provide a path to success.”

    Matthew Savage, Dorilton’s chairman, said: “We look forward to working with the Williams team in carrying out a detailed review of the business to determine in which areas new investment should be directed.”

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  • POWER MAXED RACING TO RETURN TO BTCC SEASON

    Power Maxed Racing have today announced their intention to complete the rest of the 2020 British Touring Car Championship, albeit with one car rather than the usual two.

    The Warwickshire-based team will field one of their race winning Vauxhall Astras for the remaining 7 rounds of the season, giving a number of up and coming drivers the opportunity to get to grips with the successful front-wheel-drive machinery.

    Mike Bushell will be first up, piloting the Astra at Oulton Park and Knockhill, as part of a development programme the Warwickshire-based team have put together with the 2x Clio Cup UK Champion.

    Bushell is no stranger to the BTCC grid, having scored numerous Top-10 finishes over the last few years, as well as stepping in for Sam Tordoff during the 2019 campaign.

    Power Maxed RacingPower Maxed Racing

    As an accomplished motorsport engineer, having previously run Tordoff’s Honda Civic, Bushell will be engineering the Astra for the remainder of the 2020 season, also doubling up as driver coach, as Power Maxed Racing look to field a number of highly accomplished British drivers throughout the year.

    With Jason Plato confirmed for the 2021 season, as well as all existing team partners, the team are keen to use this year as an opportunity to recognise the talents of a number of drivers from the upper echelons of British motorsport, as well as support the championship through the toughest year its ever faced.

    Team Principal Adam Weaver – “Our announcement at the start of the season to temporarily withdraw from the BTCC was, as we said at the time, only intended to be for a few rounds. After just two rounds away from the paddock, and with the grid seemingly stronger than ever this year, we simply couldn’t wait to step back into the mix. We’d like to thank all our fans for their support, and we’re excited to get back out on track and give you what you want to see!”

    Mike Bushell – “PMR have proved themselves as a force to be reckoned with since they started racing in 2015, and I’m excited to be working with them this season. Martin and his team have put together a great car, as proven by multiple race wins, and I’m looking forward to both driving and engineering the car, as well as working with the great driver line up they are putting together. I’ve had my eye on some of the names for a while, and I think this programme gives them a unique opportunity to peddle a front running car in the world’s best racing series.”

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