Photo: WTCR

WTCR launches pre-season Esport series

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The World Touring Car Cup has announced an official pre-season Esports series that will start today, March 25th, and feature ten WTCR drivers, including reigning champion Norbert Michelisz.

The Esport series has been launched in cooperation with RaceRoom, the company behind the WTCR game, and will feature four rounds with WTCR drivers and fans.

“A bit more than 10 years ago I was sitting at home dreaming about driving a racing car,” said Michelisz.

“But in our [family’s] position, at 18 I realised that probably I was not going to make it. But then I was invited for a test when I was 21. It was the first time for me driving a racing car because of my gaming results.

“Year by year I managed to climb a bit higher. Even coming from Hungary to get a works seat was something unbelievable, let alone winning races and being in a position to fight for a world title on two occasions.”

A total of ten current and former WTCR drivers have confirmed participation in the digital series, see the full entry list below.

The pre-season series will be a prelude to a full Esport WTCR online championship set for start later this year.

2020 WTCR Esport pre-season series entry list

Mikel Azcona (Spain) Cupra TCR
Kevin Ceccon (Italy) Alfa Romeo Giulietta Veloce TCR
Yann Ehrlacher (France) Lynk & Co 03 TCR
Luca Engstler (Germany) Hyundai i30 N TCR
Néstor Girolami (Argentina) Honda Civic Type R TCR
Esteban Guerrieri (Argentina) Honda Civic Type R TCR
Mato Homola (Slovakia) Hyundai i30 N TCR
Niels Langeveld (Netherlands) Audi RS 3 LMS
Norbert Michelisz (Hungary) Hyundai i30 N TCR
Tiago Monteiro (Portugal) Honda Civic Type R TCR

Schedule

25/3-06/4 – Hungaroring
31/3-20/4 – Slovakiaring
14/4-04/5 – Ningbo
28/4-18/5 – Sepang

Regulations

*Top 20 in each time attack will qualify for the top server with up to 10 spots available for real WTCR drivers in each race
*Positions 21-44 in each time attack will race in Server 2, P45-68 will race in server 3, P69- 92 will race in server 4
*Same points format for server 1 as used in Esports WTCR 2019 (5-4-3-2-1 in qualifying, 25- 20-16-13-11-10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 to the top 15 in Race 1 and Race 2). Server 2-4 races purely for fun so no points awarded
*Tyre wear on, penalties and balance of performance applied
*Set-up blocked, fuel consumption and pitstops off