Esports

Introduction

Racing always played an integral role in the video game industry as one of the most loved and played genres of game. The growth of esports and the introduction of the new generation of consoles means that this shows no signs of changing with virtual racing continuing to be a firm favourite with players around the world.

The facts and figures also speak for themselves: the anticipated 2021 global Esports audience was skying at 1.89 billion people with 30% of all console gamers classing “racing” as their favourite genre.

In 2020 Team WRT initiated its 1st esports initiative by competing in a range of online sim racing competitions directly wining the Creventic Monza 12h, on top of being selected by the ACO in the 1st ever official virtual Le Mans 24h. In 2022, Esports Team WRT runs race programs SRO Esports GT Pro Series and World eX.

SRO Esports GT Pro Series

The Esports GT Pro Series heralds a new era for sim racing and motorsport. There's a genuine possibility, therefore, that virtual results will decide the outcome of a real-world international championship for the first time in motorsport history. Organised by SRO Motorsports Group in collaboration with AK Esports, The Sim Grid, Coach Dave Academy and based on the official GT World Challenge game, Assetto Corsa Competizione by Kunos Simulazioni, the championship offers one of the most advanced and futuristic sim racing format ever seen inside a real motorsport paddock. Indeed, nowhere else can world-class GT drivers score real-world points on the virtual race track using such advanced racing simulators.

Pro and Silver class podium finishers will score either one, two or three points towards their respective real-world Overall Teams’ Championship total, meaning as many as 15 points are available across 2021’s five rounds. There’s a genuine possibility, therefore, that virtual results will decide the outcome of a real-world international championship for the first time in motorsport history. The five races, which each last one hour, take place during GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup weekends, thus providing a perfect synergy between real and virtual action.

WORLD EX

World eX is a microcosm combining entertainment and sustainability with a clear mission: supporting the fight against climate change with the help of motorsports and esports. #RacingForTheClimate and the RCCO World eX Championship – the esports racing series for electric prototypes.

Ex stands for electric experimental prototypes – the most stunning and powerful electric racing cars in the world. Only experienced (real and virtual) racing drivers are able to extract the maximum out of these powerful, but still sustainable beasts. eX prototypes combine the architecture of the latest electric road cars with state-of-the-art racing technology.

ESPORTS WRT DRIVERS

CHRIS OVEREND

39-year-old Chris Overend from Southampton was born with development dysplasia of the hips and spent years from the age of 12 suffering with injuries and pain caused by an undiagnosed problem.

When he was 24, he was skiing in France when he suffered a severe back spasm undoing his boots. When he returned home a surgeon confirmed that during puberty his femoral artery became pinched, causing his left hip and pelvis to become deformed. The top of this femur had rotated 90 degrees from where it should be and his right hip was 30% bigger than it should be and was partially dislocated.

Prior to this, Chris had forged a successful career as a photographer, working with London Fashion Week and travelling the world on commissions for global titles. He eventually gave up the profession after other operations and became a technical instructor of photography at Solent University.

Chris went on to discover wheelchair tennis, in which he received a world ranking.

Chris became racing driver by joining the Team Brit in August 2021 and began a rookie development programme. He raced for one round of the Britcar Trophy in 2021, taking home silverware in his first ever race and now compete in the BMW M240i. Since May 2022 he races for Esports Team WRT in the world EX.

DEVIN BRAUNE

The German game developer Devin Braune joined Esports Team WRT for the 2022 World eX Championship. Braune has already won two races for the famous Belgian GT and sports car team and achieved five consecutive podium results in the first six races of 2022.
Devin’s official title job is a software engineer. He started playing the F1 games in the 90s and karting for the first time shortly after and then just joined the karting club and never stopped.

Devin’s started playing F1 games in the 90s and karting for the first time shortly after. Since then he never stopped.
The German game developer has successfully joined the Esports Team WRT for the 2022 World eX Championship. He already won two races for the famous Belgian GT and sports car team and achieved five consecutive podium results in the first six races of 2022.