The 8 Hours of Bahrain race opened this year’s Le Mans Virtual Series, which came to a pulse-racing conclusion as Jesper Pedersen, Jernej Simončič and Damian Skowron from FLOYD VANWALL-BURST topped the podium on the stunning new-to-rFactor2 virtual track – the Bahrain International Circuit in Sakhir. In second and third places were R8G Esports and Team Redline.

Cooper Webster, Yuri Kasdorp and Dennis Jordan from Oracle Red Bull Racing took first place in the GTE category over the 5.41km/3.36-mile long track. An exciting contest throughout on an incredible track, the day-to-night (finishing under floodlights) event featured: 

  • A strong performance from FLOYD VANWALL-BURST crowning them the winners of the first race of the Le Mans Virtual 2022-23 season 
  • An intense battle for 2nd between R8G Esports and Team Redline in the final few laps with R8G Esports coming out on top 
  • Collin Spork from Alpine Esports and Jordy Zwiers from SF Velas Esports Team secured the fastest laps in the two categories

We’re sharing the highlights of the race for news interest–you can see the full post-race report below. You can also watch the official highlights video here.

 

Le Mans Virtual Series, 8 Hours of Bahrain – As it happened

  • 8 Hours of Bahrain, the first of five rounds of the Le Mans Virtual Series, kicked off Saturday 17th September with 120 drivers across the LMP and GTE classes competing for victory. Star drivers such as 2021 Le Mans Virtual Series champions Jeffrey Rietveld and Michal Smidl, Formula E racer Sergio Sette Camara, and former 24 Hours of Nürburgring winner Sami-Matti Trogen all competed in one of the most hotly contested sim racing events of the year. 
  • Bahrain provided clear, dry weather conditions throughout the 8-hours providing the perfect backdrop for entertaining and nail-biting racing 
  • In the LMP classification, FLOYD VANWALL-BURST took first place with Jernej Simončič taking his team over the finish line. Simončič had a comfortable lead in the final few laps and saw FLOYD VANWALL-BURST finish with a total race time of 8:01:19.750. 
  • Team Redline and R8G Esports provided a wealth of excitement in the last few laps with an intense race for 2nd place overall. Despite showcasing an impressive performance throughout the race, last year’s champions Team Redline had to be satisfied with third place. 
  • Jernej Simončič from FLOYD VANWALL-BURST spoke after the race about the close race with Team Redline: “We were so confused by the Redline strategy. We were trying to make sense of it for one hour or so and in the end, it didn’t make sense but they still appeared to be ahead of us. So we knew that we just needed to keep going with our strategy advantage; we had 2/3 laps on them. We carried that and tried to strike in the end. Fortunately in the end I had the pace to make the catch for the lead.”     
  • Collin Spork from Alpine Esports set the fastest lap in the LMP category with an impressive lap time of 1:42.606. 
  • In the GTE classification, it was a dominant showing from first time Le Mans Virtual race winner, Oracle Red Bull Racing, with a final race time of 8:02:57.504. SF Velas Esports Team recorded a series’ best result for a Ferrari to finish in second, and BMW Team Redline came in third.
    • Dennis Jordan from Oracle Red Bull Racing spoke about his teammate Yuri Kasdorp after the race: “Yuri was just on fire. What he did at the start was just incredible. In his first two stints, I have never seen anything like it, all credit to him. It’s his birthday today as well; he really made us win the race today,”    
  • Jordy Zwiers from SF Velas Esports Team was awarded the fastest GTE lap with a time of 1:54.813 

 

Three more races remain in this thrilling competition before the finale of the Le Mans Virtual Series season, the 24 Hours of Le Mans Virtual on January 14/15, 2023, all of which will be held online on the rFactor2 platform.

Next Up: Round 2 – 4 Hours of Monza – October 8th 2022

Images from 8 Hours of Bahrain can be found here.

The opening round of the 2022-23 Le Mans Virtual Series, a joint venture between Motorsport Games Inc. (NASDAQ: MSGM) (“Motorsport Games”) and the Automobile Club de l’Ouest (“ACO”), is almost upon us, kicking off this week on Friday, September 16, 2022, leading up to the 8 Hours of Bahrain on Saturday, September 17, 2022. Fans are invited to follow the action provided by the star names, the elite of real and virtual racing, in the biggest endurance esports grid outside the 24 Hours of Le Mans Virtual.

The five-round season, which includes the 24 Hours of Le Mans Virtual as its grand finale, will see names such as Max Verstappen, Romain Grosjean, Daniel Juncadella and Rudy van Buren – the sim-racer-turned-pro-racer just signed as a simulator driver to Red Bull Racing F1 – competing with the many factory-supported esports superstars that have become household names. Within the regulations, it should be noted that the pro drivers do not have to take part in every round (see below).

A link to the TV preview show giving all the details for the season ahead can be found HERE, the entry list for the first round, the 8 Hours of Bahrain, can be found HERE, and the spotters guide for the first round can be found HERE.

The Le Mans Virtual Series will once again benefit from the knowledge and talents of top-flight broadcasters who will cover the whole series, plus Le Mans Cup LIVE. Using their expertise, in-depth understanding and analytical skills, they will bring insights into what’s happening on track during the events – plus explanation of rules, behind-the-scenes news and interviews – to fans, competitors and gamers across the world.

The broadcast team will be led by Martin Haven (Rounds 2 and 3) and Ben Constanduros (Rounds 1 and 4), the former one of motorsport’s best-known commentators and lead voice for the FIA World Endurance Championship and the latter the face and voice of the World Rally Championship and many top esports series. As in previous years, they will be accompanied by Chris McCarthy – who has been making his mark in international commentaries for IndyCar and FIA F3 – and Lewis McGlade, who has an encyclopaedic knowledge of sim racing and racers through his commentaries on series such as Formula Pro and Formula E Accelerate, as well as real life GB3 and GB4 championships.

The competition among the 40-strong entries is likely to be as hotly contested as always in both the LMP and GTE categories, racing together via the rFactor 2 platform on the same track and time. No fewer than 120 drivers will be battling it out for the first time on the colourful and iconic virtual Bahrain International Circuit, a welcome addition to the Le Mans Virtual Series.

Changes in the regulations regarding the composition of drivers now include:

  • The requirement for the FIA International license holder (i.e., the pro driver) within the nominated roster of four to be a minimum of Bronze-rated and they only have to compete in a minimum of one of the regular LMVS events;
  • Teams must field no fewer than three drivers in each of the first four rounds, increasing to four for the 24 Hours of Le Mans Virtual to be held in January 2023;
  • All drivers on a team’s nominated roster of drivers must compete in at least one LMVS round or the 24 Hours of Le Mans Virtual; and
  • Changes made to the driver line-up after the official entry list for that round has been announced will result in a time penalty to be taken during the race. Special dispensation may be given on a case-by-case basis.

And here’s when you can follow the races, live and uninterrupted:

 

Friday, Sept. 16: (all times British Summer Time / CEST = +1 hour / EST = -5 hours)

 

18:10 – 18:55                   Le Mans Virtual Cup Round 1 – RACE

19:00                                 Qualifying show live

19:10 – 19:30                  Qualifying GTE

19:40 – 20:00                   Qualifying LMP

Saturday, Sept. 17:

 

09:00 – 11:00                   Warm up

12:30                   Le Mans Virtual Series show live

 

13:00                   8 Hours of Bahrain – RACE

 

About Le Mans Virtual Series

Le Mans Virtual Series is a global, elite esports series made up of five rounds which bring together endurance and sim racing’s top teams to compete on some of the world’s most famous racetracks. International FIA-licensed real-world drivers are teamed up with elite esports squads to take on endurance classics for a total prize fund of US$250,000, culminating in the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans Virtual.  Le Mans Virtual Series is a joint venture between Motorsport Games, a leading racing game developer, publisher and esports ecosystem provider of official motorsport racing series throughout the world, and the Automobile Club de l’Ouest (ACO) – the creator and organizer of the world-famous 24 Hours of Le Mans and promoter of the FIA World Endurance Championship (FIA WEC).

 

Round 1                            8 Hours of Bahrain, Bahrain                                    September 17, 2022

Round 2                            4 Hours of Monza, Italy                                            October 8, 2022

Round 3                            6 Hours of Spa, Belgium                                           November 5, 2022

Round 4                            500 Miles of Sebring, USA                                        December 3, 2022

Round 5                            24 Hours of Le Mans Virtual                                    January 14/15, 2023

 

About Motorsport Games:

Motorsport Games, a Motorsport Network company, is a leading racing game developer, publisher and esports ecosystem provider of official motorsport racing series throughout the world. Combining innovative and engaging video games with exciting esports competitions and content for racing fans and gamers, Motorsport Games strives to make the joy of racing accessible to everyone. The Company is the officially licensed video game developer and publisher for iconic motorsport racing series across PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch and mobile, including NASCAR, INDYCAR, 24 Hours of Le Mans and the British Touring Car Championship (“BTCC”), as well as the industry leading rFactor 2 and KartKraft simulations. RFactor 2 also serves as the official sim racing platform of Formula E, while also powering Formula 1™ centers through a partnership with Kindred Concepts. Motorsport Games is an award-winning esports partner of choice for 24 Hours of Le Mans, Formula E, BTCC, the FIA World Rallycross Championship and the eNASCAR Heat Pro League, among others. Motorsport Games is building a virtual racing ecosystem where each product drives excitement, every esports event is an adventure and every story inspires.

 

Forward-Looking Statements:

Certain statements in this press release which are not historical facts are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and are provided pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Any statements in this press release that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed forward-looking statements. Words such as “continue,” “will,” “may,” “could,” “should,” “expect,” “expected,” “plans,” “intend,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “potential,” and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements concerning the timing, participants and expected benefits of the 2022-23 Le Mans Virtual Series. All forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements, many of which are generally outside the control of Motorsport Games and are difficult to predict. Examples of such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: difficulties, delays in or unanticipated events that may impact the timing and expected benefits of the Le Mans Virtual Series, such as due to unexpected changes in the event participants, as well as less than anticipated participation in or viewership of the Le Mans Virtual Series events. Factors other than those referred to above could also cause Motorsport Games’ results to differ materially from expected results. Additional factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements can be found in Motorsport Games’ filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC during 2022, as well as in its subsequent filings with the SEC. Motorsport Games anticipates that subsequent events and developments may cause its plans, intentions and expectations to change. Motorsport Games assumes no obligation, and it specifically disclaims any intention or obligation, to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as expressly required by law. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made and should not be relied upon as representing Motorsport Games’ plans and expectations as of any subsequent date. Additionally, the business and financial materials and any other statement or disclosure on, or made available through, Motorsport Games’ website or other websites referenced or linked to this press release shall not be incorporated by reference into this press release.

 

Website and Social Media Disclosure:

Investors and others should note that we announce material financial information to our investors using our investor relations website (ir.motorsportgames.com), SEC filings, press releases, public conference calls and webcasts. We use these channels, as well as social media and blogs, to communicate with our investors and the public about our company and our products. It is possible that the information we post on our websites, social media and blogs could be deemed to be material information. Therefore, we encourage investors, the media and others interested in our company to review the information we post on the websites, social media channels and blogs, including the following (which list we will update from time to time on our investor relations website):

 

  Websites   Social Media
  motorsportgames.com   Twitter: @msportgames & @traxiongg
  traxion.gg   Instagram: msportgames & traxiongg
  motorsport.com   Facebook: Motorsport Games & traxiongg
  LinkedIn: Motorsport Games
  Twitch: traxiongg
  Reddit: traxiongg

 

The contents of these websites and social media channels are not part of, nor will they be incorporated by reference into, this press release.

 

Contacts:

US Press: ASTRSK PR, motorsportgames@astrskpr.com

EU/UK Press: Swipe Right PR, motorsport@swipterightpr.com

The opening round of the 2022-23 Le Mans Virtual Series season is fast-approaching and the premier endurance esports championship has once again attracted top level attention from major automotive marques, elite esports teams and top-level drivers from both the real and virtual worlds.  The full entry list for the 8 Hours of Bahrain on Saturday, September 17 can be found HERE.

 

The 40 team entries are split between two categories – LMP (using an ORECA 07 LMP2 model) and GTE, with teams free to use either an Aston Martin Vantage GTE, BMW M8 GTE, Ferrari 488 GTE or Porsche 911 RSR GTE.  These manufacturers join with Alpine and Mercedes-AMG in supporting esports teams in the series.

 

A mix of ‘pro’ drivers from the real motorsport world and elite competitors from the sim racing scene will be racing together to represent their teams in the 8 Hours of Bahrain.  Among the names who will be on the grid are Formula E racer Sergio Sette Camara for Nextview Vanwall Burst, former 24 Hours of Nürburgring winner Sami-Matti Trogen in the Williams Esports entry, James Baldwin for AMG Team Petronas Esports, gamer-turned-real world racer Dylan Pereira for Proton Coanda Esports and former DTM Champion Bruno Spengler who continues his long-time association with BMW competing for BMW Team BS+COMPETITION.

 

Joining them are 2021 Le Mans Virtual Series champions Jeffrey Rietveld and Michal Smidl for Team Redline, Josh Rogers and Mitchell deJong for Porsche Coanda, Yuri Kasdorp for Oracle Red Bull Racing, plus 2021 Le Mans Cup Champion Christopher Högfeldt who graduates to the premier grid with R8G Esports.  Add into the mix sim racing stars such as Michi Hoyer, Kevin Siggy, Bono Huis and many more and fast and furious racing action is guaranteed.

 

120 drivers will be competing from around the world on the all-new virtual Bahrain International Circuit, s vying for victory.  Full season entries are eligible for the US$250,000 prize fund, with monies being split evenly between the LMP and GTE classes.

 

Supporting this year’s Le Mans Virtual Series will be some of the world’s most high-profile brands, including: Thrustmaster as Official Hardware Partner, Rolex as Official Timepiece Partner, Total Energies as Official Energy Partner, Goodyear as Official Tire Partner, LEGO® Technic as Official Engineering Partner and Algorand as Official Blockchain Partner.

 

For further media information contact Fiona Miller, Miller Media & Communications, on +44 7770 371332 or media@lemansvirtual.com

 

www.lemansvirtual.com

 

About Le Mans Virtual Series

Le Mans Virtual Series is a global, elite esports series made up of five rounds which bring together endurance racing and sim racing’ top teams to compete on some of the world’s most famous racetracks. International FIA-licensed real-world drivers are teamed up with elite esports squads to take on endurance classics for a total prize fund of US$250,000, culminating in the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans Virtual.  Le Mans Virtual Series is a joint venture between leading racing game developer, publisher and esports ecosystem provider of official motorsport racing series throughout the world, Motorsport Games, and the Automobile Club de l’Ouest (ACO) – the creator and organizer of the world-famous 24 Hours of Le Mans and promoter of the FIA World Endurance Championship (FIA WEC).

 

Round 1                     8 Hours of Bahrain, Bahrain                                        September 17, 2022

Round 2                     4 Hours of Monza, Italy                                               October 8, 2022

Round 3                     6 Hours of Spa, Belgium                                               November 5, 2022

Round 4                     500 Miles of Sebring, USA                                           December 3, 2022

Round 5                     24 Hours of Le Mans Virtual                                        January 14/15, 2023

 

About Motorsport Games

Motorsport Games, a Motorsport Network company, combines innovative and engaging video games with exciting esports competitions and content for racing fans and gamers around the globe. The Company is the officially licensed video game developer and publisher for iconic motorsport racing series including NASCAR, INDYCAR, 24 Hours of Le Mans and the British Touring Car Championship (“BTCC”). Motorsport Games is an award-winning esports partner of choice for 24 Hours of Le Mans, Formula E, BTCC, the FIA World Rallycross Championship and the eNASCAR Heat Pro League, among others.

With a recently-announced raft of elite motorsport manufacturers and top esports teams due to compete in the 2022-23 Le Mans Virtual Series, attention now turns to who will be piloting the 40-strong entries to success.

All will be revealed in an exclusive TV show, hosted by renowned motorsport commentator Martin Haven and esports specialist Lewis McGlade, which will be shown later today on Traxion.GG’s YouTube channel at 18h00 BST / 19h00 CEST / 13h00 EST.

Superstar names from Formula One, IndyCar, WEC, from all major esports championships and many, many more real and virtual series from around the world will be announced, stunning car liveries will be revealed and the latest update on the composition of driver line ups will be explained.

Tune in to see how the coming Le Mans Virtual Series season will unfurl starting with the 8 Hours of Bahrain on Saturday, 17th September with the broadcast beginning at 12h30 BST (13h30 CEST/07h30 EST).  The full entry list for Round 1 will be revealed tomorrow, Tuesday 13th September.

The entry list for the 2022-23 Le Mans Virtual Series, the global, elite endurance esports series, has today been revealed and it features teams representing some of the most prestigious automotive manufacturers in the world, as well as elite esports squads from around the globe.  The biggest full season Le Mans Virtual Series entry list to date can be found HERE.

 

Driver names – including championship-winning superstars from multiple disciplines around the world who will be making an appearance during the season – are due to be released on Monday, September 12th during a special TV Preview Show.  Stay tuned to social media channels for more news on how to view the show.

 

An additional 10 cars are expected to join the entry list for the increasingly popular, high profile 24 Hours of Le Mans Virtual on January 14/15, the final round of the five-race series, attracting even more star names to add to the excitement.

 

The 40 full season entries are split between two categories of car (LMP2 – 24 cars; LMGTE – 16) which will compete in races which range between four and 24 hours in duration.  Top worldwide brands such as Alpine, Aston Martin, BMW, Ferrari, Mercedes-AMG and Porsche return for more top esports action and success, many with multiple entries.

 

 

The prestige manufacturer names are joined by the elite of sim racing competition, including LMP and GTE 2021 champions Team Redline and GTE Vice Champions Porsche Coanda Esports who are stepping up to the prototype class. Among others, Romain Grosjean’s R8G Esports team will be competing alongside Floyd Vanwall-Burst, Williams Esports, Alpine Esports, YAS Heat Veloce, AMG Team Petronas Esports and Jenson Button’s Rocket Simsport team in the prototype category, and all entries will compete with an ORECA 07 LMP2.  Joining them for 2022 are Mexico Racing Team, Pescarolo Esport Monaco, Team Fordzilla and Brabham Esports, the latter new to the Le Mans Virtual Series but bringing with it a name steeped in motorsport history.

 

Some of endurance racing’s most steadfast teams such as the European Le Mans Series’ Panis Racing, GR Vector eSport (a combination of two WEC teams), Proton Competition, D’Station Racing and ARC Bratislava are also featured on the list across the two categories.

 

The GTE class offers competitors a choice of Aston Martin Vantage GTE, BMW M8 GTE, Ferrari 488 GTE and Porsche 911 RSR GTE cars, and names familiar to both the real and sim racing world such as MAHLE Racing Team, SIMMSA Esports, Oracle Red Bull Racing and Prodrive FYRA Esport will be among the competitors vying for championship success.

 

No fewer than 15 different nations are represented on the team entry list from Europe, the USA, Africa and the Far East, a 25% increase on last season.  The appeal of Le Mans Virtual Series racing continues to rise!

 

Le Mans Virtual Series is a joint venture between Motorsport Games Inc. (NASDAQ: MSGM) (“Motorsport Games”) — a leading racing game developer, publisher and esports ecosystem provider of official motorsport racing series throughout the world — and the Automobile Club de l’Ouest (ACO) — the creators and organizers of the world-famous 24 Hours of Le Mans and promoter of the FIA World Endurance Championship (FIA WEC).  It will take place over five rounds with the 24 Hours of Le Mans Virtual as its grand finale. The calendar of events features some of the world’s most famous and recognizable racetracks – Monza, Spa, Bahrain, Sebring and Le Mans – which will challenge all the drivers, international FIA-licensed and sim racers alike, and thrill the millions of esports enthusiasts worldwide.

 

About Le Mans Virtual Series

Le Mans Virtual Series is a global, elite esports series made up of five rounds which bring together endurance racing and sim racing’ top teams to compete on some of the world’s most famous racetracks. International FIA-licensed real-world drivers are teamed up with elite esports squads to take on endurance classics for a total prize fund of US$250,000, culminating in the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans Virtual.  Le Mans Virtual Series is a joint venture between leading racing game developer, publisher and esports ecosystem provider of official motorsport racing series throughout the world, Motorsport Games, and the Automobile Club de l’Ouest (ACO) – the creator and organizer of the world-famous 24 Hours of Le Mans and promoter of the FIA World Endurance Championship (FIA WEC).

 

 

Round 1                     8 Hours of Bahrain, Bahrain                                        September 17, 2022

Round 2                     4 Hours of Monza, Italy                                               October 8, 2022

Round 3                     6 Hours of Spa, Belgium                                               November 5, 2022

Round 4                     500 Miles of Sebring, USA                                           December 3, 2022

Round 5                     24 Hours of Le Mans Virtual                                        January 14/15, 2023

 

About Motorsport Games:

Motorsport Games, a Motorsport Network company, combines innovative and engaging video games with exciting esports competitions and content for racing fans and gamers around the globe. The Company is the officially licensed video game developer and publisher for iconic motorsport racing series including NASCAR, INDYCAR, 24 Hours of Le Mans and the British Touring Car Championship (“BTCC”). Motorsport Games is an award-winning esports partner of choice for 24 Hours of Le Mans, Formula E, BTCC, the FIA World Rallycross Championship and the eNASCAR Heat Pro League, among others.

 

Websites/Social Media:

motorsportgames.com

Twitter: @msportgames & @traxiongg

Instagram: msportgames & traxiongg

Facebook: Motorsport Games & traxiongg

LinkedIn: Motorsport Games

Twitch: traxiongg

Reddit: traxiongg

The contents of these websites and social media channels are not part of, nor will they be incorporated by reference into, this press release.

 

Contacts:

Investors: Ashley DeSimone, Ashley.Desimone@icrinc.com

US Press: ASTRSK PR, motorsportgames@astrskpr.com

EU/UK Press: Swipe Right PR, motorsport@swipterightpr.com

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