The global pandemic may have impacted motorsports by preventing events from being run, mainly because of valid concerns about transmission of the coronavirus. While real-world racing has been on hold, esports have quickly grown online and even the works teams of carmakers have joined in.
For Nissan, which was the first Japanese carmaker to enter the all-electric single-seater Formula E, series, its driver in the Nissan e.dams team, Oliver Rowland, recently took the team’s maiden victory in round 5 of the ABB Formula E Race at Home Challenge.
Racing in what has been described as ‘the best race in the esports series so far’, Rowland (pictured above) showed strong pace from the outset, qualifying in P3 on the Berlin circuit, having had just one day’s practice along with the rest of the grid on the newly created virtual Tempelhof track.
He got away cleanly at the start, key to sim racing success, and immediately settled into an exciting battle with the lead group of three drivers. On lap 7, from third position, Rowland made an inch-perfect move into a hairpin bend to overtake two cars at once and claim the lead. He maintained the lead to the finish, fending off constant pressure from behind.
First virtual win
The stylish overtake and team’s first virtual win pay tribute to “Go Nissan Day”, celebrated each year in May. Sebastien Buemi qualified in P11 and crossed the finish line in 12th position.
The new online racing series represents Formula E, the first real-world zero emission racing series, as the height of zero emission competition in the virtual world. This aligns with Nissan’s goal of zero emissions and zero fatalities, an important pillar of Nissan Intelligent Mobility, the brand’s vision for changing how cars are driven, powered and connected into society.
The ABB Formula E Race at Home Challenge raises funds for UNICEF’s global coronavirus appeal, helping keep children safe, healthy, and learning in the face of the pandemic.
UPDATE: The first round will be on April 24/25 (Friday/Saturday)
Since 2018, UMW Toyota Motor has been extending its involvement in eSports as a complementary activity to its Toyota GAZOO Racing (TGR) Racing Festival and Vios One-Make Race events. In fact, it was the first Malaysian car company to be associated with eSports when it sponsored the Toyota Velocity Esports Championship which saw over 400 participants. The second season of the championship last September saw 650 participants.
Now with the Movement Control Order (MCO) restricting much of the Malaysian population to their homes, the company has come up with something that will excite racing simulator gamers and those who are the ‘best of the best’ can even win cash prizes.
One of the participants in the the ToyotaGAZOO Racing Velocity ESports Championship which had its finals last year at Pavilion Kuala Lumpur.
RM7,500 total prize money
UMWT has announced an online challenge the Toyota GAZOO Racing Malaysia Online Challenge which starts off this tomorrow (Friday, April 24, 2020). This is a virtual time-attack challenge which will have 5 rounds between April 24 and May 22, 2020.
The 5 fastest racers in each round will win prizes ranging from RM500 to RM100, with the total prize money for the entire tournament amounting to RM7,500.
Entry is free by registering online and open to any Malaysian resident 6 years old or older. Those who want to participate must have a PlayStation4 console (and the relevant accessories, of course) and a copy of ‘Gran Turismo Sport’. They must have, either unlocked or purchased, the GR Supra RZ ’19, Toyota TS050 Hybrid, Lexus Au TOM’S RCF, Toyota GT86 Group B Rally or Supra Racing Concept which are the cars required.
The GR Supra RZ, one of the racing cars used in the TGR Online Challenge.
Players are only allowed to join each Round once to set their best time. The time they set will determine their position and when they enter the next round, there will be a ‘Time Handicap’ imposed on all Top 5 Winners of each round to make it more interesting and challenging throughout the Online Challenge. The Time Handicap will range from 2.5 seconds to 0.5 second.
#STAYHOME – this applies to BMW works drivers as well. Instead of competing in the various race series in the real world, they are currently spending their time at home. But they are by no means sat idle and relaxing; even during this unusual period, the drivers have a full schedule. This ranges from fitness training and sim racing, through time with the family, to pursuing old and new hobbies.
Keeping fit
The works drivers are using the time to keep fit so that they are as well prepared as possible for the first races, whenever that will happen. Two-time DTM champion Marco Wittmann, for example, regularly invites his fans to take part in his training sessions at home via his social media channels.
“At the moment, I really am doing a huge amount of exercise – be it endurance training, strength, coordination, or mental training,” he revealed. For Lucas Auer, new to the BMW DTM squad, sport is his main focus as it is for almost everyone. “I do two sessions a day. It keeps you fit and you feel good. I have a treadmill, an ergometer and an arm crank for my endurance training here at home. I am doing all my specific neck, core and other exercises that I need to stay fit.”
The drivers are being supported with their training at home by Formula Medicine and are being given specially devised training plans. For example, BMW Motorsport Junior Dan Harper, who is currently at home with his family in Northern Ireland. He trains four to five times a week using a training plan that he received from Formula Medicine.
Bruno Spengler, who is contesting with BMW Team RLL in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, is even using his training at home for competitions. He cycles at home and can do it with friends using Swift. “We compete against each other in races online. These online races are really difficult, but are so much fun,” he said, adding that there is also the strength training which he does in the small gym at home.
BMW DTM driver Sheldon van der Linde also set up his own training equipment at home in South Africa. “I’m fitter now than I ever have been and feel even better prepared for the season than I have in previous years. The break has meant that I have used my time to work consistently on my fitness and to focus on it,” said van der Linde.
Preparing for real-life, virtually
There is one discipline that is taking up a lot of time for almost all the works drivers: sim racing “It is currently experiencing an incredible boom in the present situation,” observed Martin Tomczyk, a BMW works driver in GT racing. “Almost every works driver has a simulator at home these days, and anyone who hasn’t got one yet will probably be buying one in the next few weeks.”
The simulations are of a very high standard now, and the race series that are organised by the various promoters are incredibly popular. “Everything is so realistic these days that you really feel the motivation as a racing driver and are ecstatic when you get a win. Set-up work, discipline, concentration and teamwork are factors here as well,” said Tomczyk.
Sim racing not only keeps the drivers in ‘race mode’; it also keeps them in contact with the fans. “Despite the break, we can still put on a show that the fans can follow live. It’s really great, there are different livestreams during the races and everyone really enjoys it. I also think it’s great that BMW is getting so involved in sim racing,” said Spengler.
A positive aspect of the current situation for many BMW works drivers is that they are now able to spend a lot of time with their families, and they are doing so across the whole world. GT driver Augusto Farfus (BRA), for example, is with his wife and children in Brazil. “It’s great that I am with my family. This hasn’t been the case for the past 20 years of my life. Unfortunately, it’s because of something that is by no means pleasant, but at least I get to spend a lot more time close to my parents and my family than usual,” he said.
Old and new hobbies
Aside from fitness training, sim racing, family life and home schooling, the BMW drivers are also using the current break to do everyday things. “For example, gardening, or sweeping the driveway – all the things that you usually squeeze into your schedule when you’re at home,” explained Wittmann.
Glock has discovered a new hobby – one which many around the world would also have found. He is getting into cooking and doing an online cookery class. “I’ve been meaning to do it for a while. Now I’ve finally got around to it,” said Glock. “It’s a lot of fun, but it’s a big challenge and uncharted territory for me, but it’s working out quite well!”
De Phillippi has branched out in a totally different direction. While he is waiting to get back to the IMSA series and the Nordschleife, he is dabbling in stock exchanges and financial markets. “I’ve developed a great interest in it during this period. I’ve read a lot about shares, bonds and ETFs to learn how they work together so it’s kind of a new hobby for me. You have to read a lot, and there are a lot of complicated aspects, but I’m really interested in anything to do with numbers.”
With real-world motor racing on hold, simulator racing is beginning to see increased involvement from carmakers. The latest is Subaru of America which has a sponsorship with iRacing, the leader in PC simulator racing, to field the Subaru iRX All-Star Invitational rallycross series.
A world-class field of drivers from a variety of racing disciplines – rally, rallycross, Indycar, NASCAR, motocross, Formula Drift and more – will compete alongside esports pros in a 6-round championship series held entirely online and starting from this Friday (Saturday in Malaysia). The drivers will compete for a US$10,000 (around RM43,350) purse to be donated to charity on their behalf.
Subaru Motorsports USA will field a 3-car line-up featuring the team’s full-time stage rally drivers: 5-time national rally champion and action sports icon, Travis Pastrana, and mountain bike legend and rising rally talent Brandon Semenuk.
They will be joined by 4-time U.S. rallycross champion Scott Speed, making his competitive rallycross return after a 2019 season cut short by injury, and fresh off a podium finish in last weekend’s iRacing Indycar Challenge round. Subaru rallycross star Chris Atkinson will also participate in a Team Yokohama WRX STI, and several other all-star drivers will compete in the WRX STI rallycross Supercar as independent entries.
“With so many people staying at home and missing racing, now is the perfect time to try new things in esports,” said Pastrana. “For this series, we’re going to bring together some of the biggest names from different types of racing and put them on virtual rallycross tracks with dirt, tarmac and jumps. It’s going to be a blast, and I can’t wait to see what happens!”
Subaru iRX All-Star Invitational events will be begin at 6 pm Eastern Time in America each Friday (6 am Saturday in Malaysia), and will be streamed across iRacing’s social media platforms. Fans can also watch via live streaming simulcasts on the Subaru Motorsports USA Facebook page and the pages of other competitors, teams and sponsors. Additional events may be considered as schedules permit.
Since mid-December, thousands of competitors all over the world have been racing against each other in qualifying rounds for the 2020 Porsche Esports Supercup in the so-called ‘Porsche iRacing Cup’. Their duels have taken place on different virtual racetracks that are replicas of real ones.
To date, over 4,900 sim racers have already taken part in the qualifying rounds – twice as many participants compared to the year before. The qualification concludes on March 2, with the top 20 qualifiers gaining entry to contest the Porsche Esports Supercup.
At present, the Red Bull’s Formula 1 driver and avid sim racer Max Verstappen is competing, currently ranking 20th (as at February 10, 2020). The illustrious grid line-up will be enhanced by the 20 top sim racers from last season who automatically qualify for the 2020 races.
Red Bull Racing’s F1 driver Max Verstappen is also among the competitors in the esports series.
iRating system used
During the qualification, a rating system created by iRacing ensures that the level of performance is evenly-matched. The individual numeric value of the iRating system gives an idea of the general skill and success of each driver. The key to achieving the highest possible numeric value is, for example, flawless driving and the corresponding result. Moreover, the points gained at the end of the qualifying rounds determine the performance level in relation to the entire starting grid.
Last year, a total of 2,372 e-drivers attempted to qualify for the Porsche Esports Supercup. For the 2020 season, the defending champion Joshua Rogers (Australia) and his hottest rivals Max Benecke (Germany), Sebastian Job (Great Britain) and Mitchell deJong (USA) return as the favourites. In 2019, they clinched the first four places in the championship.
10 online races from March to September
40 of the world’s best sim racers will compete against each other in 10 online races in a virtual Porsche 911 GT3 Cup. Most of these races take place parallel to the real championship rounds of the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup, which are held as support to the European Formula 1 events.
The first championship sim race takes off on May 2 on the virtual version of the Circuit Zandvoort in the Netherlands (perhaps Dutchman Verstappen will have an advantage?). Simultaneously, the actual Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup will contest its first round at the same venue. On September 19, Italy’s Circuit Monza plays host to the final round of the 2020 Esports Supercup.
Visit www.porsche.com.my for information on new and pre-owned Porsche models in Malaysia.
Car races are decided on the track. That will continue to be the case for some time to come. But virtual racing contests are also on the rise as eSports gain popularity all over the world and have the support of some carmakers. For some time now, eSport tournaments have been drawing huge crowds – but are these competitions really sports? “Of course they are,” said Niklas Krellenberg, one of Germany’s top professional racing gamers. “I do more than sports shooters, for example.”
Athletic associations are beginning to share this view. In 2022, eSports will be a medal event at the Asian Games, and the International Olympic Committee is considering whether to include them at the Summer Games in Paris in 2024.
2.2 billion competitors worldwide
This is hardly surprising. Worldwide sales of computer games exceeded one hundred billion US dollars in 2016 – more than the global film and music industries combined. Some 2.2 billion people compete regularly in these games. The best of them can live off the sport – quite well, in fact. They’re organized in professional teams, draw set salaries, and win high levels of prize money. Tournaments for League of Legends, a role-playing team game, can award millions of dollars to the winners.
Even soccer clubs like VfL Wolfsburg in Germany have begun to add eSport teams to their organizations. “We want to reach young people with our programs,” explained Tim Schumacher, the club’s General Manager, noting that it became the world’s first soccer club to offer contracts to eSport players. And of course, there’s also a strong interest in ‘developing new marketing fields’.
New model presentation at a gaming fair?
In mid-2017, Porsche and Microsoft invited the best e-racers from an online contest to enter a 24-hour race in Le Mans. The contestants vied for their own Le Mans laurels on their Xbox consoles – in a sixth classification – and took part in the official awards ceremony. One week earlier, Microsoft had presented – to a crowd of gamers – the most powerful 911 in history, the GT2 RS, at the Electronic Entertainment Expo in Los Angeles. “The gaming sector means a lot to us, because it enables us to provide an emotional and interactive brand experience to a young and extensive target group,” explained Sebastian Hornung, Porsche’s Director of Branded Entertainment.
Instead of a traditional debut to car enthusiasts at a motorshow, the GT2 RS was first shown to gamers in 2017 at the Electronic Entertainment Expo in Los Angeles.
“Awakening and promoting interest in motorsports and conveying the excitement of the racetrack – you can do that really well in the virtual world,” he added. Last year alone, Hornung and his team put considerable effort into preparing multiple Porsche models for use in a wide range of games. “The entire process – including taking photos and possibly laser measurements, providing the technical data, and producing a digital copy for the game – takes around 6 months for each individual model,” he revealed.
How real are these simulators?
The result is a virtual experience that is astonishingly close to driving a real Porsche. “It’s awfully similar to the real thing,” confirmed test driver Lars Kern as he raced his GT2 RS around the Nordschleife in Forza Motorsport 7. “It feels extremely realistic.”
The simulator at Porsche which uses powerful supercomputers helps engineers in their development work.
Kern is a test and development driver at Porsche who spent many years as a race-car driver. In 2017, he drove a 911 GT2 RS to a new record for road-authorized sportscars on the Nordschleife. He’s also very good at transferring his skills to a racing simulator, thanks to the steering wheel and the software’s high degree of realism. But even for someone with his level of experience, driving without a steering wheel is a completely different story. A small controller with a dozen buttons but no pedals and no feel for the car. “I’m slightly out of my depth,” conceded Kern.
World rally champion on the Xbox
The contestants are another story in the world of eSports. Krellenberg, 27, is already a world rally champion on the Xbox gaming console. He steers his Porsche confidently across the screen through the virtual curves of the legendary racecourse in the Eifel region. The controller is for him what the steering wheel is for Kern—an extension of his arms.
Like Kern, Krellenberg knows the braking points on countless racetracks and the weaknesses of his rivals and challengers. He knows which cars will respond in which ways to strong steering actions. And when he races, he switches off the traction control and ABS.
Niklas Krellenberg is one of Germany’s top professional racing gamers.
You may imagine that Krellenberg has a real sportscar as well but he seldom sits behind a real steering wheel in an actual car. He uses public transportation for the short commute to his university; if he needs a car in his hometown of Magdeburg, he borrows his parents’ wheels.
Krellenberg is a new type of athlete. He doesn’t lift weights or send balls of any type flying across a court. Soccer players have amazing legs; race-car drivers are said to require extraordinary muscles in their buttocks. For gamers like Krellenberg, the eyes and hands are what count. Their fingers can perform up to5 actions per minute.
eSports gaining in relevance
Digital developments and rapidly accelerating process speeds have brought virtual racing to the attention of the traditional racing scene. “The lines between the two fields are starting to blur,” observed Frank-Steffen Walliser, Porsche’s Motorsports Director. “eSports are gaining in relevance, and we’re interested in this development and want to help shape it.”
Digital developments have brought virtual racing to the attention of the traditional racing scene
After all, virtual processes are an integral part of making cars. Simulators are used every day to tune them, and computers are absolutely essential development aids. What’s new are the possibilities for training drivers. How can young talent be encouraged? Console games can help address this question, said Walliser, because ‘many e-racers have acquired a very good foundation’.
Despite major advances in virtual racing, everyone recognizes that they’re different from racing in the real world. “The sense of speed isn’t the same; you can’t compare it with accelerating a real car,” said Kern. “It’s difficult to convey that type of sensation in a virtual setting. The textures, spatial relations, and smells of a race car also play very special roles. Which is why classic motorsports will continue. But in the future, it’ll be side by side with virtual motorsports.”
Videogames have been around since the early 1970s, with players challenging each other on machines in the same room. In tandem with the development of the internet and global connectivity, videogames moved online to evolve into ‘Esports’ from around 2000. In recent years, some car companies have started to become involved in Esports since there are also highly sophisticated motorsports simulators like Playstation 4’s Gran Turismo.
One of the companies is Porsche which organised the inaugural Porsche Esports Supercup online racing series. Encouraged by a successful first season this year, the company is now getting the second season started. Qualifying rounds to the virtual brand cup jointly organised by Porsche and iRacing have been ongoing since mid-December and will last 12 weeks.
10 racing weekends at iconic racetracks
As of May 2020, the top 20 simulation racing drivers of the qualification and the first 20 drivers of the previous season will be competing against each other on 10 racing weekends at iconic racetracks and circuits forming part of the Carrera Cup brand cups.
“The first year of the Porsche Esports Supercup was dominated by thrilling races. In 20 races, we saw 10 different winners! We have achieved our aim of bringing together the best worldwide sim racers in a racing series. We are all the more looking forward to the 2020 season, where we race on the Circuit de La Sarthe in parallel to the Le Mans 24-hour race. In addition, drivers need to prove themselves at Nurburgring Nordschleife – the world’s most challenging racetrack,” said Marco Ujhasi, Porsche Motorsport Esports Manager.
Pre-season testing in Barcelona
The new features of the virtual supercup in 2020 include a 2-day, pre-season test in Barcelona where drivers can prepare for the season. The Porsche Esports Sprint Challenge will also be taking place for the very first time. A new series that is part of the Supercup involving Porsche Cayman GT4 Clubsport vehicles, it is open to all drivers not taking part in the Porsche ESports Supercup.
40 drivers from a total of 16 countries took place in the first edition of the online racing series. Australian Joshua Rogers came out top and was also the first virtual racing driver to receive an award at the ‘Night of Champions’, a gala event that took place at the beginning of December to honour the year’s Porsche motorsports winners.
RM50 million will be allocated for the repair and maintenance of roads leading to Port Klang so as to make it a regional maritime centre and a cargo logistic hub. The Transport Ministry is also conducting a feasibility study for a Klang Logistic Corridor which will be a new logistic highway to connect Northport, Westport and existing highways. Together with another proposal for a Serendah-Port Klang rail bypass, the two projects are expected to cost RM8.3 billion.RM25 million will be allocated to set up contestable matching grant fund to support more pilot projects on digital applications such as autonomous vehicles, drone delivery, and blockchain technology.Average toll charges will be reduced by 18% on all PLUS highways, saving users up to RM1.13 billion in 2020, and a total of RM43 billion until 2038 when the concession expires. PLUS-managed highways include the North-South Expressway (NSE), New Klang Valley Expressway (NKVE), Seremban-Port Dickson Expressway (SPDH), North-South Expressway Central Link (ELITE), Malaysia-Singapore Second Link Highway (Linkedua), the Butterworth-Kulim Expressway (BKE), East-Coast Expressway 2 (LPT2), and the Penang Bridge.Additionally, 4 Klang Valley highways acquired by the government will see a 30% drop in toll fares during non-peak hours (but likely to be higher during peak hours). The highways are Shah Alam Highway (KESAS), Damansara-Puchong Expressway (LDP), Sprint Expressway (SPRINT), and SMART Tunnel (SMART). These four highways will not have toll charges from midnight until dawn.The toll rate for the Sultan Abdul Halim Muadzam Shah Bridge or Second Penang bridge will be reduced to RM7 from RM8.50 (for Class 1 vehicles) from January 1, 2020. This will make the rate similar to the first Penang Bridge. Down south, RM85 million will be allocated to address the congestion problem at the Johor Bahru Causeway and Second Link.The government is firm on moving to B20 biodiesel for the transportation sector at the end of 2020. This will have a positive impact on the oil palm industry as the expected volume is 500,000 tonnes a year.The petrol subsidy programme (PSP) was announced recently and will be implemented from January 2020. Eligible recipients are those registered for BSH and they will get RM30 per month for car owners and RM12 per month for motorcycle owners. The Finance Minister also mentioned a second group which will get a ‘Kad95’ that entitled them to a subsidy on RON95 petrol at 30 sen less per litre (maximum 100 litres/month for cars, 40 litres/month for motorcycles). Details of ‘Kad95’ and criteria for qualification are not known. The fuel subsidy will only be made available when the market price (based on the APM) for RON95 petrol rises above RM2.08/litre.Up to RM1 billion will be spent to improve roads around the country; of this, RM326 million will be used in Sabah and RM224 million for Sarawak. The Pan Borneo Highway project is still continuing but the project costs RM1.2 billion less due to cost-savings.The government will spend RM450 million on the purchase of 500 electric buses for public transport use in cities. There are already 10 electric buses, each costing RM2 million, which have been going around Putrajaya for the past few years.RM20 million will be allocated for the development of eSports, a growing international activity. UMW Toyota Motor was the first local car company to become involved in eSports with its GR Velocity eSports Championship in 2018 and a second season in 2019.
September 12 was ‘National Videogames Day’ in the USA and it’s been an annual event for a while. A guy named David Earle is said to have started the day in the early 1990s. There is confusion about the actual date as there is another date which is July 8.
Anyway, this year, Nissan celebrated ‘National Videogames Day‘ on September 12 with concept esports gaming chair sketches inspired by the Armada SUV, GT-R NISMO sportscar and all-electric Nissan LEAF.
With videogaming and esports now some of the fastest-growing activities on the planet, Nissan has invested in the trend. Earlier this year, the automaker inked partnerships with two of the most popular gaming teams in the world, Faze Clan and OpTic Gaming.
Esports players spend hours perfecting their skills, and gaming rigs are an essential part of each player’s identity. However, esports players often have to choose between aesthetics and comfort – but Nissan’s chairs could offer both. With decades of experience in seating comfort and design (with notable innovations like the Zero Gravity Seat found on many Nissan vehicles), these three conceptual designs are sure to draw the interest of gamers across the globe.
Nissan GT-R NISMO: Inspired by Nissan’s most iconic vehicle, this seat is constructed from lightweight carbonfibre and aluminium. Shaped like a racing seat for ultimate performance, it features red leather and synthetic suede seating surfaces.Nissan Armada: Inspired by Nissan’s full-size rugged but refined SUV, this seat is finished with Platinum Reserve black and brown leather upholstery and configured as a Captain’s Chair. It has climate-control (heating and cooling) so the player will stay comfortable for long hours. Lumbar support will also help keep fatigue away and maintain alertness.Nissan LEAF: This seat is inspired by the world’s best-selling electric vehicle and it has Gun Metal painted surfaces. The leather upholstery is light gray with electric blue inserts. USB charging ports are integrated in the frame for supplementary power and integrated leg rests help to reduce the strain on the lower body.
Currently, Nissan has no plans to build any of the chairs – it’s not in that business. But maybe some specialist in such products might be interested to team up and manufacture them. Wouldn’t you want one in your room?
From the early arcade racing games by Atari in the 1970s – crude and basic by today’s standards – to the sophisticated photo-realistic Playstation games of today, videogames with motorsports themes have certainly come a long, long way. They are no longer just games played within the home but online as millions compete against each other from different countries.
In 2019, the global esports market is expected to generate revenues of US$1.1 billion, up 26.7% year on year; the audience will reach 453.8 million, made up of 201.2 million esports enthusiasts and 252.6 million occasional viewers. Contrary to the popular stereotype, the average gamer’s age is in the early thirties.
Across the world, many of these racers get behind the wheel of a virtual Ford vehicle and enjoy racing against friends and as part of online communities. Now the company is going to be seeking out the best online racers to form its first ever esports teams.
National Fordzilla teams in Europe
Starting at Gamescom, Europe’s leading trade fair for digital games culture, Ford will recruit national Fordzilla teams for France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK – as well as a European team consisting the star players from each national team.
“We at Ford have a racing pedigree that others can only envy. Now is the time to take that know-how and apply it to the world of esports – capturing the imagination of a new generation of virtual racing drivers, inspiring them to take a ride in one of our Ford Performance vehicles,” said Roelant de Waard, Vice-President, Marketing Sales & Service, Ford of Europe.
Synergies between gaming and mobility
Ford is increasingly intrigued by synergies between gaming and mobility and how they could help shape the way in which we all get about in the future – whether that is as commuters, as passengers in autonomous vehicles or simply enjoying the thrill of performance.
“The distinction between real and virtual worlds is blurring. Gaming is now a part of mainstream culture. Top gamers challenge professional race drivers in real life and many of our day-to-day activities are ‘gamified’, from using fitness apps to collecting loyalty points for a free coffee,” said Amko Leenarts, Director, Design, Ford of Europe. “Harnessing the passion and expertise of the gaming community will help evolve our thinking around what future journeys will look like – something that we are all committed to and really excited about.”
In 2017, Ford became the first manufacturer to host a stand at Gamescom, which boasts more than 1,000 exhibitors that attract hundreds of thousands of visitors every year, and last year, the company pioneered the first-ever vehicle reveal at the show – unveiling the Ford Ranger Raptor, the performance version of Europe’s best-selling pickup.
Forza Motorsport 7
Among the games that Fordzilla will compete on is Forza Motorsport 7, developed by Microsoft Game Studios’ Turn 10 Studios. The Forza franchise is the best-selling racing franchise of this console generation and is home to one of the largest racing communities in the world. Millions of people worldwide play Forza games each month, with 1 million players choosing Ford vehicles.
Forza Motorsport has a wide selection of Ford models, including this Sierra RS500 Cosworth from 1987.
“We are pleased to see Forza Motorsport continuing to be the game of choice for big brands like Ford as they launch esports initiatives,” said Justin Osmer, Sr. Manager of Partnership Development at Turn 10 Studios, the creators of Forza Motorsport. “With millions of fans playing Forza games, we’ve seen significant growth in the numbers who want to compete, or simply spectate, in esports and it’s great to see a long-standing partner like Ford Motor Company bringing even more opportunities to participate.”
To know more about the Ford Ranger Raptor which you can buy in Malaysia, visit www.sdacford.com.my
