The next stage in the partnership between the FIA, Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile, and iRacing, the world-famous sim-racing title, is already underway, in the form of an FIA F4 eSport World Championship that will make its debut in September 2024. This world championship aims to race a pool of drivers previously selected through regional qualifiers, with winners receiving prizes of up to a cool $25,000.

“We couldn’t be more excited to be working with the FIA to launch the FIA F4 World eSports Championship,” says Tony Gardner, President of iRacing. “iRacing and the FIA are committed to helping aspiring drivers enter the real world of motorsport through accessible opportunities, and the Formula 4 platform is a great way to do this. We look forward to an exciting season this autumn and are confident that the leaders of this series will compete at the highest level of motorsport again in the years to come.”

This global championship is a consistent continuation of the collaboration between the FIA and iRacing, which made its debut in 2023 with the FIA F4 Regional Tours. In fact, only the drivers who win the FIA F4 Regional Tours will be eligible, depending on their region, for the FIA F4 eSport Global Championship, guaranteeing drivers from all over the world.

Nikolas Tombazis, FIA Director of Single Seater, said: “I’m delighted that the FIA is partnering with iRacing again for the next phase of this highly innovative collaboration, bringing FIA F4 eSports to the global stage after the great success at regional level. This latest stage of our partnership aligns with our strategy to foster the growth and development of eSports and, in so doing, broaden the appeal of our sport to new audiences, with the aim of doubling global participation in motorsport.”

This new championship will run from mid-September, with 4 events and 8 rounds in all on the following dates: September 14 and 28, October 12 and November 2. As for the tracks, they will be announced 24 hours before each race, so drivers will have to adapt quickly to track conditions. What’s more, sim-racing setups will be fixed, in the interests of fairness of course. For more details on this new eSport championship, and above all on how to take part, visit the FIA andiRacing websites, or watch the broadcast on iRacing’s social networks.