Formula 1 launches first official esports series
August 21, 2017
Formula 1 is set to launch its first ever official esports series in partnership with Codemasters and Gfinity, according to Reuters.
The landmark series will see gamers from around the world compete for the right to be crowned F1’s number one virtual driver.
A qualification round is set to kick off in September and will be followed by the semi-finals in October, which will be broadcast live from the Gfinity Arena in London.
20 competitors will then travel to Abu Dhabi for the final which will be held on the 24 and 25 November – the same weekend as the final Formula 1 Championship race of the 2017 season.
The series will take place on run on PlayStation4, Xbox One and Windows PC platforms.
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Sean Bratches, Formula 1 managing director, said: “This launch presents an amazing opportunity for our business: strategically and in the way we engage fans.
“First, it’s a growing category with tremendous fan engagement that we’re entering in a big way; and we are proud to have Codemasters and Gfinity joining us on this ride.
“Of course as we do in Formula 1, we’ll continue to evolve and innovate in the way we run this virtual counterpart to the F1 championship to ensure we provide the most exciting and enjoyable experience we can for our fans.”
Neville Upton, Gfinity chief executive, added: “Formula 1 entering esports is a powerful endorsement to how vital it is for cutting edge organisations to consider esports in their digital offering in order to reach the elusive and lucrative millennial fan base.
“Gfinity has developed a unique & proprietary technical platform, which coupled with our in depth experience enable us to deliver a world-class turnkey solution for our global partners.”
Liberty Media, who completed a takeover of Formula One earlier this year, have targeted gaming as a key area to connect with a younger audience and drive revenues.