The world’s leading sim racing teams and drivers will once again become a permanent fixture within the real-world Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe Powered by AWS paddock in 2026, thanks to the return of the SRO Esports Sim Pro Series.
The five-round invitational championship strengthens an already packed global SRO Esports calendar. Alongside it, the ecosystem continues to feature multiple online competitions supported by Mobileye—including regional sprint championships and an intercontinental endurance series—as well as the Fanatec Esports GT Pro Series, where virtual performance contributes directly to real-world team standings.
The Fanatec Arena, which travels to each Endurance Cup event, will once again host two 60-minute Assetto Corsa Competizione races per weekend: one for real-world GT drivers and another dedicated to elite sim racing professionals. Competitors will battle for points and prize money at Monza, Circuit Paul Ricard, Spa-Francorchamps, Nürburgring, and Barcelona.
The Sim Pro Series builds on the continued success of previous on-site esports events, which have proven to be a major attraction for both fans and manufacturers by blending virtual and real-world competition within the same event environment.
A total of 24 professional entries will compete at each round. The majority of teams are confirmed ahead of the season, while the final grid spot is determined via an on-site last chance qualifier. Teams retain flexibility to rotate drivers throughout the five-round championship.
Each event is designed as a one-day competition format. Following rig setup and practice sessions earlier in the day, drivers progress through warm-up, qualifying, and the main race in the evening—directly following the Fanatec Esports GT Pro Series session.
A total prize pool of €75,000 will be distributed across the championship.
In addition, €88,500 is allocated to SRO Esports’ global online competitions. The Mobileye GT World Challenge Esports championships in Europe, Asia, and America each feature five sprint races, while the endurance component is represented by the Intercontinental GT Challenge Esports Powered by Mobileye, spanning five iconic circuits across different continents. Each championship allows up to 24 Pro and 24 Silver entries.
To encourage regional participation, drivers must compete within their respective geographic series.
European and Asian races are typically held midweek, while American rounds take place on weekends. Intercontinental endurance events are scheduled across full race weekends.
2026 SRO Esports Sim Pro Series Calendar (On-site Sprint)
- April 18 – Monza
- May 30 – Circuit Paul Ricard
- June 27 – Spa-Francorchamps
- July 25 – Nürburgring
- September 26 – Barcelona
Total Prize Pool: €75,000
LEAVE A COMMENT WITH YOUR OPINION ON SIMRACING!
Leave a Reply