UK-based Formula One team Williams Racing has extended and expanded its partnership with UK esports organisation Resolve.
As a result of the expansion, Williams Resolve will compete in Fortnite esports for the first time alongside the Rocket League Championship Series (RLCS).
The two parties first collaborated in July 2021, entering a team into the highest tier of competitive Rocket League. Across the Fall and Winter splits of the 2021/22 season, the team secured top ten finishes. In addition, the team scored the highest viewing figures of a single European RLCS match, with over 125,000 viewers tuning into its match against Karmine Corp.
Alongside Fortnite and Rocket League, Williams fields numerous sim racing rosters across a range of titles including iRacing, Gran Turismo and Assetto Corsa Competizione.
In May, Epic Games unveiled details on the FNCS Invitational 2022 Fortnite tournament, the first LAN event for the battle royale since 2019. The event sees invited teams compete for a chance to win the lion’s share of a $1m (~$821,430) prize pool.
More recently, in-game activations allow Fortnite players to watch RLCS events from within the game enabling both communities to interact.
Steven English, Director of Williams Esports, spoke on the expansion: “It’s exciting to take Williams into another new title by entering Fortnite as part of our renewed partnership with Resolve.
“We were enthused by our first steps in Rocket League this season. The response from taking Williams into a totally new arena was super positive, and we saw great potential for future success with the top 5 finish in our first Major. So now we’re encouraged to work with Resolve across Fortnite as well as Rocket League. Fortnite has continued to grow in recent years and engages a huge number of gamers, so it’s a natural step for us.”
