Motorsport UK has rebranded its Tri-Nations Esports Cup to the Four Nations Esports Cup, with South Africa joining the line-up for 2025.
The third edition of the sim racing event, organised by the national motorsport body, will involve the UK, New Zealand, Australia and South Africa.
The first phase of the competition will see drivers participate in time attack qualifiers on the iRacing platform on July 19th and 20th, preceding the main event on August 4th.
Qualifiers will involve the McLaren 720S GT3 EVO and a fixed setup to ensure a level playing field is maintained. The main event of the competition will take place on August 4th, with two 30-minute races determining the eventual champion.
“The Four Nations Esports Cup plays on the established sporting rivalry between all four nations, and it’s a really fun, competitive event,” said Paul Crawford, Head of Esports at Motorsport UK.
“With drivers set to compete from four different ASNs and the time zones, it truly showcases the accessibility of esports. May the best nation win!”
Each race will feature ten representatives from each nation, creating a grid of 40 cars that will compete around virtual versions of Silverstone and Bathurst. The nation that earns the most points across the two races is declared the winner.
Is Sim Racing Still Growing?
Following its initial explosion in 2020, the sim racing sector has continued to show signs of steady growth over the course of the last 12 months.
For iRacing, the sim racing platform continues to provide aspiring racing drivers with a service and competitions that can lead to real-world motorsport opportunities. In June, it partnered with the Skip Barber Racing School, where drivers compete for a chance to earn a seat in the real-world Skip Barber Race Series.
Elsewhere, automotive marques continue to find value in the esport, with Porsche opening a dedicated sim racing facility for its own esports team within its Cologne headquarters.
