The North American branch of German automotive marque Porsche has announced the launch of the inaugural Porsche Esports Carrera Cup North America season.
The sim racing competition will take place from March 18th to April 22nd, with its qualifiers running from February 18th to 25th on the iRacing platform.
Qualifying rounds on the virtual versions of Road America and Sebring International Raceway will determine the top 40 drivers based on their aggregate times in iRacing’s Time Attack mode. Similar to the real-world Porsche Carrera Cup, drivers will use a default setup to ensure a level playing field.
Each of the six rounds will include a 60-minute practice session and 15 minutes of qualifying before drivers take to the grid and compete in a 40-minute sprint race. The race winner will receive 25 championship points, while two points will be awarded to the driver who earns Pole Position. The driver who sets the fastest lap during a race will receive a bonus point.
Porsche is no stranger to the world of sim racing, having operated several events over the past six years. In May 2025, the marque opened a dedicated facility at its Cologne headquarters for its factory team to practice and compete.
In addition to its North American championship, Porsche continues to host regional competitions in the UK and around the world. The UK edition attracts some of sim racing’s biggest names such as Team Redline driver Sebastian Job.
Sim Racing in 2026
Despite the growth of sim racing slowing down following its initial boom period in 2020, the discipline continues to attract new stakeholders looking to enter the esports industry.
iRacing, the platform used for the Porsche Esports Carrera Cup North America season, remains one of the scene’s most popular titles. In January, it announced the return of the IndyCar Thrustmaster iRacing Pro Series, featuring a $50,000 (~£36,582) prize pool.
