Racing video games get consistently more accurate and true to real-life physics with each new generation, and for at least a decade gamers have been plucked up from their couches and thrust into the driver’s seat of a race car only to prove that they can be quite successful. Nissan and Playstation partnered for a program to develop new drivers, and some of them ended up racing in international open wheel, GT, and prototype classes to a certain level of success. Porsche wants to capture that same lightning in a bottle with their new toe in the water in their massive partnership with the E Sports League (ESL), Microsoft, and Turn 10 on their Forza Motorsport platform.
The 911 GT3 RS Challenge begins with a “Virtual Clash” with an online cup. Anyone who has the current XBox, a copy of Forza Motorsport 7, and an internet connection can participate in the competition. From now until August 7th, you can attempt to qualify for the challenge by setting laps in the GT3 RS. On August 11th and 12th, there will be an online cup playoff segment to find the top gamers in the world.
Virtual World Meets Reality
Once the qualification process has been finished, Porsche will invite virtual racers to Gamescom in Cologne, Germany for the second level of competition. During the European gaming convention, Porsche and Forza Motorsport will stage a live final race between all of the qualifiers. The top four racers in that event will be given the opportunity to progress into a real GT3 RS at a real race track. Goodbye virtual, here comes reality!
What They Win
A full day of training will be awarded to all four racers at Porsche’s Leipzig track, then further training will happen at the Hungaroring. Following both of those driving training days, the four finalists will compete on Porsche’s real-deal racing simulator in a timed competition putting all of their combined knowledge to use. These folks have already shown proclivity in a digital GT3 RS and had two full days of training in a real GT3 RS, so chances are they’ll do well in the sim. They’ve got to bring their A-game, because the winner gets to move on to the Grand Finale.