Formula One Launches its own E-Sports Series
By Emre Bilginoglu, Attorney, Istanbul, Turkey
Formula One announced on 21 August 2017 the launch of its own E-Sports Series, which will run from September to Ocotber 2017. Formula One will crown its first virtual world champion at the Abu Dhabi Formula One Grand Prix, which will end the current race season.
Formula one has teamed up with Codemasters, a prominent racing games developer and publisher, and Gfinity, the e-sports events and competition specialist.
The 2017 Formula One E-Sports Series is the first event of an annual competition, which will be available on three platforms: Xbox One; PS 4; and Windows PC.
Finals of the E-Sports competition will be held as part of the 2017 Formula One final at the Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, which will take place on 24 and 25 November. The winner of the competition will have the honour of being crowned champion during the same weekend.
The winner will also gain the advantage of automatically qualifying for the semi-finals of next year’s E-Sports Formula One Series.
The new US owners of Formula One, Liberty Media, who acquired Formula One in January of this year, have identified gaming as a new growth area in order to connect with younger fans and thereby increase revenues.
In line with these commercial objectives, Managing Director of Formula One, Sean Bratches, has told Reuters News Agency that the new Formula One E-Sports Series represents “an amazing opportunity for our business: strategically and the way we engage fans.”
Competitors may apply to enter the competition by registering their interest at https://f1esports.com.
Emre Bilginoglu may be contacted by e-mail at ‘This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ’.
