Drivers to compete in esports competitions as Supercars season is suspended

Supercars

Drivers to compete in esports competitions as Supercars season is suspended

Supercars look to esports to provide fans with an escape from the coronavirus pandemic

Sam Hall

Wednesday 18 March 2020 12:15 Updated: 12:33

The Virgin Australia Supercars Championship is to switch to the virtual world after being forced to postpone the start of the series until June due to the Coronavirus.

Supercars was due to hold four races across the weekend of the Australian Grand Prix, but the decision to cancel the event had a knock-on effect that was greater than just Formula 1.

CEO Sean Seamer, though, has revealed plans to fill the void and provide some sort of entertainment for the fans.

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"Today, on behalf of the Virgin Australia Supercars Championship, I want to provide an update on our plan for managing the 2020 Championship during the months ahead," read an open letter from Seamer.

"We have been working diligently to assess all available options to ensure continuity of the Series.

"Obviously, the situation is evolving, but we acknowledge the need to act decisively with the information we have at hand.

"Our sport is a visceral experience and rather than run without crowds, we have decided, along with our key broadcast and government partners, to delay any further racing until June.

"Tasmania, Auckland and Perth events will all be postponed until later in the year, not cancelled.

"Fortunately, our calendar this year enables us to do this.

"Supercars’ priority is to deliver the 14 round 2020 championship for our fans and partners, irrespective of the dates. Bathurst will obviously proceed on its scheduled date. We have a plan for how we can make that happen and will begin discussions with all of our stakeholders over the coming days to lock this in.

"We anticipate that we will be able to formalise and communicate this plan within the next few weeks."

The announcement does not mean that there will be no Supercars action throughout the early part of 2020 however, with Seamer confirming the series will take advantage of their Gfinity Supercars Eseries, to ensure that fans still get to see their favourite drivers competing.

The format of these events is yet to be revealed, but Seamer implied the majority of real world drivers, if not all, will compete.

"In the meantime, we are unique and fortunate in that we are able to simulate our racing via eSports," continued Seamer.

"So, between now and late June, Supercars will host, via Twitch, Fox Sports and Kayo, an eSeries Championship where fans will get to see our stars battle it out in a virtual world while we wait to go racing again for real.

"Our new annual behind the scenes Docuseries, The Inside Line - A Season with Erebus Motorsport, will ensure that, in conjunction with our eSeries, Supercars and its stars stay in our fans’ living rooms over the coming days and weeks. Eight episodes of this series will be available from March 30 on Foxtel, Fox Sports and Kayo."