Forty-Five Cars Are Entered for the Penultimate Round
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The third race of the 2023 IMSA Esports Global Championship is set to take place at virtual Sebring International Raceway this Sunday, Dec. 3. This will be the series’ first visit to the historic track. The race will be broadcast live on IMSA’s and iRacing’s YouTube, Facebook and Twitch social media channels with the “Countdown to Green” pre-race show beginning at 1:45 p.m. ET.
Currently halfway through its second season, the IMSA Esports Global Championship is comprised of four high-profile events with 45 teams – two drivers per car – competing in the Grand Touring Prototype (GTP) and GT Daytona (GTD) classes of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. The series is a collaboration of IMSA, iRacing, the Virtual Competition Organisation (VCO), and Michelin.
Last Race:
Two weeks ago at Watkins Glen International, Team Redline dominated the GTP and GTD classes. The No. 71 BMW M Team Redline entry of Diogo Pinto and Chris Lulham scored the GTP class win after overtaking the No. 89 BMW M Team BS+COMPETITION, who had started on the pole, during the middle section of pit stops. Team Redline’s No. 170 Ferrari of Gianni Vecchio and Ole Steinbraten dominated the GTD class, taking control from the No. 143 Altus Esports Porsche early in the race. Both Team Redline entries lead their respective class points standings.
Entry List:
There are 45 full-time teams entered for the virtual Sebring event – 20 in the GTP class and 25 in GTD. Sebring will feature the first GTD wildcard in Lys Esports, after Nitro Circus competed at Road Atlanta and Texaco Racing by TK raced at Watkins Glen as GTP wildcards. Substitute drivers for the championship contending teams are italicized.
The Schedule:
Only two races remain in the 2023 season. Following Sebring, the season finale will be held Saturday, Dec. 16 at virtual Daytona International Speedway. Each event will start at 19:00 GMT (2 p.m. ET) and will run for two hours and 40 minutes.
Last Season:
In its inaugural season in 2022, the IMSA Esports Global Championship featured the GTD and Touring Car (TCR, from the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge) classes. The series attracted some of the world’s best sim racers and teams, some with ties to teams from IMSA, the FIA World Endurance Championship and Formula One.
The GTD championship was captured by the No. 98 Apex Racing Team Porsche driven by Alejandro Sanchez and Kevin Ellis Jr. The TCR championship went to the No. 176 SimRC Hyundai driven by Corentin Guinez and Kieran Harrison.
WATCH: IMSA Esports Global Championship Race No. 3 – Sebring
Track Facts:
Respect the bumps! Sebring International Raceway is a 3.74-mile, 17-turn permanent road course located in Sebring, Fla. The first race was held at the circuit in 1950 and it hosts the WeatherTech Championship’s Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring.
For more information on the IMSA Esports Global Championship, visit iracing.com/imsa-esports. For more information about the Virtual Competition Organisation (VCO), visit vco-esports.com For more information on iRacing and for special offers, visit iracing.com.