Formula E has announced its new esports competition, Formula E Accelerate, which builds on the success of last year's ABB Formula E Race at Home Challenge in support of UNICEF.
Over six events, 24 rising stars from the world of motorsport and esports will compete against one another in a simulated racing experience using rFactor2 software. Blending the real and virtual worlds, each competitor will score Formula E Accelerate points for a real-life Formula E team. The virtual racers will also receive expert tips, mentoring and other talent development opportunities from the team they are attached to.
Everyone who participates in all six races will receive a share of a minimum prize pool of $162,500, with the overall winner earning a test drive in a Formula E Gen2 car.
There will be two additional virtual races, each featuring 12 real-life Formula E drivers, one per racing team, during Round 4 and the Grand Final of Formula E Accelerate. Points from these races will be added to the overall team standings.
The first round of Formula E Accelerate will be on 28 January 2021, the second round on 4 February 2021, the third round on 11 February 2021, the fourth round on 11 March 2021, the fifth round on 18 March 2021 and the grand finale on 25 March 2021, with the grand finale worth double the points. Each 25-minute race will be broadcast in a 90-minute programme and will be streamed live on Formula E social and streaming platforms.
