Austin, TX – Following a successful SRO E-Sport Charity Challenge to raise funds for the COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund, SRO Motorsports America is excited to announce GT Rivals, a weekly esports invitational where real world racers, sim racers, and invited guests go head-to-head in GT World Challenge powered by AWS’ official game - Assetto Corsa Competizione.
Assetto Corsa Competizione (ACC), developed by Kunos Simulazioni and published by 505 Games, lets players experience the real atmosphere of the GT World Challenge series. Designed for esports, Assetto Corsa Competizione is bringing sim racers into an immersive experience behind the wheels of today’s top GT3 racers from Acura, Aston Martin, Audi, Bentley, BMW, Ferrari, Lamborghini, McLaren, Mercedes-AMG, Porsche, and more.
GT Rivals will help racing drivers and motorsports fans stay engaged with the passion they so deeply love. Drivers will race across the best circuits in the world in a weekly challenge to take place Sundays at 3pm EDT, streamed on Twitch, YouTube, and Facebook for fans to catch all the action.
The series will launch with key esports partners including ASUS Republic of Gamers, ASUS TUF Gaming, Fanatec, Sim Lab, Champion Motorsports, and SYM TV.
Each round will feature up to 30 drivers made up of real world racers from SRO America, joining sim racers, and invited guests. Confirmed to participate during the GT Rivals season are current and former GT World Challenge America powered by AWS drivers Kyle Marcelli (Racers Edge Motorsports), Shelby Blackstock (Racers Edge Motorsports), Colin Braun (DXDT Racing), Ryan Dalziel (DXDT Racing), Daniel Morad (Alegra Motorsports), Guy Cosmo (K-Pax Racing), Patrick Byrne (K-Pax Racing), Andy Soucek (K-Pax Racing), Max Root (Wright Motorsports), James Sofronas (GMG Racing), Jeroen Bleekemolen (GMG Racing), Greg Liefooghe (Cameron Racing) and Mark Issa (Vital Speed Motorsports).
From Pirelli GT4 America, drivers Derek DeBoer (The Racers Group), James Pesek (PF Racing), Nicolai Elghanayan (Marco Polo Motorsports), Jason Bell (GMG Racing), Steven McAleer (Classic BMW), and Kenton Koch (Bsport Racing) will join GT Rivals. TC America drivers Toby Grahovic (Classic BMW), Steve Streimer (Rooster Hall Racing), Kevin Boehm (DXDT Racing) and Kevin Anderson (TechSport Racing) are also in the mix. Plus, former Pirelli World Challenge driver and GT Academy winner Bryan Heitkotter will get back behind the wheel of a virtual GT3 car for this esports invitational. More drivers will be announced shortly.
Calling the action, SRO America pit lane reporter Ryan Myrehn will be joined by former TC America champion Tom O’Gorman and SYM TV’s Kyle Heyer.
Events will include a 120-minute open practice, 20-minute qualifying, and 60-minute sprint race, streamed live every Sunday at 3pm ET beginning April 12th through May 31.
Event Schedule
April 12th | Laguna Seca Raceway
April 19th | Misano
April 26th | Paul Ricard
May 3rd | Spa Francorchamps
May 10th | Suzuka
May 17th | Barcelona
May 24th | Mount Panorama
May 31st | Kyalami **Finals Event**
*Subject to change