- FIA Esports Global Rally Tour is an esports competition using AC Rally
- Online qualifiers set to take place between 12th and 25th May
The FIA has partnered with Assetto Corsa Rally to present the FIA Esports Global Rally Tour.
The sim racing competition will feature regional qualifiers across six regions: Europe, the Middle East and North Africa, North America, South America, Asia-Pacific, and Africa, with the FIA hoping to boost motorsport participation for future generations.
Online qualifiers will commence from 12th May and run until 25th May, with the fastest eight drivers from each region progressing to regional knockout rounds.
The top two from each regional knockout, plus two additional European contestants and two further wildcard entries, will qualify for the live final, which will take place at the prestigious FIA Awards show in Shanghai on 12th December 2026.
Knockout qualifying
The Asia-Pacific knockout qualifier will commence on 23rd June at the FIA Conference in Macau, with the European round set to take place between the 16th and 18th October during Frankfurt’s SimRacing Expo. Both events will feature hardware from two of the FIA’s official Esports suppliers, Advanced Simracing and D-Box. Other regional final dates have yet to be confirmed
The lucky finalists will be whittled down to a final pair of drivers, who will appear in a live, side-by-side Grand Final on the FIA Awards Ceremony stage, watched on by an audience including 2026’s Formula 1 and WRC champions.
“Expanding the Esports discipline and connecting its fast-growing audience with our National Sporting Authorities to help reinforce their local initiatives is one of our key priorities”, stated FIA Esports Commission President Niroshan Pereira.
“The FIA Esports Global Rally Tour truly embodies this vision and marks a significant step forward for the sport. I would like to thank our FIA President and the FIA Regional Vice Presidents for their unwavering support, and I am excited to see thousands of drivers from around the world compete for a chance to showcase their skills in front of all FIA World Champions in Shanghai later this year,” he continued.
Assetto Corsa Rally is an Early Access rally simulator co-developed by Kunos Simulazioni and Supernova Games Studios. Featuring laser-scanned stages and a growing list of authentically replicated cars, its latest update will release on 30th April, featuring the iconic Group A Subaru Impreza and Peugeot 306 II Maxi Kit Car.
Further participation details on the FIA Esports Global Rally Tour will be released in due course.