- Qualifying for an Olympic Virtual Series has just opened, with auto racing one of five sports represented.
- Time trials started today and run through May 23, and then the top 16 sim racers from countries around the world will compete for virtual Olympic gold in a live final event on June 23.
- To qualify, first head over to Gran Turismo Sport‘s website and enter.
Auto racing has returned to the Olympic Games, thanks to the new Olympic Virtual Series Motor Sport Event. It’s one of five sports represented—the others are baseball, cycling, rowing, and sailing—all led by video game publishers and their respective International Sports Federations. Gran Turismo Sport, founded by the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA)—which also acts as the governing body for Formula 1, World Rallycross, Formula E, and the World Endurance Championship—will host sim racers from across the world as they compete for Olympic gold.
From May 13 to 23, Gran Turismo Sport players 18 years and older (Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates require 21 or older) can qualify for the Olympic Virtual Series World Final in a time trial event. The top 16 drivers from around the world will battle for their spot on the podium. Up to seven drivers will represent Europe, Africa, and the Middle East collectively, two from North America, two from Central and South America, four from Asia, and one for the entire Oceania region. The World Final will be broadcast live, presumably on the Gran Turismo TV YouTube channel, on June 23, which is also known as Olympic Day to commemorate the start of the modern Olympic Games. The driver with the most points after three races will be the first ever Olympic Virtual Series Motor Sport winner.
Not only does this new virtual series hope to expand Olympic athlete eligibility, it also changes what it takes to become one. Does the quickest Gran Turismo Sport racer in the world need to eat a bowl of Wheaties in the morning? Probably not, but if you’ve never seen how tight the competition is between drivers during previous FIA Gran Turismo Sport championships, well- it takes more than an ethernet cord and a Sony PlayStation 4 or PlayStation 5 to put down lap times like these pros.
The time trial event uses a widebody Toyota Supra concept on the Tokyo Expressway South Inner Loop track. Fitting, because Toyota is a leading sponsor for the Tokyo Olympic Games. No tire wear, no mechanical damage, and no fuel consumption. Aside from the minimum age requirement, anyone using their personal PlayStation Network account can compete. Using a controller? You’re good. Using a $10,000 rig you’ve retrofitted into the front clip of a junked Mitsubishi Galant VR-4? Even better.
For now, the top 16 drivers are from Brazil, Chile, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, and Japan. The quickest North American driver is a Canadian in 40th place. So far there isn’t a single driver from the United States in the top 100. Someone should probably put their lucky pair of Stars and Stripes on and go change that.
Austin IrwinCar and Driver
To join, click here and complete the Olympic Virtual Series Motor Sport Event entry form. It will require you login using your PlayStation Network account, but once you’ve completed that, you can access the time trial event in Gran Turismo Sport by going to the Sport tab and selecting Time Trials. From there, it’s all hard work until a champion is made.
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