YAS HEAT TO FACE ADDITIONAL WORLD CLASS OPPONENTS AS V10 R-LEAGUE EXPANDS AHEAD OF SEASON 2
TWO NEW TEAMS - MCLAREN SHADOW AND R8G ESPORTS - HAVE BEEN ADDED TO THE LINE UP
SEASON 1 WAS A BIG HIT, WITH BROADCAST RIGHTS PICKED UP GLOBALLY BY STARZPLAY ARABIA, ESPN AND BT SPORT
Season 2 of the V10 R-League is fast approaching and it promises to be the biggest yet with YAS HEAT facing an additional two new opponents – McLaren Shadow and R8G Esports – as the esports racing competition expands.
Gfinity and Abu Dhabi Motorsports Management first launched the V10 R-League in 2020 as an eight-team series, but following the huge success of Season 1, two additional teams have now been added to the esports racing competition.
With a purpose-built, single-seater car powered by a monstrous V10 engine, the V10 R-League produces the atmosphere racing fans have missed while providing thrilling on-track action in a unique team vs team format.
Now it’s back, and bigger than ever for Season 2!
The expansion to 10 teams will see the V10 R-League move to a two-division format with playoffs and a grand final in which the champion will be crowned.
The two divisions of five will be created by seedings based on last season's performances, with one of the new teams joining each division.
The top three teams in each division will move into the playoffs, with the division winners receiving a bye to the semi-finals.
NEW CHALLENGERS ENTER
The V10 R-League already featured some of the biggest names in motorsport, with YAS HEAT competing against the likes of Red Bull Racing, BMW Motorsport and eventual winners, Porsche24 Redline, in Season 1, which was watched by millions around the world.
However, the addition of two new teams is set to increase the aura of the competition to new heights.
McLaren Shadow will step into the V10 car and compete with a team led by British sim racer and GT driver James Baldwin, while R8G Esports was launched by Romain Grosjean, a former Formula 1 star and current IndyCar competitor.
During Season 2, YAS HEAT will be attempting to build on their performances in the inaugural edition of the competition as they go up against some of motorsport’s most powerful and well-known brands.
NEW & IMPROVED MATCH FORMAT
Each team-vs-team race will take on a different look from last year.
Matches will be split into a home and an away leg with teams nominating a home circuit for the match. Each venue will then host a relay and team race, which means a whitewash score will be 4-0 for Season 2 and make each dropped point all the more crucial.
Tracks will be picked from a pool each week, with each team able to veto a circuit. The added layer of strategy will make preparing for races a little trickier this time around.
HOW TO WATCH SEASON 2
The new season of the V10 R-League, which begins in April, will be shown in more countries than ever before.
Fans in the MENA region can watch coverage via StarzPlay Arabia, while BT Sport will continue to air Season 2 in the UK.
Following the success of Season 1, ESPN will be expanding its coverage during Season 2, taking the race action to fans in Canada, the Caribbean, Latin America and Oceania for the first time.
John Clarke, CEO, Gfinity said: “The V10 R-League is back bigger and better than before, with an expanded roster, two new teams, an even faster car, some new tracks and an exciting revised format for fans to enjoy. Season 1, in just seven weeks, became one of the most watched virtual racing competitions, with 35 million gaming fans on ESPN in the US alone tuning in. Based on this success, multiple ESPN markets across every continent will now be airing Season 2. We continue to build the linear and digital audiences with the goal of making the V10 R-League the most commercially valuable virtual racing competition in the world. Great teams and competitive racing, supported by Gfinity’s world class production values, means the V10 R-League will be back with a bang!”
Saif Al Noaimi, Acting CEO Abu Dhabi Motorsports Management said: “The success of Season 1, two new world class teams and growing broadcast commitment reflects the strength of the programme and our partnership with Gfinity. To see the first of our competitions within the Global Racing Series start to flourish is testament to the hard work and talent of the entire team. We look forward to building upon this growth and developing new ideas to bring to market.”
SEASON 1 WAS A BIG HIT, WITH BROADCAST RIGHTS PICKED UP GLOBALLY BY STARZPLAY ARABIA, ESPN AND BT SPORT
Season 2 of the V10 R-League is fast approaching and it promises to be the biggest yet with YAS HEAT facing an additional two new opponents – McLaren Shadow and R8G Esports – as the esports racing competition expands.
Gfinity and Abu Dhabi Motorsports Management first launched the V10 R-League in 2020 as an eight-team series, but following the huge success of Season 1, two additional teams have now been added to the esports racing competition.
With a purpose-built, single-seater car powered by a monstrous V10 engine, the V10 R-League produces the atmosphere racing fans have missed while providing thrilling on-track action in a unique team vs team format.
Now it’s back, and bigger than ever for Season 2!
The expansion to 10 teams will see the V10 R-League move to a two-division format with playoffs and a grand final in which the champion will be crowned.
The two divisions of five will be created by seedings based on last season's performances, with one of the new teams joining each division.
The top three teams in each division will move into the playoffs, with the division winners receiving a bye to the semi-finals.
NEW CHALLENGERS ENTER
The V10 R-League already featured some of the biggest names in motorsport, with YAS HEAT competing against the likes of Red Bull Racing, BMW Motorsport and eventual winners, Porsche24 Redline, in Season 1, which was watched by millions around the world.
However, the addition of two new teams is set to increase the aura of the competition to new heights.
McLaren Shadow will step into the V10 car and compete with a team led by British sim racer and GT driver James Baldwin, while R8G Esports was launched by Romain Grosjean, a former Formula 1 star and current IndyCar competitor.
During Season 2, YAS HEAT will be attempting to build on their performances in the inaugural edition of the competition as they go up against some of motorsport’s most powerful and well-known brands.
NEW & IMPROVED MATCH FORMAT
Each team-vs-team race will take on a different look from last year.
Matches will be split into a home and an away leg with teams nominating a home circuit for the match. Each venue will then host a relay and team race, which means a whitewash score will be 4-0 for Season 2 and make each dropped point all the more crucial.
Tracks will be picked from a pool each week, with each team able to veto a circuit. The added layer of strategy will make preparing for races a little trickier this time around.
HOW TO WATCH SEASON 2
The new season of the V10 R-League, which begins in April, will be shown in more countries than ever before.
Fans in the MENA region can watch coverage via StarzPlay Arabia, while BT Sport will continue to air Season 2 in the UK.
Following the success of Season 1, ESPN will be expanding its coverage during Season 2, taking the race action to fans in Canada, the Caribbean, Latin America and Oceania for the first time.
John Clarke, CEO, Gfinity said: “The V10 R-League is back bigger and better than before, with an expanded roster, two new teams, an even faster car, some new tracks and an exciting revised format for fans to enjoy. Season 1, in just seven weeks, became one of the most watched virtual racing competitions, with 35 million gaming fans on ESPN in the US alone tuning in. Based on this success, multiple ESPN markets across every continent will now be airing Season 2. We continue to build the linear and digital audiences with the goal of making the V10 R-League the most commercially valuable virtual racing competition in the world. Great teams and competitive racing, supported by Gfinity’s world class production values, means the V10 R-League will be back with a bang!”
Saif Al Noaimi, Acting CEO Abu Dhabi Motorsports Management said: “The success of Season 1, two new world class teams and growing broadcast commitment reflects the strength of the programme and our partnership with Gfinity. To see the first of our competitions within the Global Racing Series start to flourish is testament to the hard work and talent of the entire team. We look forward to building upon this growth and developing new ideas to bring to market.”