Motorsport Games, the video game division of digital media group Motorsport Network, has agreed a strategic partnership with Formula E driver Jean-Éric Vergne and esports group Veloce to produce and broadcast the #NotTheGP esports series.
The inaugural #NotTheAusGP race, staged earlier this month to replace Formula 1’s cancelled Australian Grand Prix, attracted over two million views and in excess of six million impressions. The race included motorsport stars, such as McLaren F1’s Lando Norris and Mercedes Formula E driver Stoffel Vandoorne, Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois and a host of esports racers and influencers. Norris’ live stream of the event broke the Twitch record for F1 streaming.
The second invitational race, #NotTheBahGP, was held on Sunday to replace the scheduled Bahrain GP. The #NotTheGP concept was the brainchild of two-time Formula E champion Vergne, co-founder and ambassador of Veloce.
Motorsport Games will utilise its live broadcast and competition management expertise to create a #NotTheGP mini-series of events that will run during the ongoing postponement of real-world motorsport due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
“We have invested significantly in our esports team, technology and infrastructure over the last year and the partnership with a champion like Jean-Éric and his innovative colleagues at Veloce is indicative of the willingness of leading esports operations to collaborate,” Dmitry Kozko, chief executive of Motorsport Games, said.
“#NotTheGP has a wealth of esports talent and expertise on both the playing and content creation side so this partnership will enable both parties to take their operations to the next level.”
Motorsport Games’ investment in esports has given it the ability to manage and distribute an esports broadcast remotely. This was demonstrated last week when the first pre-season race for the eNascar Heat Pro League was hosted from the UK with commentary coming from three separate locations in the USA before being streamed to a global audience.