The scene is set for a thrilling finale to the inaugural Olympic Virtual Series - Motor Sport Event on Olympic Day tomorrow (23 June), after the identities of the 16 finalists in the landmark esports initiative were revealed.

It was announced in April that the FIA was one of five leading international sports federations invited to partner with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in the launch of the Olympic Virtual Series (OVS), the first-ever Olympic-licensed event for physical and non-physical virtual sports introduced as part of the build-up to this summer’s Olympic Games.

The pioneering project was designed to inspire and mobilise virtual sport, esports and gaming enthusiasts all around the world, while promoting physical activity and the importance of sport amongst young generations. The Motor Sport Event was organised by the FIA in close collaboration with gaming developer Polyphony Digital Inc.

Open to users of Gran Turismo Sport – which includes the FIA-Certified Gran Turismo Championships since 2018 – the digital competition revved into life with a Global Online Qualification stage in the form of a ten-day Time Trial Challenge.

The top 16 competitors globally – drawn from the EMEA, Asia, North America, Central & South America and Oceania regions – can now be unveiled, and will face off in tomorrow’s eagerly-anticipated World Finals. They are: V. Gallo (Williams_BRacer / ITALY); B. Beauvois (R8G_TSUTSU / FRANCE); J. Serrano (PR1_JOSETE / SPAIN); M. Hizal (TRL_LIGHTNING / GERMANY); P. Blazsan (Fuvaros8 / HUNGARY); N. Moysov (ERM_Nick / CZECH REPUBLIC); K. Konstantinou (VQS_Ntinoskonsta / GREECE); T. Miyazono (Kerokkuma_ej20 / JAPAN); BOSSSSCHAU (HONG KONG); N. Sirigaya (PSC_themiang_GT1 / THAILAND); T. Aiman (TAJ_AIMAN / MALAYSIA); A. Brooks (PX7-Deafsun /  CANADA); D. Solis (PX7-Lamb / UNITED STATES); A. Inostroza (YASHEAT_Loyrot) / CHILE); I. Fraga (IOF_RACING17 / BRAZIL); A. Wilk (Adam_2167 / AUSTRALIA).

Anna Nordkvist, FIA Digital Motor Sport Commission President, commented:

“This world-first edition of the Olympic Virtual Series - Motor Sport Event has exceeded all of our expectations. To plan and implement such a high-calibre competition in a short timeframe was a great achievement. It was a race against the clock, but we are proud to have accepted and helped to deliver this inspirational sporting challenge.

“Here at the FIA, we fully embrace the Olympic spirit and share the IOC’s core values of respect, excellence and friendship. Ultimately, sport should be accessible, fair and enjoyable for all, and esports will unquestionably play a major role in the future global sporting landscape. That much has been reinforced over the past month by such an exceptional standard of racing and sportsmanship in the OVS Motor Sport Event, and I am very much looking forward to seeing how the final unfolds.”

The World Finals take place tomorrow (Wednesday, 23 June) in celebration of Olympic Day – the date on which Pierre de Coubertin founded the IOC back in 1894 – and will feature three races, with points awarded for each. The competitor who accrues the highest cumulative points total across all three races will be crowned the Olympic Virtual Series - Motor Sport Event winner. 

A two-hour broadcast of the event – featuring race action, analysis and highlights as well as insights and interviews with the top three finishers – will be aired on the official Olympic Games website (olympics.com) and on the official Facebook channel of the IOC, beginning at 16:00 UTC (18:00 CEST).