The Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA), the global governing body for motor sport and the federation for mobility organisations worldwide, is delighted to launch the FIA Esports Global Rally Tour as part of its commitment to inspire future generations and double global participation in motor sport. Driven by H.E. Mohammed Ben Sulayem, President of the FIA, the initiative has received unanimous support from all FIA Vice-Presidents for Sport.

Between 12 and 25 May, an online qualifier held on the popular Assetto Corsa Rally platform will take place globally, narrowing the field to just 56 drivers – eight from each participating region, Europe (North and South combined), MENA, North America, South America, Asia-Pacific and Africa.

The next stage comprises regional shootouts with a knockout format across quarter-finals, semi-finals, and a final. The series will kick off with the Asia-Pacific region during the FIA Conference in Macau, S.A.R. China, on 23 June. The European regional shootout will take place on 16-18 October in Frankfurt, Germany, as part of the SimRacing Expo. Both events will feature equipment from two of the FIA’s Esports Official Suppliers, Advanced SimRacing and D-BOX. The dates and venues for the other regional shootouts will be confirmed shortly.

From these events, the top 16 drivers – two from each region, except Europe, which, due to its higher overall number of FIA Member Clubs, will qualify four drivers along with two wildcards appointed by the FIA – will qualify for the FIA Esports Global Rally Tour Finals, held during the week of the prestigious FIA Awards Week in Shanghai in December. Ahead of the main event, an on-site pre-event contest will bring together the 16 qualified drivers to establish the initial standings. The competition will culminate during the FIA Awards Ceremony on 12 December 2026, where the top two drivers will face off in a live, side-by-side Grand Final on stage.

“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” said 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 Vice-Presidents for Sport 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.”

For media enquiries, please contact:

Eric Bellegarde, FIA Media Delegate, ebellegarde@fia.com