The FIA MENA Esports Championship is set to break new ground in the burgeoning world of virtual motor sport competition later this month, as participants contest the first event of its kind to be fully sanctioned by international motor sport’s governing body, under the International Sporting Code and Appendix E (Esports) as approved by the FIA World Motor Sport Council in December 2024.
 
The FIA will therefore appoint a race director to adjudicate the competition, as well as two international stewards and a sporting coordinator, whilst also defining the official sporting regulations.
 
The initiative builds upon the solid foundations already established by the successful MENA Esports Cup, which was launched four years ago and was co-funded by the FIA Sport Grant Programme. Since then, the concept proved its legitimacy, with an increased success year after year. Taking place annually in Amman, Jordan, this renowned contest has to-date attracted over 1,200 competitors and a loyal legion of fans – with more than half-a-million live stream viewers in 2024 and a record entry for the latest edition.
 
Over the past two months, national qualifiers in 20 countries throughout the MENA region have whittled down the hopefuls to just 40 drivers – two from each participating nation. The next stage will be a regional qualifier, from which the top 24 will advance to the FIA MENA Esports Championship, which will be held from 13-15 November, 2025. The event will be recorded and subsequently streamed on 28 November.
 
Using the popular ‘Gran Turismo 7’ title, two semi-finals will halve the field to 12 competitors, who will dispute the final for the honour of being crowned the first ever champion of the FIA-sanctioned MENA Esports Championship and receiving an official invitation to attend the glittering FIA Awards event in Uzbekistan in December.
 
“We are delighted to present the FIA MENA Esports Championship, which will further raise the profile of this thriving motor sport discipline both at regional level and on a global scale,” commented Niroshan Pereira, President of the FIA’s Esports Commission. “This is an excellent example of ASN development and growth,and reinforces the FIA’s steadfast commitment to doubling international motor sport participation by focusing closely on grassroots disciplines. It is also the result of many years of hard work and a pioneering vision, for which we congratulate everybody who has played a part. We look forward to following the competition and to welcoming the winner in Tashkent at the end of the year.”
 
“This is the first FIA-sanctioned Esports event, and we are proud that it takes place here in Jordan and within the MENA region,” said Zaid Balqez, CEO at Jordan Motorsport. “It marks a historic milestone for our region and reflects Jordan Motorsport’s ongoing commitment to advancing motor sport in all its forms. This championship highlights our dedication to grassroots development, inclusion, and diversity, creating new opportunities for young talents to engage with the sport. By bringing competitors together under the FIA framework, we are shaping the future of digital motor sport and reinforcing Jordan’s role as a leading hub for regional motor sport growth.”