Your New Favorite Sport, is Probably Right in Your Living Room

Tory Clarett
Aug 22, 2017 · 4 min read
Photo by John Sting on Unsplash

All those hours you’ve spent in front of your TV playing video games might have finally paid off. It’s already been “revenge of the nerds” with the comic book movie craze, half the shows on TV have something to do with supernatural beings, superheroes, dragons, or wizardry. But my, how the mighty have fallen. E-sports is here people. It’s real. It pays. And it might just be where your next favorite driver, gets their start.

Photo by Pascal Richier on Unsplash

Wikipedia describes eSports as this: competition that is facilitated by electronic systems, particularly video games; the input of players and teams as well as the output of the eSports system are mediated by human-computer interfaces. In short, competitive video games. This stuff has gotten so big ESPN has an entire section dedicated to it on their site. Players sign contracts, making upwards of six figures a year, travel the globe and play in arenas, in front of 20,000+ fans. The industry generated $325 million in 2015 and, at the time, was on track to make over $400 million in 2016. It had over 71 million viewers in 2015 through YouTube and Twitch.tv. Here’s the kicker, it had an 85% male audience between the ages of 18–34. The sweet spot. This can no longer be ignored by the average sports fan or marketing director. And racing, unlike the other sports, has a unique place in the video game world because the simulations are so close to real life.

Photo by Alex Holyoake on Unsplash

If you’re between the ages of 18–34, enjoy racing and/or cars, are reading this, and happen to still have a pulse, you’re probably aware of XBOX, Playstation and PC games such as Forza Motorsport, Gran Turismo, iRacing or maybe even Project Cars. The studios work directly with auto and tire manufactures, to get the finest of details brought into the games. Forza (Turn 10 Studios) at one time was working exclusively with Pirelli to establish proper physics and grip engines to ensure the tire simulation. Codemasters’ F1 series has exclusive rights to Formula 1 and it’s teams to bring the real life cars, into the game. I think you’re catching my drift, no pun intended. This stuff is as real as it gets. For 99% of us, it’s as close as we’ll get too. So with all this in mind take a look at two major breakthroughs in the eSports and motor racing world.

Photo by Alex Holyoake on Unsplash

McLaren (yes, THAT McLaren) announced earlier this summer The Worlds Fastest Gamer Competition. It will take place globally. With rounds of qualifying, leading to a final with the prize being, get this: McLaren Honda’s factory Simulator Driver. Meaning, because you’re good at video games, you would be working in direct contact with the McLaren Honda F1 team and drivers. As your job. Like, they pay you to do it. In England. Because you play video games… Along with McLaren’s announcement came Formula 1 and Codemasters coming together to start it’s first eSports league. Just announced on August 21st, the winner will have a chance to go to the season finale in Abu Dhabi to be crowned the worlds first “eSports Formula 1 Champion”. What a time to be alive. Codemasters F1 2017 hits stores August 25th. With qualifications for the eSports Championship beginning in September.

Photo by Timothy Paul Smith on Unsplash

So tell mom to back off, let the boss know you’re gonna be sick on the 25th, grab some Mountain Dew, and fire up the Playstation. You’ve got a new career to pursue.


As always thank you for reading, all four of you. I appreciate the support. If you liked what you read or even if you hated it, please, share, like or tell a friend. The paddock is welcome to all. Thanks again guys!

Destination Driven

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Tory Clarett

Written by

Motorsport fanatic.

Destination Driven

IndyCar, Formula 1, Endurance Racing, and all things motorsports

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