Gran Turismo Sport to become an FIA-sanctioned championship

GAMERS could soon be recognised as motorsport world champions thanks to Gran Turismo Sport and the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA).

Gran Turismo Sport, the latest iteration in the Gran Turismo franchise, launches this week and has a distinctly competitive bent, with a motorsport and Esport focus.

It was announced last year that players of GT Sport would be able to earn FIA-recognised racing licenses, which in turn would be recognised through partnerships with regional bodies (the Confederation of Australia Motor Sport, or CAMS, in Australia).

However, it has now been revealed that two Esports championships that are set to run on GT Sport will also be recognised by the FIA.

To be run simultaneously, the Nations Cup and Manufacturer Fan Cup will be the first-ever FIA Online Championships.

The Nations Cup will see players represent their native countries with regional qualifying events to find the fastest candidates, while the Manufacturer Fan Cup will have virtual racers representing their favourite car companies.

However the championships still need to be ratified at a World Motorsport Council meeting to become official.

Sony representatives at the Australian soft launch for GT Sport confirmed the news, stating the two Esport competitions will be recognised as a world championship “alongside Formula 1 and the World Endurance Championship”.

No other details have been confirmed by either the FIA or Gran Turismo developer, Polyphony Digital.

Currently, only a select number of real-world categories are given World Championship status by the FIA – including F1, the World Rally Championship, and Formula E.

The FIA also recognises a handful of regional championships throughout Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia-Pacific.

This would be the first time an Esport competition is recognised by a motorsport governing body.

Details surrounding the licensing system also remain thin on the ground. A CAMS spokesperson confirmed to Wheels that discussions are ongoing with game developers on how the program will work.

No timeline was provided for more concrete details, despite the game’s launch this week.

Wheels understands gamers who qualify for a real-world racing license from the FIA and CAMS will still have to pay the associated fees, which can range from a couple hundred dollars to thousands depending on their ranking.