Why sim racing is valuable to Formula 1 is just some of what is covered in this week’s Sim Racing Roundup. I also have news on more drivers transitioning from sims to real-world racing, an interview with Paul Crawford of Motorsport UK and more!
Overview
From Sim Racing to the Real Thing
Cam Ebben: From Sim to MX-5 Cup
A third-generation driver who started sim racing at the age of 11, Cam Ebben’s future was practically laid out before him. The path to get there, however, was not. Like many who seek a career as a racecar driver, Ebben’s journey is taking him through Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup Presented by Michelin.
Two seasons in Spec Miata, and another two in Spec MX-5 kind of made MX-5 Cup the default, but it wasn’t a given.
“Having been in Spec MX-5 for multiple seasons, and just the amount of time that I spent in the amateur level of SCCA, it basically became clear that there was a next step for me,” Ebben says. “If I wanted to continue moving forward in my career, with the plans that I have for where I’m going in racing, it really just made the most sense to make the step up into the IMSA paddock in some fashion, and MX-5 Cup is such a great series.”
Read more about Cam’s journey from the sim to the MX-5 Cup at RACER here.
From PC to Paddock: Cross Car Esports Cup Champion Ben Langford Wins Real-World Race Drive
Ben Langford won the inaugural Motorsport UK Cross Car Esports Cup in a thrilling final round yesterday. In doing so he has been awarded with the prize of a fully-funded race in a real-world FIA Cross Car with LifeLive UK.
His move from Esports into real-life racing is helping to open more pathways to motorsport. Esports builds car control skills and racecraft, and Cross Cars provide the excitement of a Rallycross Supercar at a more accessible price point.
The Motorsport UK Cross Car Esports Cup uses the iRacing platform and is open to anyone aged 16 or above who has not raced in real-world Cross Car, Rallycross or Auto Cross events.
Head here for more information: https://www.motorsportuk.org/from-pc-to-paddock-cross-car-esports-cup-champion-ben-langford-wins-real-world-race-drive/
Why You Need to be Sim Racing with Paul Crawford of Motorsport UK
Speaking of Motorsport UK, on the Podcast this week is Head of Esports at Motorsport UK and FIA Esports Commission Member Paul Crawford. We discuss why sim racing is important for both learning new skills and honing your current skills. He also talks about Motorsport UK’s role in sim racing and why they are involved.
Find out more and listen to the episode right here!
NXT Gen Cup Brings LRT NXT1 to RaceRoom in New Sim Racing Collaboration
NXT Gen Cup has officially launched its all-electric race car, the LRT NXT1, in the popular racing simulator RaceRoom – marking a major step in bringing the championship closer to fans and aspiring drivers worldwide.
The LRT NXT1, based on the MINI Cooper SE and used in the 100% electric touring car series, is now available to download in RaceRoom.
Developed in close collaboration with RaceRoom, the project has focused on delivering a highly realistic virtual version of the car. NXT Gen Cup has contributed extensive technical expertise throughout the process, including input from engineers and test drivers, to ensure that the simulator experience reflects the real-life performance as closely as possible.
More details can be found here.
E-Motion on Tour: From Simulator to Track, a New Path to Motorsport
E-MOTION, an entity of the European automotive distribution group Car Lovers dedicated to sim racing, continues the deployment of its E-MOTION ON TOUR system alongside SRO Motorsports Group, affirming a common ambition: to create concrete bridges between the world of sim racing and real motorsport.
Already present in E-MOTION centers in Paris, Rome, and Luxembourg, the professional simulators are now being installed right in the heart of the paddocks for eight major events on the 2026 calendar, including all five rounds of the FFSA French Circuit Championship and several GT World Challenge events powered by AWS, such as Monza, Barcelona, and the CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa. This presence, bringing the simulators closer to the teams, drivers, and the public, marks a new stage in E-MOTION’s development, positioning its approach within the international motorsport ecosystem.
At the heart of these events, E-MOTION professional simulators are available to everyone, transforming the paddocks into genuine spaces for experimentation and talent identification. Designed as a natural extension of the track, E-MOTION ON TOUR allows for the identification of new talent directly on the circuits, interacting with the real-world environment of competition. This approach is fully aligned with the vision of SRO Motorsports Group, a leading player in GT motorsport, committed to developing pathways into the discipline, notably through the SRO GT Academy.
This partnership between E-MOTION and SRO illustrates a strong convergence: that of a changing ecosystem, where synergies between simulation, performance, and competition allow for a rethinking of traditional talent identification and training models. By connecting its systems to the world of international championships, E-MOTION gives a concrete dimension to this bridge between the virtual and real worlds.
E-MOTION ON TOUR is a continuation of THE GRID, a program conceived by Edouard Schumacher to structure a genuine pathway into motorsport. Accessible from the age of 16, this program supports sim racing talents as they transition to real-world competition. Following the inaugural edition launched in 2025, whose winner will advance to the Alpine ELF Cup Series within the FFSA GT French Championship in 2026, a new milestone has been reached: talents identified on the track will now enrich the program, with the 2026 winner securing a full season of real-world motorsport in 2027.
“Sim racing is no longer an alternative; it has become a genuine gateway to motorsport. With E-MOTION ON TOUR, we go right to the circuits, where the passion is born, to identify and support the talents of tomorrow. The partnership with SRO Motorsports Group allows us to integrate this approach into a structured and legitimate international ecosystem, and to give concrete form to this bridge between virtual and real,” emphasizes Edouard Schumacher, President of the Car Lovers Group and founder of E-MOTION.
More details can be found here (in French): https://ffsagt.gt4series.com/news/419/e-motion-on-tour-du-simulateur-a-la-piste-une-nouvelle-voie-vers-le-sport-automobile
Competitive Sim Racing News
The Value of Sim Racing to Formula 1
A recent editorial in Autosport’s “The Business Formula” newsletter highlighted the importance that sim racing holds for Formula 1.
For the F1 teams, sim racing is more than a side project. There is a $750,000 prize pool on offer, as well as providing an additional commercial and partnership stream. While some virtual racers have gone on to support professional simulator and car development, others have honed their skills in real-world competition. Max Verstappen continues to invest his time in the space, and earlier this week rebranded Team Redline as Verstappen Sim Racing, to underline the role of virtual racing in motorsport’s wider ecosystem.
Sim racing also has a clear commercial value for Formula 1. This week a multi-year renewal with Fanatec was announced. They will continue to provide hardware for the series, and their simulators will be present at F1 races in Fan Zones, and continue to feature at F1 Arcade — the sport’s hospitality concept with venues in London, Birmingham, Madrid and the USA.
For awhile, sim racers and fans were not sure about F1’s commitment to sim racing but it seems to be that the series is finally recognizing its value both commercially and in terms of fan engagement. All 12 rounds of the 2026 F1 Sim Racing World Championship will be broadcast live on YouTube and F1’s Twitch channel, making the series accessible for fans worldwide.
- 2026 F1 Sim Racing World Championship: What it is, how it works, and why you should be watching (Formula 1)
- Who are the 2026 F1 Sim Racing World Championship drivers? (Formula 1)
- Aston Martin Aramco Esports strengthens sim racing line-up with key additions (Aston Martin F1)
- 2026 F1 Sim Racing World Championship – Event One Report (McLaren Racing)
- The Debrief: 2026 F1 Sim Racing World Championship, Event 01 – A podium and points for Aston Martin Aramco (Aston Martin F1)
- Ben’s Notebook on F1 Sim Racing Event 1 (Williams F1)
More Competitive Sim Racing News
- Porsche Esports Sprint Challenge Malaysia Launches (Porsche Malaysia)
- Porsche Coanda Esports Racing Team narrowly miss out on iRacing Sebring 12 HR victory after strong race (Porsche)
Sim Racing Tips & Techniques
How Pro Drivers Set Up Their Car in LMU (For Casual Sim Racers)
Sim Racing Tech Roundup
Formula Pro Simulator and More!
- Moza Lamborghini Revuelto Steering Wheel review: Form over function (Traxion)
- April 2026 Sim Racing PC Build (Box This Lap)
- Thrustmaster Quietly Releases A New Steering Wheel: EVO Racing 31U Leather (Box This Lap)
General Sim Racing News
iRacing GT3 Car Rankings and More
- Three more tracks added to RaceRoom’s free tier, including Laguna Seca (Traxion)
- Le Mans Ultimate’s v1.3 BoP update nerfs Lexus and Aston LMGT3s (Traxion)
- The Isolation of Japanese Sim Racing: Language, Ping, and Culture (Box This Lap)
- Le Mans Ultimate Adds Free Genesis GMR-001 2026 Hypercar Early (Box This Lap)
Author: Mark Boudreau
Mark is the publisher of Motorsport Prospects. As a lawyer, he applies his legal background and research skills to assist race drivers by showcasing the resources they need to make their motorsport careers happen.
