Motorsport TechnologyFor a fourth weekend in succession, Esports action once again took on the responsibility of entertaining fans and drivers alike as the ABB Formula E series joined the party.
Arranged to raise money in support of UNICEF in the fight against the global coronavirus pandemic, simulator rigs were shipped to the homes of many full-time Formula E drivers as they raced around the shortened Monaco circuit.
Non-stop action! Your highlights from the test round of the ABB Formula E Race At Home Challenge In Support Of @UNICEF #RaceAtHome #ABBFormulaE https://t.co/9KqVKEr3qA pic.twitter.com/yhXRIJ5eE9
— ABB Formula E (@FIAFormulaE) April 18, 2020
And it was Santiago e-Prix winner and Esports regular Maximilian Guenther who used all that experience to storm to a pole to flag victory from fellow Esports fan Stoffel Vandoorne with gaming newcomer Andre Lotterer an impressive third.
It proved an entertaining race, Veloce Esports co-founder Jean-Eric Vergne qualifying fourth and running a strong third before a spin at the apex of Rascasse dropped him from contention and an eventual eighth, ahead of Jann Mardenbourough and Oliver Turvey.
First win in the first ever virtual @fiaformulae race🏆 Can’t wait for more racing at home 💪#RaceatHome #StayHome #MAXG #RacingBeyond #ABBFormulaE pic.twitter.com/Hbsk85zSwF
— Maximilian Günther (@maxg_official) April 18, 2020
🥇 @maxg_official
🥈 @svandoorne
🥉 @Andre_Lotterer+ the top 10 from the test round of the ABB Formula E Race At Home Challenge In Support Of @UNICEF https://t.co/9KqVKEr3qA pic.twitter.com/440CprYxgz
— ABB Formula E (@FIAFormulaE) April 18, 2020
The weekend of Esports action actually began on Friday, when six Formula One drivers helped raise over $70,000 for COVID-19 relief. Vandoorne was once again in the field, winning the first race at the Circuit de Catalunya-Barcelona from Arthur Leclerc and Luca Albon. But it wasn’t enough to prevent the senior Leclerc from taking the unofficial series title after a narrow victory over Alex Albon at the final race at the Red Bull Ring.
There was also more Esports action the other side of the pond, 2016 IndyCar champion and 2019 Indy 500 winner Simon Pagenaud winning the IndyCar iRacing Challenge race from Scott Dixon and Will Power.
🍾 Back to back how about that!! Amazing @iRacing #IndyCar Challenge today at Motegi! Awesome strategy again and that was a great drag race with Dixon at the end. Cheers everybody! pic.twitter.com/GlNai90VfO
— Simon Pagenaud (@simonpagenaud) April 18, 2020
Craig Scarborough
Fraser Masefield