The Online Racing Association (TORA), a leading online simulator racing community, has announced it will add a new flagship series to its virtual motorsport roster later this year, following the creation of the TORA Avon Tyres British GT Championship.
TORA was the first virtual racing community to be recognised by a real world governing body (Britain’s MSA), and organises and operates championships on Forza Motorsport 4, Forza Motorsport 5, Project CARS and iRacing platforms, across UK, European and US time zones.
For the first time ever, gamers from around the world can compete for the official title of TORA British GT Champion. The seven-round calendar closely resembles that of its real world counterpart.
“Sim racing and real world motorsport have tended to exist separately up until very recently, but we’re hoping to help change that,” said British GT Championship manager Benjamin Franassovici. “We’ve been approached about this sort of opportunity before but never felt like the technology could do the championship justice. TORA’s active community, stature and organisation allied to the accuracy of Project CARS changes all that and I can’t wait to see how the partnership develops. Hopefully fans and gamers alike will gain an insight into each other’s respective championships, which can only be a good thing for British GT as a whole.”
TORA President, Matt Hunter, revealed that an officially sanctioned virtual British GT Championship had brought the original concept full circle.
“The Avon Tyres British GT Championship is the premier sportscar series in the country and I’m very proud to be associated with it,” he said. “The opportunity to finally represent it accurately through the TORA championship structure is outstanding and a true validation of what we do.
“TORA GT has been a mainstay championship at The Online Racing Association since day one and the move from production-based GT road cars to thoroughbred GT3 and GT4 machinery is a very exciting one. TORA’s staff are relishing the challenge ahead!”
Just like British GT’s existing live and highlights programmes, TORA’s parallel sim series will be screened on Motors TV across Europe this autumn. Coverage can also be found on TORA’s Twitch TV and YouTube channels throughout the year.
More information on the collaboration will be revealed at the Brands Hatch Media Day on May 24, before the Xbox One-based championship kicks off two weeks later at Oulton Park (June 7).
The Professional Motorsport World Expo race team (pictured) is currently leading the GT4 category of the 2015 Avon Tyres British GT Championship.
