1 October 2020
Huya to livestream all GT World Challenge Asia Esports Presented by Tarmac Works rounds in China
> SRO Motorsports Group extends agreement with broadcast partners XCel and CTVS
> Dedicated Mandarin commentary for one of the world’s biggest esports markets
The inaugural GT World Challenge Asia Esports Championship Presented by Tarmac Works will be livestreamed across mainland China as part of a new agreement with SRO Motorsports Group’s regional real-world partners XCel Broadcast and CTVS.
One of the world’s biggest esports markets will receive free access to all five rounds of the new sim racing series, which begins at Monza on October 6. Dedicated Mandarin commentary will accompany each broadcast on Huya, the native digital platform that accounted for 6.1 million real-world GT World Challenge Powered by AWS livestream views in 2019.
Chinese esports fans can look forward to several of their compatriots taking on Asia’s top GT racing talent. While Monza’s complete entry list will be revealed early next week, organisers can already confirm that JiaTong Liang, Kang Ling, Bihuang Zhou, Nan Lin and Heng Min will contest the race for real-world drivers after professional sim racers Zheng Yin and Peiwen Wu enter the first 60-minute contest. More Chinese drivers could also compete subject to public qualifying, which ends today (October 1).
XCel Broadcast and CTVS have worked closely with the traditional GT World Challenge Asia Powered by AWS series since 2018 when the championship first began livestreaming across China. The relationship expanded further last season to encompass all six Asian events, which collectively amassed more than 10 million views across China’s biggest domestic livestreaming platforms.
XCel and CTVS were also responsible for livestreaming GT World Challenge’s European and American series in China. Collectively the three championships generated a combined 22 million digital views in the country.
Anthony Comas, SRO Motorsports Group Marketing and Business Development Manager: “This is a very important step for our new Asian esports championship and partners. XCel Broadcast and its facility partner, CTVS, have a proven track record in China where the real-world GT World Challenge Powered by AWS enjoyed significant exposure last year as a result of their expertise. This new agreement with Huya – which generated the largest number of views across our Chinese digital roster in 2019 – promises to build on that existing partnership while also providing China’s increasing esports fanbase with an opportunity to support their sim racing compatriots on the regional stage.”
Dave Roberts, XCel Broadcast Managing Director: “We really value our partnership with SRO Motorsports Group and are excited to be involved with their new Asian sim racing venture. China is now one of if not the world’s most valuable esports market so it’s imperative that GT World Challenge Asia’s new championship gains a foothold there. XCel and CTVS have the expertise to provide it, as proven with our previous work in traditional live sports streaming. I’m relishing the opportunity to apply our real-world production values to SRO’s esports championship in Asia.”
Gernot Kuntze, CTVS General Manager: “We are delighted to be a part of SRO’s exciting new esports project. As a China-based company CTVS has kept a close eye on esports’ growth within the country and region generally. I think it says a lot about the industry’s increasing importance and mainstream acceptance that our partnership has directly expanded from real-world motorsport. Indeed, producing the GT World Challenge Asia Esports Championship for a Chinese audience is a natural next step for us.”
The GT World Challenge Asia Esports Championship’s opening round takes place at Monza next Tuesday. Race 1, featuring professional and amateur sim racers, begins at 19:40 CST before the second – a mix of real-world pros and ams – gets underway at 21:00 CST.
Chinese viewers can watch both 60-minute races live with Mandarin commentary on Huya, while SRO’s Youtube and Twitch channels will stream English-speaking coverage to the rest of the world.
ABOUT GT WORLD CHALLENGE ASIA ESPORTS
SRO Motorsports Group’s officially sanctioned sim racing franchise extends to Asia this autumn with the creation of the GT World Challenge Asia Esports Championship Presented by Tarmac Works. The five-round campaign begins on October 6 and follows standalone, non-championship Charity Cup races at Suzuka on August 29.
Assetto Corsa Competizione – the official game of GT World Challenge Powered by AWS – will host all six events after successfully staging SRO’s European and US esports championships earlier this year.
Indeed, following the success of its other esports series, SRO is now fully focused on providing Asia’s real-world drivers, pro sim racers and general public with a professionally managed and highly competitive online racing environment. Experience gained in Europe and America will make GT World Challenge Asia Esports SRO’s most polished sim racing product to date and introduce several new aspects familiar to fans of real-world competition.
Like its continental counterparts Asia’s esports series will be staged on Assetto Corsa Competizione’s popular PC platform with the help of ACC’s developers, Kunos Simulazioni, while AK Informatica will once again provide first-class technical assistance and management.
2020 GT WORLD CHALLENGE ASIA ESPORTS CALENDAR
Charity Cup – August 29 – Suzuka, JPN (non-championship)
R1 – October 06 – Monza, ITA – Registration Sep 2-Oct 1 – Qualifying Sep 21-Oct 1
R2 – October 27 – Laguna Seca, USA
R3 – November 10 – Silverstone, UK
R4 – November 24 – Spa-Francorchamps, BEL
R5 – December 08 – Suzuka, JPN
Main image (click to download): Xynamic Automotive Photography
All media enquiries: Tom Hornsby | tom@sro-motorsports.com
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