FIA (Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile) has officially named Assetto Corsa Rally as the exclusive platform for its inaugural FIA Esports Global Rally Tour. The competition represents the governing body’s first official foray into rally esports, expanding its digital portfolio beyond circuit racing.

The series aims to double international motorsport participation by providing a structured pathway from online qualifiers to a live global stage.

The competition begins with a global online qualifier on the Assetto Corsa Rally platform from 12 to 25 May. This phase will narrow the field to 56 drivers—eight from each participating region: MENA, North America, South America, Asia-Pacific, Africa, and Europe (which combines North and South). Following the qualifiers, the tournament moves to regional shootouts. The first live event, the Asia-Pacific shootout, will take place on 23 June during the FIA Conference in Macau, followed by the European shootout at the SimRacing Expo in Frankfurt from 16–18 October.

“Rallying enjoys boundless popularity, and I am delighted to expand the scope of our Esports competitions — which have so far been focused on circuit racing — to include the discipline of rallying,” said Niroshan Pereira, FIA Esports Commission President, in a press release. “We can expect to see thousands of drivers from around the world competing… for the chance to showcase their talent in front of all the FIA World Champions in Shanghai.”

Also read:

“Being selected by the FIA as the official platform for a global rally esports competition of this scale represents an important validation step for Assetto Corsa Rally and for the work carried out by Supernova Game Studio to date,” commented Mauro Notarberardino, Studio Director at Supernova Games Studio, the studio behind Assetto Corsa Rally along with Kunos Simulazioni and publisher 505 Games.

The championship will culminate on 12 December 2026, during the FIA Awards Week in Shanghai. The top 16 drivers will undergo an on-site pre-event to establish standings before the top two face off in a live, side-by-side Grand Final on the main stage.

This initiative is a statement on how motorsport’s biggest governing body treats digital competition. Following the FIA MENA Esports Championship’s sanctioning under the International Sporting Code last year, the Global Rally Tour represents an integration of esports into the FIA’s official season.

Subscribe to On The Radar, a weekly wrap up of esports business stories, and the fortnightly Heat Map, a deeper dive into the stories across esports business and culture.

Follow The Esports Radar on social media: