The Australian Esports League has officially announced a new partnership with the Australian Grand Prix Corporation to deliver a student esports competition named Victorian Virtual Grand Prix.

As part of this deal, the top qualifiers from the competition will earn a spot in the Champions Pool, which consists of the top 16 players from the qualifier stages. These finalists get an all-expenses-covered trip to the Australian Grand Prix on Thursday, March 5, 2026, to compete in the Grand Finals live from the Innovation Hub hosted by Engineers Australia.

As per the official announcement, eligible participants must be currently enrolled at a Victorian school. Victoria’s school system comprises government, Catholic, and independent schools under the oversight of the Department of Education.

The entry fee is $25 plus GST per student and there are two pathways for students to take part:

  1. Secondary School Pathway: Victorian students in Years 7 to 12 can compete in Online Qualifiers using F1 24 on PC or Xbox with crossplay enabled. The top 12 drivers will advance to the Grand Prix Finals on 5 March.
  2. Primary School Pathway: Students aged 10 to 12 can compete at the Kingsville Live Event. This in-person event will take place on Saturday, 28 February at Kingsville Primary School. Xbox consoles and controllers will be provided. The top four drivers will move on to the Grand Prix Finals.

Global Esports Industry Week (GEIW) will return in 2026 with a bigger and bolder edition, taking place across 18–21 June in Cologne, Germany, alongside IEM Cologne. The schedule and details about ticket sales are available in this link.

A total of 16 players from the two aforementioned groups will advance to the Grand Prix Finals at the Innovation Hub inside the Albert Park circuit. The Australian Esports League has also confirmed that students who qualify for the Finals will receive free entry to the Grand Prix for the day, along with one parent.

In the finals, everyone will compete in person on professional sim racing rigs. That means proper steering wheels, pedals, racing seats, and high-quality screens, all set up to make it feel as close to real racing as possible.

The event will be supported by HyperX, following the Australian Esports League’s recent partnership with the brand. As part of the agreement, AEL events and competitions will use HyperX gaming gear.

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