Esports: When and where to watch the action this weekend

©IndyCar

The Esports action-packed weekends continue to roll on, with clearly more high profile drivers getting involved in the virtual world.

This highlight of this weekend's action will take place on Sunday, with the second round of F1's Esports Virtual Grand Prix series - the Virtual Vietnam GP, but which will take place at Albert Park in Melbourne. Six current F1 drivers will be joined on the grid by a mix if former racers and celebrities.

Here's a chronological detailed run-down of the events scheduled for Saturday and Sunday:

©TheRace

Legends Trophy: For the second weekend in succession, a distinguished group of racing legends will battle it out on rFactor at a venue that has yet to be announced. Last weekend's field, from which Dario Franchitti emerged a victor, will welcome former F1 drivers Rubens Barrichello and Olivier Panis. The event also gets a format tweak with a double-header format and a reverse-grid for Race 2.

When: Saturday at 5pm UK time (12pm EST - 6pm CET).

Venue: TBC - rFactor2

The field: Among others, Emerson Fittipaldi, Helio Castroneves, Dario Franchitti, Juan Pablo Montoya, David Brabham, Gil de Ferran, Tony Kanaan, Rubens Barrichello, Olivier Panis

Channel: Youtube


IndyCar iRacing Challenge: Saturday will see a big field of current IndyCar drivers duke it out for the second race of the IndyCar iRacing Challenge, the Grand Prix of Alabama which will take place at Barber Motorsport Park. Dreyer & Reinbold Racing's Sage Karam prevailed last week and will be the man to beat on Saturday. But we'll also be watching Robert Wickens who will be making his sim debut with a specially adapted simulator. Go Bobby!

When: Saturday at 7:30m UK time (2:30pm EST - 8:30pm CET).

Venue: Barber Motorsport Park on iRacing - 45 laps.

The field: Among others, Scott Dixon, Ed Carpenter, Josef Newgarden, Simon Pagenaud, Will Power, Sage Karam, Oliver Askew, Marcus Ericsson, Felix Rosenqvist, Tony Kanaan, Graham Rahal, and NASCAR's Jimmie Johnson will be back for more...

Channel: NBCSN - Sky Sports F1 - IndyCar.com


©TheRace

All-Star Esports Battle: The Race will hold its fourth event on Saturday after the Legends Trophy with the same format as last weekend, meaning a series of qualifying heats and a 30-minute final.

When: Saturday 7:15pm UK time (2:15pm EST - 8:15pm CET).

Venue: TBC - rFactor2

The field: Juan Pablo Montoya, Marcus Ericsson, Esteban Gutierrez, Antonio Felix da Costa, Nyck de Vries, Stoffel Vandoorne, Maximilian Guenther, Felix Rosenqvist, Alexander Rossi, James Davison, Colton Herta, Philipp Eng, Daniel Juncadella, etc…

Channel: Youtube


eNASCAR iRacing Pro Invitational Series: NASCAR's efforts in the virtual arena are proving very popular both with the drivers and the fans as viewing numbers demonstrated during the first two rounds of the series. For Race 3, it's Bristol baby!

When: Sunday 6pm UK time (1pm EST - 7pm CET)

Venue: Bristol Motor Speedway - iRacing

The field: Clint Bowyer, Kurt Busch, Kyle Busch, Dale Earnhardt Jnr, Chase Elliott, Denny Hamlin, Brad Keselowski, Bobby Labonte, Kyle Larson, Joey Logano, Ricky Stenhouse Jnr, Bubba Wallace.

Channel: Youtube


Veloce Pro Series - Not the ... GP: Veloce's 'Not the ... GP' is back again this weekend for a third installment that will pit prodrivers such as Lando Norris against a blend of por sim racers and celebrities.

When: Sunday 6pm UK time (1pm EST - 7pm CET)

Venue: TBC - iRacing

The field: Lando Norris, Nicholas Latifi, Alex Felix da Costa, Stoffel Vandoorne, James Baldwin, Thibaut Courtois, etc...


Virtual Grand Prix: Filling in for the cancelled Vietnam Grand Prix but on Melbourne's Albert Park circuit, this is the race you won't want to miss on Sunday. Renault junior Guanyu Zhou sprayed the champagne on the podium in Bahrain last time out, but a host of F1 heavyweights - including Ferrari's Charles Leclerc - will be out in full force. F1 veteran and 2009 world champion Jenson Button will also join the fun.

When: Sunday 8pm UK time (3pm EST - 9pm CET)

Venue: Albert Park, Melbourne - F1 2019 Codemasters

The field: Charles Leclerc, Alex Albon, George Russell, Lando Norris, Nicholas Latifi, Antonio Giovinazzi, Johnny Herbert, Jenson Button, etc...