Button to race in inaugural SRO Esport GT Series event

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Jenson Button continues his exploration of the virtual world, with the 2009 F1 world champion racing in this Sunday's maiden round of the new SRO Esport GT Series.

Button successfully tested the waters of online racing with participations in F1's official Virtual Grand Prix Series and The Race's Legends Trophy, even winning the latter's inaugural round.

The 40-year-old semi-retired racer will compete in Sunday's SRO event at Silverstone with a McLaren 720S GT3-spec car that he'll share with former McLaren junior Ben Barnicoat.

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The SRO Esport GT Series will consist of four qualifying events and a deciding finale and will run on the Assetto Corsa Competizione platform, the official game of the Blancpain GT Series, which is developped by Kunos Simulazioni.

Qualifying rounds will feature three classes – Pro, Silver and Amateur – with each consisting of 12 competitors.

The field will bring together pro racers and a selection of top sim racers.

Among the high profile names set to take part in Sunday's event, in addition to Button, are Mercedes works driver Raffaele Marciello, series champion Andrea Caldarelli, former F1 driver Vitantonio Liuzzi and F2 charger Luca Ghiotto.

But Haas junior and avid sim racer Louis Deletraz will also join in on the fun, driving one of six Porsche 991s entered in the event.

Sunday's action will be streamed live from 12:45pm UK time (7:45am EST - 13:45pm CET) on the GT World YouTube channel as well as on the SRO Twitch and Facebook accounts.

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.