The 24 Hours of Le Mans has often been a prized challenge for Formula 1 stars to tackle, in the modern era often after retirement from open-wheel racing. This year, current stars Max Verstappen and Lando Norris, who drive for Red Bull and McLaren, respectively will be sharing a virtual LMP2 car campaigned by Team Redline.
With the real race currently postponed to September 19th and 20th, the virtual race, using rFactor 2, will be run in the original’s timeslot of June 13th and 14th. Joining the Formula 1 pairing in the Oreca 07 LMP2 car will be experienced sim racers Atze Kerkhof and Greger Huttu.
A collaboration between the ACO (the Le Mans organiser), the World Endurance Championship and Motorsport Games, the event has already attracted 50 entries from familiar WEC teams, sim-only race teams and even Team Penske.
Perhaps unsurprisingly the real world battle between Porsche and Ferrari has entered the virtual arena, with the German marque supporting four 911 GTE entries with both works and sim drivers and a Ferrari GTE team backed by Princess Charlene of Monaco.
The Virtual Le Mans 24 Hours will start on 13 June at 14:00 BST.
Le Mans
Max Verstappen
Lando Norris
F1