Assetto Corsa Rally Selected as Official Platform for FIA Esports Global Rally Tour
Assetto Corsa Rally has secured a major milestone in competitive sim racing: it has been selected by the FIA (Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile) as the exclusive official platform for a landmark new international rally esports competition, the FIA Esports Global Rally Tour. The announcement marks a significant endorsement for the Early Access title and represents a watershed moment for rally esports legitimacy on the global stage.
A Historic FIA Partnership
The selection of Assetto Corsa Rally by the FIA, the world’s premier motorsport governing body, underscores the growing institutional support for competitive rally simulation. The initiative has received unanimous support from all FIA regions, signaling a coordinated global commitment to expanding rally esports participation and accessibility.
“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. While the game is still in its Early Access phase, it is already considered one of the reference points within the rally sim racing landscape. This recognition represents a promising foundation as we look ahead to the future potential of Assetto Corsa Rally.”
— Mauro Notarberardino, Studio Director at Supernova Games Studio
The partnership aligns with the FIA’s stated mission to inspire future generations and expand participation in motorsport worldwide, extending the governing body’s esports initiatives beyond circuit racing into the rally discipline.
How to Compete: The Merit-Based Global Format
The FIA Esports Global Rally Tour will follow a structured, multi-stage competitive format designed to identify the world’s top virtual rally drivers. The competition opens on May 12 with a global online qualifier hosted directly within Assetto Corsa Rally, where thousands of players worldwide can compete for a spot among the 56 selected drivers.
The regional breakdown includes 16 slots for Europe and 8 slots each for MENA (Middle East and North Africa), North America, South America, Asia-Pacific, and Africa. From the qualifier, competitors advance to regional shootouts structured as knockout tournaments with confirmed dates and locations:
- Asia-Pacific Regional Shootout: June 23, 2026, during the FIA Conference in Macau, S.A.R. China
- European Regional Shootout: October 16–18, 2026, in Frankfurt, Germany, as part of SimRacing Expo
- Additional regional shootout dates and locations to be announced
The Shanghai Finals: December 2026
The 16 best virtual rally drivers in the world will earn the right to compete at the FIA Esports Global Rally Tour Finals during FIA Awards Week in Shanghai in December. The championship will culminate on December 12, 2026, during the FIA Awards Ceremony itself, where the top two finalists will face off live on stage in a side-by-side Grand Final broadcast to a global audience.
Winners will claim international recognition, prestige, and a place on esports’ most legitimate rally stage, backed by the authority of the FIA.
What This Means for Rally Esports
The FIA’s exclusive partnership with Assetto Corsa Rally signals a major institutional investment in rally esports as a competitive discipline. While circuit racing esports has enjoyed organized support through competitions like the F1 Esports Championship, official FIA-backed rally esports has historically remained fragmented. This tour represents a turning point, bringing the same level of governance, legitimacy, and prestige to rally simulation that circuit racing has enjoyed.
For Assetto Corsa Rally players, the opportunity to compete in an officially sanctioned, merit-based global championship while the game is still in Early Access is extraordinary validation of the platform’s direction and competitive integrity.
How to Get Started
Players interested in competing can find complete rules, registration details, and competition information at the official FIA website at fia.com/fia-esports-global-rally-tour. The global online qualifier begins May 12, 2026, and is open to all Assetto Corsa Rally players worldwide.