Motorsport UK offers real racing opportunites through esports cup

Motorsport UK, the governing body of motorsport in the UK, is offering real-world racing opportunities through the Cross Car Esports Cup.

Taking place in February, the sim racing competition offers a pathway for aspiring drivers to pursue a career in real-world motorsport, while also bridging the gap between real and virtual competition.

Eligible to UK residents aged 16 and over with no off-road racing experience, drivers will use the iRacing platform to participate in a pre-qualifier event taking place from January 31st to February 2nd using its Time Attack mode.

Initial entry to compete is free of charge, but those who qualify must have a paid Motorsport UK Esports Membership, costing £27.99 per year.

The top 27 drivers will receive an invitation to compete in the main event featuring heats and a finals format similar to real-world rallycross racing. The eventual champion earns a chance to get behind the wheel of an FIA Cross Car in a testing session and a race of the Cross Car Championship running from March to November.

The Cross Car Esports Cup is the first Motorsport UK-sanctioned sim racing event to offer the chance to drive a race car as a prize. In recent years, the governing body has expanded its presence within the sim racing sector, hosting the Porsche Esports Sprint Challenge GB and the Cosworth Britcar Esports 24 Hours of Silverstone.

Following its initial boom period in 2020 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic postponing several real-world sporting events, sim racing has continued to grow. Several motorsport stakeholders are using virtual racing as a viable platform for drivers to embark on their careers as real-world racing drivers.

In June 2025, iRacing partnered with the Skip Barber Racing School for the Skip Barber Formula iRacing Series. Awarding over $500,000 (~£372,939) in prizes, the series awarded participants with sessions in racing school and a seat in the real-world edition of the Skip Barber Race Series.