Dirt Rally 2.0

DiRT Rally 2.0 World Series Season Two Announced

Rallycross champion will win a test drive in QEV electric rallycross car Online Qualification begins 25th August in game

PRESS RELEASE, 18th August (10am UK): Codemasters (AIM: CDM) and Motorsport Games have today announced that the second season of the popular DiRT Rally 2.0 World Series will begin on Tuesday 25th August with the first qualification rounds going live in-game. The season will culminate in a live showpiece final at the Autosport International Show at the Birmingham NEC on 16th January 2021 where 12 drivers will race for a share of $20,000 prize pool – double the amount from the first season. It has also been announced that the winner of the rallycross championship will earn a test drive in the QEV electric rallycross car that will power the new FIA eRX2 Championship.

The DiRT Rally 2.0 World Series follows the success of the first season alongside the incredibly entertaining World RX Esports Series which attracted over 1.24 million live views. Once again, the World Series will have separate championships for rally and rallycross, each with its own $10,000 prize pool.

All players who take part in any of the qualifiers will receive the Ford Fiesta R5 MKII as a free DiRT Rally 2.0 in-game vehicle. Designed as a replacement for its hugely successful predecessor, the Ford Fiesta R5 MKII, is built by M-sport and uses the latest ST-Line body shell. The car also features a new engine and chassis, alongside a notably aggressive anti-lag system. The Fiesta R5 MKII will become available to all qualifying participants at the beginning of October.

Ross Gowing, Game Director of DiRT Rally 2.0 at Codemasters said: “The DiRT Rally 2.0 World Series surpassed our expectations. We knew there was an appetite, but we didn’t expect the vast level of participation and engagement.  Now we get to do it all over again with a bigger event and even more prize money. We are also delighted to reward players with the in-game Ford Fiesta R5 and hope this is an added incentive for players of all levels to get involved.”

Ben Rossiter-Turner, Head of Esports Motorsport Games commented: “We are delighted to extend our relationship with Codemasters to deliver the second season of the DiRT Rally 2.0 World Series. The response from the drivers, viewers and community to the first season and the World RX Esports Series has been overwhelmingly positive and we look forward to delivering an even bigger and better experience this time around, all finishing with a special showcase at Autosport International. We have very exciting plans.”

Pere Gonzalez, Project Manager for the new FIA eRX2 Championship, said: “We are very excited to be partnering with Codemasters and Motorsport Games for the forthcoming DiRT Rally 2.0 World Series. The interest in esports has exploded in recent months, in particular amongst younger participants and fans, and we see a lot of synergies between this demographic and the new FIA eRX2 Championship, which is right at the forefront of rallycross’ electrification. We have witnessed in other disciplines how gamers have the potential and ability to transition into real-life racers, and we look forward to following the competition’s second season as it unfolds and to helping the eventual winner to put their skills to the test in real life.”

Available to all DiRT Rally 2.0 players on PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system, the Xbox One family of devices and Windows PC (via Steam), players can register a time by navigating to the World Championship tab in the main menu of the game and then selecting Qualifiers.

The DiRT Rally World Series has been divided into three qualifying stages, each consisting of three events. The fastest time on each event from each platform will earn a place in the Qualifying Final. In rally these winners will be joined the three fastest runners up, based cumulative times and in rallycross it will be the two fastest cumulative runners up. The top two in each Qualifying Final will earn a place in the Semi Final before the live Final at Autosport International in January 2021.

Here is a schedule of the events and races:

Rally:

Round 1 – New Zealand

25 Aug        Elsthorpe Sprint Forward              R2

01 Sep        Waimarama Sprint Forward         Group A

08 Sep        Ocean Beach Sprint Forward        H2 RWD

26 Sep        Qualifying Final 1 (Live Streamed)

Round 2 – Spain

29 Sep        Centenera                                      R5

06 Oct        Ascenso por valle el Gualet           Rally GT

13 Oct        Viñedos Dardenyà                         H2 FWD

31 Oct        Qualifying Final 2 (Live Streamed)

Round 3 – Australia

03 Nov        Noorinbee Ridge Descent             H1 FWD

10 Nov        Taylor Farm Sprint                         R5

17 Nov        Yambulla Mountain Ascent           H3 RWD

05 Dec        Qualifying Final 3 (Live Streamed)

19 Dec        Semi Final (Live Streamed)

16-17 Jan    Final (Live at Autosport International)

Rallycross

Round 1

25 Aug        Holjes                                            RX Supercars

01 Sep        Hell                                                RX2

08 Sep        Lohéac                                           Super 1600

26 Sep        Qualifying Final 1 (Live Streamed)

Round 2

29 Sep        Barcelona                                      RX2

06 Oct        Montalegre                                   RX Supercars

13 Oct        Hell                                                Super 1600

31 Oct        Qualifying Final 2 (Live Streamed)

Round 3

03 Nov        Lohéac                                           RX Supercars

10 Nov        Holjes                                            RX2

17 Nov        Barcelona                                      Super 1600

05 Dec        Qualifying Final 3 (Live Streamed)

19 Dec        Semi Final (Live Streamed)

16-17 Jan    Final (Live at Autosport International)

You will be able to follow the progress of the DiRT Rally 2.0 World Series on the @DiRTGame social media channels and on motorsport.tv.

About Motorsports Games:

Motorsport Games, a Motorsport Network company, is dedicated to virtual racing. Our mission is to combine video game development with esports to deliver exciting, innovative experiences people will play, watch and engage with. We develop and publish console, PC and mobile video games, including the NASCAR Heat franchise, Officially Licensed by NASCAR. Motorsport Games is the esports partner of choice for many of the world’s leading motorsport rights holders, including NASCAR, Formula E, Le Mans and the FIA World Rallycross Championship and others.

For more information about Motorsport Games visit: www.motorsportgames.com