Drivers, sim racers, and motorsport fans alike took over Indianapolis’ Lucas Oil Stadium over the course of three electrifying days for a spectacular showcase of speed and skill for the PRI Esports Arena Presented by SRO Motorsports America. The event brought together top-tier talents from around the world, presenting a unique opportunity to merge real-life racing and esports into one setting, captivating those in attendance as well as international audiences who tuned in online.
The event kicked off on Thursday, December 7th with the Sim Pro’s race. As the field took on Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Assetto Corsa Competizione for Open Practice and Qualifying, they already began to set the scene for the fierce battles that were still to come.
The 60-minute race was an action-packed affair from the get-go, with on-track clashes taking place up and down the field, setting the tone for the remainder of the event.
A battle between Cameron Martineau in the No. 38 Samantha Tan Racing BMW M4 GT3 and Jyeed Hutchinson in the No. 63 Lamborghini Esports Team Lamborghini Huracan GT3 Evo 22 quickly emerged towards the front of the grid. The two continued to attempt daring overtakes and fought neck and neck for the entirety of the opening half of the race, going back and forth as they looked for any additional advantage over the other.
As pit stops began to take place near the halfway mark, the competitors only continued to ramp up the intensity. However, things took a turn shortly after in the fight for the lead as Martineau was disqualified for speeding in the pit lane. This allowed Hutchinson to return to the track unrivaled, extending his lead over the drivers chasing behind.
Meanwhile, a very close battle was taking place between Aloo Gobi in the No. 10 Griphax Engineering McLaren 720S GT3 and Chris Severt in the No. 39 Samantha Tan Racing BMW M4 GT3. The two were separated by less than a second as they challenged each other for second and third place. Drama ensued as they made contact with just over five minutes remaining in the race, with both drivers able to resume the race, and their battle, as it was further deemed a racing incident.
Hutchinson went on to take the checkered flag and claimed the opening win of the event, followed by Gobi in second and Severt in third place.
As the dust settled from Thursday’s action, Friday brought forth its very own serving of thrills with the Pro Playoff. It was clear from the start that the 40-minute sprint race would be nothing short of a nail-biter, with an incident involving three cars on the first corner of the opening lap already providing a great deal of unpredictability.
Phil Bouchard was able to emerge unscathed in his No. 73 Advanced Motorsports Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo and settled into a comfortable rhythm as he led the pack.
However, it wasn’t long before more chaos unfolded, as Kyle Loh and Celso Neto, who were challenging for podium positions, collided with each other 12 minutes into the race and sent their No. 93 Dstinct Acura NSX GT3 Evo22 and No. 7 Skip Barber Racing School Acura NSX GT3 Evo22 running wide off track.
Matt Brewer had a comfortable hold over second place in his No. 26 Hyperion Racing Lamborghini Huracan GT3 Evo 22, but the podium wasn’t quite decided as the fight raged on for third place between Ethan Oring in the No. 1 DeltaSport Lamborghini Huracan GT3 Evo 22 and Mike Ogren in the No. 10 MO Motorsports Bentley Continental GT3. The two kept each other honest lap after lap, both knowing that any small mistake would be highly consequential as they sought the final podium position.
Bouchard crossed the finish line to conclude Friday’s action with a dominant victory, showing off his impressive pace and race craft throughout the entirety of the race. Brewer took second place after completing a consistent and competitive drive, and Oring claimed the final step on the podium in third position after successfully fending off threats from his fellow competitor behind.
When it was all said and done and the racing events came to a close, Saturday opened up the opportunity for fans on-site to put their own skills to the test on the Fanatec sim rigs and tap into their competitive spirit. With top-notch setups and interactive experiences, motorsports and esports enthusiasts were given the unique opportunity to get a first-hand feel for being behind the racing wheel.
The three-day inaugural event concluded with a resounding eager sentiment from fans and participants alike for the next installment of the PRI Esports Arena Presented by SRO America. As both the racing and esports communities continue to grow, prosper, and blend together, it is evident that this crossover event presents a highly valuable opportunity to highlight these industries on a global scale.