BRISTOL STREET MOTORS With EXCELR8 Enters Esports Arena
BRISTOL STREET MOTORS with EXCELR8 can today confirm that it will take its first steps into the world of eSports through a new partnership with the Full Throttle Racing League (FTRL).
EXCELR8, the Suffolk-based team has firmly established itself as one of the leading outfits on the UK racing scene in recent years, reaching the pinnacle of British motorsport last season when it clinched overall honours in the prestigious British Touring Car Championship.
That followed on from multiple title-winning campaigns in the MINI CHALLENGE, with more than 25 championship trophies in total being the envy of many on-track rivals.
Alongside a busy real-world racing programme this season – with cars running in the BTCC, VERTU MINI CHALLENGE and Porsche Carrera Cup GB – BRISTOL STREET MOTORS with EXCELR8 is now set to feature in a number of leading eSports events in conjunction with FTRL, with the ultimate goal being to secure a place on the grid for the 2024 running of the Virtual Le Mans 24 Hours.
FTRL was founded by Aaron Taylor to allow a group of young race fans to stay in touch as they grew up and moved to new locations across the UK, with the original plan being to get together online once a week for an evening of racing.
Since then, the league has grown to the stage where it now hosts multiple events a week on various platforms, including Gran Turismo, Assetto Corsa and iRacing.
The league – which includes some of the top players in the world on the respective games – enters teams in numerous races each year and will now look to utilise the partnership with BRISTOL STREET MOTORS with EXCELR8, to help earn a place in some of the major eSports events on the calendar.
The first big race for FTRL in association with BRISTOL STREET MOTORS with EXCELR8 is a 24-hour event at Daytona International Speedway, scheduled in early August, with various smaller events planned before then - many of which will be streamed live on YouTube.
Aaron Taylor, Full Throttle Racing League Co-Founder, said:
"When I originally set up the league, it was just as a bit of fun, and so we could all stay in touch. We had no idea that we’d get to the stage where we had drivers who were ranked in the top 100 on Gran Turismo, and would be racing against people from all over the globe in various online events.
"We are still a small group compared to many other leagues but we have done well in online events, and we now want to try and move to the next level of competition. Competing at the highest level of eSports means we have to raise our game, and as fans of the BTCC, we thought that partnering up with one of the leading teams would be the ideal way to do that.
"As soon as we got in touch with BRISTOL STREET MOTORS with EXCELR8, they were immediately interested in what we had planned and before we knew it, everything had been agreed and put in place.
"We’re beyond delighted to now be officially linked to the team and look forward to not only growing our partnership and chasing success in the eSports world, but also to meeting up as a group trackside to cheer the team on as it looks to defend the BTCC title."
Justina Williams, BRISTOL STREET MOTORS with EXCELR8 Team Owner, said:
"As a team, we have obviously been aware of the way in which eSports has exploded in recent years, so we’re delighted to now be able to team up with Full Throttle Racing League in this new partnership.
"It gives us the opportunity to promote our team and partners in front of a whole new audience; we’re hugely excited to see how we can develop this relationship in the coming months and hopefully get to the position where FTRL in association with BRISTOL STREET MOTORS with EXCELR8 is fighting for honours on the biggest eSports stage of all."
Robert Forrester, Chief Executive of Bristol Street Motors, said:
"On the track, BRISTOL STREET MOTORS with EXCELR8 has been hugely successful and I fully anticipate this to be emulated on screen, with the Full Throttle Racing League.
"Online gaming - and in particular, virtual motorsport racing - is an incredibly competitive arena. The team is ambitious, hoping to challenge the biggest players in eSports, and I am delighted that BRISTOL STREET MOTORS with EXCELR8 can be a part of this.
"We’re all looking forward to seeing many podium finishes this season, both on the race track and online! I wish the best of luck to the team."