Codemasters and Motorsport Games have today announced that the second season of the DiRT Rally 2.0 World Series will begin on Tuesday August 25th, culminating in a live final in the UK early next year.
The final will take place at the Autosport International Show at the Birmingham NEC on January 16th 2021, where 12 drivers will race for a share of $20,000 prize pool – double the amount from the first season.
The winner of the rallycross championship will also 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 first season alongside the World RX Esports Series, which attracted more than 1.24m 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, which 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 at 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. 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.”
Players on PC, Xbox One and PS4 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 by the three fastest runners up, based on 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.
Race schedule
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)
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