FIA Picks Assetto Corsa Rally for Global Rally Tour

The FIA has named Assetto Corsa Rally the exclusive platform for the inaugural FIA Esports Global Rally Tour, with global online qualifiers set for May 12–25 and the championship final scheduled for Dec. 12, 2026, in Shanghai.

The series is the FIA’s first official rally esports competition. The online qualifier on Assetto Corsa Rally will reduce the field to 56 drivers — eight representatives from each of six regions: MENA, North America, South America, Asia-Pacific, Africa and Europe (covering both northern and southern Europe).

After the global qualifier, the event moves to regional shootouts to further narrow the field. The Asia-Pacific shootout is scheduled for June 23 during the FIA Conference in Macau. The European shootout will take place Oct. 16–18 at the SimRacing Expo in Frankfurt. Dates and venues for the remaining regional events will be confirmed as the FIA finalizes the season calendar.

The championship will conclude on Dec. 12 during FIA Awards Week in Shanghai. The top 16 drivers will participate in an on-site pre-event to determine standings, and the two highest-ranked competitors from that session will face off in a live, side-by-side Grand Final on the main stage.

Niroshan Pereira, president of the FIA Esports Commission, commented in a press release, “Rallying enjoys boundless popularity, and I am delighted to expand the scope of our Esports competitions — which have so far been focused on circuit racing — to include the discipline of rallying. We can expect to see thousands of drivers from around the world competing for the chance to showcase their talent in front of all the FIA World Champions in Shanghai.” Mauro Notarberardino, studio director at Supernova Game Studio, described selection by the FIA as “an important validation step” for Assetto Corsa Rally and the studio’s work.

Assetto Corsa Rally was developed by Supernova Game Studio alongside Kunos Simulazioni and will be supported by publisher 505 Games for the tour. The Global Rally Tour follows the FIA’s earlier esports activity focused on circuit racing and will be incorporated into the federation’s official competitive season after last year’s FIA MENA Esports Championship received sanctioning under the International Sporting Code.

The FIA and the game’s publishers said they will release further details on registration, event rules and remaining regional schedules ahead of the May qualifier.