Jesse James
With all the hype surrounding eSports these days, companies are scrambling to get in the game. The American automobile manufacturer Ford announced at Gamescom 2019 that it would start recruitment for its eSports racing team. The auto manufacturer released a statement regarding the news. They said it will “be seeking out the best online racers to form its first-ever esports teams.” They will be looking for respective national teams representing France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the UK.
The company will then be selecting an all-star team from within those nations to form a wider European team. Roelant de Waard, VP of Marketing Sales and Service, Ford Europe, spoke about the news recently. Roelant stated: “We at Ford have a racing pedigree that others can only envy. Now is the time to take that know-how and apply it to the world of esports — capturing the imagination of a new generation of virtual racing drivers, inspiring them to take a ride in one of our Ford Performance vehicles.”
Forza x Ford!
This is a unique move for Ford and one they seem excited about. Amko Leenarts, director of Design at Ford Europe also spoke about the news. He added: “The distinction between real and virtual worlds is blurring”. He went on to say, “Gaming is now a part of mainstream culture. Top gamers challenge professional race drivers in real life, and many of our day-to-day activities are ‘gamified,’ from using fitness apps to collecting loyalty points for a free coffee.”
Recruited eSports racers will be competing across an array of racing games, including the Xbox One exclusive Forza Motorsport 7. Ford had teamed up with Microsoft for a Forza Racing Championship tournament in 2017. The grand prize winner took home a 350-horsepower Ford Focus RS. The tournament returned in 2018 with a prize pool of $100,000 USD.
This is a big move for Ford, putting them deeper into the world of gaming than ever before. Give us your thoughts about the news and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. To find out more about the Forza Racing Championship and how to sign up, head over to its website now.
