Max Verstappen returns to the spotlight in simulator: he will race IMSA Daytona event on iRacing. Max Verstappen returns to the simulator to compete against Esports professionals.

Max Verstappen King on iRacing
One of the most prestigious virtual championships in the world gains even more star power. Four-time Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen takes center stage on his home simulator to participate in the final race of the IMSA Esports Global Championship. This is the virtual series organized during the winter break by the American endurance category in collaboration with the VCO portal on the iRacing platform. The Red Bull driver will be on track for the fourth and final round of the championship at Daytona, driving an Acura GTP prototype run by his team, Verstappen.com Racing.

Max on “track” at Daytona
Sharing the cockpit with the 27-year-old Dutchman, a known enthusiast of (also) virtual racing, for the 2-hour and 40-minute race will be Brazilian driver Gustavo Ariel. The event will also be broadcast live on the YouTube, Facebook, and Twitch channels of IMSA and iRacing, with live commentary starting at 7:30 PM on Sunday, January 12, 2025. The race itself is scheduled to begin at 8:00 PM Italian time.

iRacing, not just Verstappen: Ferrari is in
Verstappen won’t be the only high-profile participant in the virtual Daytona event, which also serves as a prelude to the real (and virtual, also on iRacing) 24-hour race scheduled for January 2025. In addition to the F1 champion’s team, Scuderia Ferrari has secured a wild card to participate in the final round of the Esports championship. Ferrari has announced that the drivers of its 296 GTD entry will be Lorenzo Manfredotti and Ole Steinbraten.

IMSA Esports at Daytona: the Italians
Maranello’s team joins a strong contingent of Italians competing among the professional Esports racing teams. Notable participants include the all-Italian Zero7 Racing team, which fields a McLaren GT3 in the GTD class driven by Lorenzo Castellani and Alessio Bonino, as well as the Mag Performance and Vesta Sport teams. Key drivers to watch include Enzo Bonito, Alessandro Bico, and Dino Lombardi, all competing in the GTD category for Team Redline, Williams Esports, and Grid-and-Go, respectively. The only Italian directly challenging Verstappen in the GTP class will be Moreno Sirica, driving a BMW prototype for the Williams team.