{"id":20448,"date":"2022-02-02T09:00:50","date_gmt":"2022-02-02T14:00:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/motorsportgames.com\/?p=20448"},"modified":"2022-02-01T22:10:15","modified_gmt":"2022-02-02T03:10:15","slug":"inaugural-2022-indycar-motorsport-games-pro-challenge-officially-kicks-off","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/motorsportgames.com\/inaugural-2022-indycar-motorsport-games-pro-challenge-officially-kicks-off\/","title":{"rendered":"Inaugural 2022 INDYCAR-Motorsport Games Pro Challenge Officially Kicks Off"},"content":{"rendered":"

This marks the video game company\u2019s first virtual esports event with the NTT INDYCAR SERIES after entering into an exclusive partnership in July, 2021
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MIAMI, FL \u2013 February 2, 2022 \u2013<\/strong> Motorsport Games Inc. (NASDAQ: MSGM) (\u201cMotorsport Games\u201d)<\/a>, a leading racing game developer, publisher and esports ecosystem provider of official motorsport racing series throughout the world, announces today, in conjunction with INDYCAR, North America\u2019s premiere open-wheel racing series, the 2022 INDYCAR-Motorsport Games Pro Challenge, to be held on February 9, 2022. The \u00a0challenge will feature current NTT INDYCAR SERIES drivers, including reigning champion Alex Palou, four-time Indianapolis 500 champion Helio Castroneves and two-time series champion Josef Newgarden. This marks the first official esports event since the parties entered into an exclusive agreement in July of 2021 for Motorsport Games to produce an INDYCAR virtual race series and debut a new INDYCAR game title expected to launch in 2023 on PlayStation, Xbox and PC.<\/p>\n

Fans can tune in to watch the full program, starting with the pre-show at 6 p.m. EST. The green flag for both heats and the race will drop at 6:30 p.m. EST, with the race conclusion and interviews to take place thereafter at approximately 7:15 p.m.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe 2022 INDYCAR-Motorsport Games Pro Challenge is our first foray into the world of esports with our new INDYCAR partners and we couldn\u2019t be more excited to bring this competition to the fans,\u201d said George Holmquist, Vice President of Marketing and Publishing at Motorsport Games<\/strong>. \u201cViewers can expect the same world-class experience as our other esports events, such as the highly renowned Le Mans Virtual Series, to be carried over into this new series. We are excited to continue producing live esports events with INDYCAR in the future, all leading up to our first INDYCAR game title expected to launch in 2023.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cINDYCAR fans are a passionate, global audience hungry for quality motorsports gaming content,\u201d said SJ Luedtke, Vice President of Marketing at INDYCAR<\/strong>. \u201cWith our partners at Motorsport Games, we are now able to bring those same fans a premier virtual esports experience, while also cultivating a new base of INDYCAR supporters and followers. We cannot wait for everyone to see the first-ever INDYCAR-Motorsport Games Pro Challenge this year and we are thrilled to keep producing these events in the many years to follow.\u201d<\/p>\n

The full roster of participating drivers and tracks will be announced prior to the final race. The format for each heat and the race will be as follows:<\/p>\n