CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — Holland College is branching out and building upon its first foray into eSports.
The Canadian eMotorsports Series (CEMS) will expand in September to include a second weekly online racing league, which will use F1 2020 for the PlayStation 4 console. CEMS F1 joins the original NASCAR league running on the NASCAR Heat titles, and all races will be streamed live on Facebook at www.facebook.com/eMotorsportsCAN.
The NASCAR league began in May and is midway through its 26-race series that ends Nov. 17. There are 34 drivers participating.
With the new league comes a slight rebrand, as the umbrella of leagues will now be known as the Canadian eMotorsports Network.
“It’s an exciting time for our product,” said Geordie Carragher, who will serve as the Formula 1 league’s commissioner, while also retaining broadcast responsibilities. “It’s something we’ve been thinking about doing for a while, and Formula 1’s international appeal made it a no-brainer when considering options for our first expansion.”
The inaugural Formula 1 season will feature 16 races, consisting largely of classic tracks while mixing in a few newer options. However, the plan will be to mirror the F1 calendar from the second season onward.
The series will begin Sept. 3.
As is the case with the network’s NASCAR series, all competitors will be required to use a racing wheel, and all applicants must complete a driving assessment prior to being accepted as an official competitor.
“We want our series to be a fun experience for everyone involved,” Carragher said. “While we certainly want to foster a competitive environment within the series, we also want it to be a league where drivers look forward to racing each week instead of feeling frustrated.”
The league will consist of a maximum of 20 drivers with a limited number of spaces remaining. People can register as an individual for $60 or as a team of two for $110. Individuals who sign up will be placed into teams, as there are both a constructors’ and drivers’ championships.
The series is open to the public. Prize money can be earned for finishing on the podium in each race. Anyone interested in joining the series, can email Daniel Cudmore at [email protected].
