BMW Motorsport’s 2021 Sim Cup program will feature multiple virtual BMW race cars contesting series in several race formats on three Sim Racing platforms. The BMW M4 GT3, the BMW M8 GTE, the BMW M4 GT4, and the BMW M2 CS Racing will be run in BMW Sim Cup series on the iRacing, rFactor 2, and Assetto Corsa Competizione sim racing platforms in 2021. The program will culminate in BMW Sim Live 2021 near the end of the year.
As noted here in December, Sim Racing has become a pillar of BMW’s motorsport program.
Rudolf Dittrich, head of BMW Motorsport Sim Racing, says, “Having introduced our new BMW SIM Cup formats at BMW SIM Live last December, it is now time to get down to the serious business, as the first races are just around the corner. We are understandably excited to see how our new race formats and the wider range of BMW race cars will be received by the sim racing community. We are now active on three major platforms: iRacing, rFactor 2, and Assetto Corsa Competizione. This allows us to reach a far larger group of sim racers and their fans than last year. We are obviously hoping to attract a lot of top-class competitors, as well as to receive expert feedback on our race formats and cars, which helps us to keep improving all the time. I am looking forward to spectacular events—both during the season and at the grand finals, which will take place at BMW Sim Live 2021.”
Details of the programs follow.
BMW Sim GT Cup.
The BMW Sim GT Cup, successor to the BMW Sim 120 Cup, will stage ten races, divided into two five-race series. The first series, to be run in the M8 GTE, will feature teams of two drivers running on five simulated circuits, including Daytona on January 17, Suzuka on March 7, Silverstone on March 21, Road Atlanta on May 2, and the Nürburgring on May 16. Dates and circuits for the second series, to be run in the M4 GT3, will be announced at a later date.
Both series will feature 120-minute races with a mandatory driver change. Winners of the first four races in each series will qualify for the Grand Final at Sim Live 2021, as will the first-second place finishers in race five. A $4,200 purse is available to the top three finishers in the first four races in each season.
BMW Sim M2 CS Racing Cup
The M2 CS Racing Cup, a continuation of last year’s series, will use the M2 CS Racing on the rFactor 2 GT platform. This year’s M2 CS Racing Cup will serve as a support series for the rFactor2 GT Pro Series. As such, it will venture beyond the Nordschleife at the Nürburgring, where it ran all of its races in 2020. This year there will be two six race series, with the winners of each race qualifying for the final at BMW Sim Live. Season one begins on March 8 at Imola, and goes on to Spa-Francorchamps on March 22, Silverstone on April 5, the Nürburgring on April 19, and Sebring on May 3. Dates and circuits for the second season will be confirmed at a later date. The top three finishers at each event will share a purse of € 1,850.
BMW Sim Time Attack program
The all-new BMW Sim Time Attack program will be a lap time competition in simulated M4 GT4s on circuits that change monthly. The competitor who sets the fastest lap time each month will qualify for BMW Sim Live 2021. Entry is open to every member of the Assetto Corsa Competizione community. Information on the race tracks and start times will be announced later.—Brian Morgan
[Photos courtesy BMW Motorsport.]