Six F1 drivers set up sim racing championship for COVID-19 charity

The 'Race for the World' series will take place on three nights spread across the next seven days, and will feature an all-star grid including drivers from F1, Formula E, F2, F3, and Super Formula.

Charles Leclerc, Alexander Albon, Lando Norris, George Russell, Antonio Giovinazzi and Nicholas Latifi will all take part in the new series that will be streamed online.

The drivers have been taking part in regular races on the F1 2019 game together while the season remains on hold due to the ongoing pandemic, but will now form a proper series to raise funds for charity.

"So happy to make this happen," Leclerc wrote on Twitter while making the announcement.

"We all need to be united in this and to see all of this group coming together for one cause feels great."

Each round of the series will feature two races, taking place at 6pm BST on Saturday 11 April, Tuesday 14 April and Friday 17 April.

As per the donations page set up, the drivers have set a target of $100,000, with all proceeds going to the World Health Organisation's COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund.

Formula E championship leader Antonio Felix da Costa, Ferrari juniors Callum Ilott and Giuliano Alesi, Super Formula champion Nick Cassidy, Renault youngster Christian Lundgaard, plus Haas F1 reserves Pietro Fittipaldi and Louis Deletraz are all confirmed for the series.

Also joining the 19-strong grid is Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, who has taken part in a number of sim races recently, including the Veloce Esports and Motorsport Games co-produced events.

Completing the field are Sean Gelael, Antonio Fuoco, Arthur Leclerc, Luca Salvadori and Luca Albon.

McLaren F1 driver Norris has taken victories in both the Veloce Pro Series and recent 1 v 1 shoot-out events, while Ferrari's Leclerc won his debut race in the F1 Virtual GP last weekend.

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