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Esports calendar: All of the best virtual races to watch in April

Here is a list of the best Esports races to look out for in April, as COVID-19 continues to shut down the real motorsport world

Race for the World Round 3

  • Date and time: Friday 17 April
  • Game: F1 2019
  • Competitors: Charles Leclerc, Lando Norris, Alexander Albon, George Russell, Antonio Giovinazzi and Nicholas Latifi
  • How to watch it: Drivers' Twitch streams

What is it? The final round of the virtual series organised by 20 professional racing drivers. Their aim is to entertain their fans and raise $100,000 for the World Health Organisation's COVID-19 Solidarity Fund. Fans can catch the action by tuning into one of the drivers' Twitch feeds.

Formula E's Race at Home Challenge Pre-Season, with Motorsport Games

  • Date and time: Saturday 18 April
  • Game: rFactor 2
  • Competitors: Formula E stars including Lucas di Grassi, Antonio Felix da Costa and Felipe Massa, as well as top sim racers
  • How to watch it: Formula E's YouTube, Twitch, Twitter and Facebook

What is it? Formula E has launched two Esports series in partnership with Motorsport Games. The first will be contested by its real-life drivers, and the other will be for the top sim racers in the world. All funds raised by the championships, will be donated to UNICEF, following the series' recent partnership with the global charity. The series will feature a unique 'Battle Royale'- style knockout format. The driver in last place at the end of each lap will be eliminated. The winner of the sim racer series will win a real-life FE test. This round will act as a non-championship prelude event to the eight-round season.

The Race All-Star Cup and Legends Trophy

  • Date and time: Saturday 18 April 5pm
  • Game: rFactor 2
  • Competitors: Juan Pablo Montoya, Emerson Fittipaldi, Juan Manuel Correa
  • How to watch it: The Race's YouTube channel

What is it? The latest round of the Legends Trophy will boast such drivers as two-time Indy 500 winner Montoya, as well as two-time F1 champion Fittipaldi. The All-Star cup pits sim racers against professional drivers, with Correa and Formula E's Maximilian Gunther among the drivers confirmed so far.

Veloce Esports' #NotTheGP Versus

  • Date and time: Saturday 18 April 7pm
  • Game: F1 2019
  • Competitors: Lando Norris
  • How to watch it: Veloce's YouTube and Twitch channels

What is it? After a break for Easter, Veloce Esports' #NotTheGP series returns with its unique Versus format. Drivers, including defending winner Norris, will compete across a series of 1v1 races, leaving one driver left standing.

IndyCar iRacing Challenge Round 4

  • Date and time: Saturday 18 April 7.30pm
  • Game: iRacing
  • Competitors: Majority of the IndyCar field e.g reigning champion Josef Newgarden and Alexander Rossi. Reigning NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Busch will guest star.
  • How to watch it: IndyCar website

What is it? The fourth round of the virtual IndyCar series will take place at the virtual Twin Ring Motegi in Japan. The first three rounds have produced three different winners.

World RX Invitational Series Round 1, with Motorsport Games

  • Date and time: Sunday 19 April
  • Game: DiRT Rally 2.0
  • Competitors: World RX stars as well as top DiRT gamers
  • How to watch it: Motorsport.tv, YouTube, Facebook and Twitch

What is it? A virtual World Rallycross replacement will take place on Codemasters' DiRT Rally 2.0. Some of the top World RX competitors including two-time champion Johan Kristoffersson will face off against the top-qualifying gamers. Qualification was open to everyone on PC. This round at the virtual Catalunya circuit is set to be the first of many.

NASCAR Pro Invitational Round 4

  • Date and time: Sunday 19 April 6pm
  • Game: iRacing
  • Competitors: Many of the NASCAR Cup Series stars, including retired racers Dale Earnhardt Jr and Bobby Labonte
  • How to watch it: FOX Broadcast Network, FS1, FOX Sports app

What is it? NASCAR replaces its planned real-world events with made-for-TV sim racing series at the tracks they were due to race at.

Formula 1 Virtual Chinese Grand Prix

  • Date and time: Sunday 19 April 6pm
  • Game: F1 2019
  • Competitors: Six Formula 1 drivers including Charles Leclerc and Lando Norris.
  • How to watch it: F1's YouTube channel

What is it? The third round of F1's Virtual GP series will see the same six F1 drivers from the second round make their return, including first-time winner Leclerc. Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois will make his debut in the series with Red Bull. An exhibition race involving the Esports drivers will take place beforehand.

Supercars All Star Eseries Round 3

  • Date and time: Wednesday 22 April 10am
  • Game: iRacing
  • Competitors: Majority of the Supercars field alongside some wildcards.
  • How to watch it: Motorsport.tv

What is it? Max Verstappen was the latest driver to take on the Supercars field in the virtual world. He took three podiums but couldn't stop his friend and Red Bull team-mate Shane van Gisbergen from winning two of the four races. Van Gisbergen has climbed to third place in the standings, but its still reigning real-life champion Scott McLaughlin leading the points table. Round three takes place at Bathurst, scene of numerous thrilling Supercars encounters.

Le Mans Esports Series 'Pro' Individual Qualifying 6 (Hot-Lap competition)

  • Date and time: Friday 24 April (Until Sunday 3 May)
  • Game: Forza Motorsport 7
  • Competitors: Open qualification to all gamers

What is it? While the professional teams can qualify for the Le Mans Super Final in the Pro Team series, individual gamers can book their place at the 2020 Le Mans 24 Hours by posting one of the fastest laps around the virtual Spa-Francorchamps circuit.

Le Mans Esports Series Pro Team Round 5, with Motorsport Games

  • Date and time: Saturday 25 April, 7pm GMT
  • Game: Forza Motorsport 7
  • Competitors: Red Bull, Lazarus, Jean Alesi's Esports team
  • How to watch it: Motorsport.tv, YouTube, Facebook and Twitch

What is it? The final round of the Pro Team series of the Le Mans Esports Series. After this round, the top six teams in the standings will earn their place in the Super Final, which will be held at the 2020 Le Mans 24 Hours. Season two of the championship boasts a $200,000 prize pool. Red Bull took the points lead from Lazarus at the last round at Sebring.

Formula E's Race at Home Challenge Round 1, with Motorsport Games

  • Date and time: Saturday 25 April
  • Game: rFactor 2
  • Competitors: Formula E stars including Lucas di Grassi, Antonio Felix da Costa and Felipe Massa, as well as top sim racers
  • How to watch it: Formula E's YouTube, Twitch, Twitter and Facebook

What is it? The first championship rounds of Formula E's unique Esports series, which feature a unique knockout format. 14 FE drivers were confirmed at the launch of the series including current real-life points leader da Costa and 11-time F1 grand prix winner Massa.

iRacing 24 Hours of Nurburgring

  • Date and time: Saturday 25 April, 1pm GMT
  • Game: iRacing
  • Competitors: Real-life racers facing off against sim racers
  • How to watch it: iRacing website and YouTube channel

What is it? One of iRacing's special events, which has attracted the likes of Formula 1 stars Max Verstappen and Lando Norris in the past. All the top sim racing drivers and teams usually take part, and virtual endurance has all the drama and intrigue of the real-life equivalent.

IndyCar iRacing Challenge Round 5

  • Date and time: Saturday 25 April
  • Game: iRacing
  • Competitors: Majority of the IndyCar field e.g reigning champion Josef Newgarden and Alexander Rossi, as well as 2020 debutants Scott McLaughlin and Felipe Nasr
  • How to watch it: IndyCar website

What is it? IndyCar's fifth Esports event on iRacing will use the Circuit of the Americas. The F1-circuit made its debut on the IndyCar calendar last year, and caused a world of track limits controversy. Rookie Colton Herta became the youngest IndyCar race winner of all time. Now he'll race alongside his fellow IndyCar drivers around the digital version of the track.

Supercars All Star Eseries Round 4

  • Date and time: Wednesday 29 April 10am
  • Game: iRacing
  • Competitors: Majority of the Supercars field alongside some wildcards.
  • How to watch it: Motorsport.tv

What is it? The fourth round of the virtual Supercars series will have races split across Montreal and Watkins Glen. The opening races have been filled with action and drama, and that's expected to continue as the championship fight starts to take shape.

For even more Esports, head to Motorsport Games.

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