In a space only a few square meters in size at Studio Gabriel, the biggest esports endurance race in the world, the 24 Hours of Le Mans Virtual , will be directed. A whopping 200 racers – including 37 different nationalities of professional drivers and esports experts from around the globe – will battle it out for 24 hours. They will compete from their homes like Olivier Panis, or from the Monaco Automobile Club or Ferrari museum in Maranello, or with their teams like Cool Racing. All racers will hit the Le Mans circuit virtually via the rFactor2 platform no matter the distance between them nor the significant time difference in certain cases!

The virtual race still requires coordination so that the 50 machines (30 LMPs and 20 GTEs) compete properly according to regulations and within the platform. Studio Gabriel has been set up to accommodate, in compliance with distancing conditions, the race direction and a television production crew.

At the helm is Eduardo Freitas, the traditional race director for the 24 Hours of Le Mans, and Olivier Denis, responsible for producing the event for television. With their respective teams, both will oversee the smooth flow of the race. Freitas will be tasked with ensuring the esports-adapted sporting regulations are respected as unique situations may arise as well as specific penalties. For Denis, the 26-hour production will be accompanied by a call for donations for medical research related to Covid-19 initiated by H.R.H. Princess Charlène of Monaco via her foundation. https://donate.fondationprincessecharlene.mc/strongtogether

Additionally, space will be dedicated for simulators intended for the IDEC SPORT Racing and Alpine teams, as well as the leading and safety car, MissionH24’s hydrogen-electric LMPH2G prototype, the result of a collaboration between the ACO and GreenGT. The cutting-edge machine will be virtually driven by its test driver Olivier Lombard and sim racer Aurélien Mallet, both on-site in Paris. It will unleash the field and set the pace in case of neutralisations.

A specially designated area will host ACO President Pierre Fillon, FIA President Jean Todt, FIA Endurance Commission President Richard Mille and the CEO of the FIA WEC Gérard Neveu.

Well-guarded but on display at Studio Gabriel are the very real trophies for the first 24 Hours of Le Mans Virtual. Professional drivers from various disciplines – like Max Verstappen, Fernando Alonso, Jenson Button, Simon Pagenaud, Charles Leclerc, Lando Norris, Olivier Panis, Juan Pablo Montoya, Sébastien Buemi, André Lotterer, Thomas Laurent, Giancarlo Fisichella, Felipe Massa, Jean-Éric Vergne, Pierre Gasly, Antonio Giovinazzi and Neel Jani – will hit the virtual track with the goal of claiming a highly coveted trophy on Sunday at 15:00.