The world’s motorsport authority, Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), has taken a bold leap into the digital era with the launch of the first-ever fully FIA-sanctioned MENA Esports Championship, a milestone moment that merges the thrill of racing with the innovation of esports.
The Tournament is held in Jordan from the 13th to the 15th of November, with a Grand Prize of 10,000 USD, participants from multiple countries, with the sponsorship of Jameel Motorsports, Zain Esports, AMTC, and more, who showed their support for such events.
Held across 20 countries in the Middle East and North Africa, the championship is more than a virtual tournament, it’s a celebration of regional talent, technology, and speed under the same rigorous standards that govern Formula 1, World Rally, and Endurance Racing.
From Real Tracks to Digital Circuits
The FIA MENA Esports Championship brings together the fastest sim racers in the region on Gran Turismo 7, turning living rooms and gaming rigs into world-class race circuits.
National qualifiers have narrowed the competition to 40 top drivers, who now battle through intense semi-finals leading to the Grand Final this November, where 24 finalists will race for the title of FIA MENA Esports Champion.
The winner won’t just claim a trophy, they’ll earn an invitation to the FIA Awards Ceremony in Uzbekistan, standing alongside world champions from traditional motorsport.
A Region Racing Ahead
The MENA region’s love for speed and gaming is accelerating faster than ever. Over the past few years, the FIA’s regional esports initiative, the MENA Esports Cup, has drawn over 1,200 competitors and half a million viewers, proving that virtual motorsport has found a passionate home here.
Now, with full FIA sanctioning, the championship officially joins the ranks of the federation’s global sporting events, complete with race directors, stewards, and FIA sporting codes.
As Niroshan Pereira, President of the FIA Esports Commission, put it, “This championship raises the profile of a thriving motorsport discipline both at a regional level and on a global scale.”
Esports, Youth, and the Future of Motorsport
Beyond the competition, this championship signals the FIA’s long-term commitment to youth engagement and innovation in MENA. By blending real racing structure with digital accessibility, it opens new pathways for young drivers, engineers, and fans to be part of the motorsport world — no matter where they start.
For MENA, it’s a powerful moment of representation: a chance to showcase regional talent on a global FIA stage, and to position the region as a driving force in the future of esports and racing alike.
As the countdown to the finals begins, the message is clear: motorsport’s next generation is here, and it’s being powered by both passion and pixels.
For the latest updates, check the championship’s official Instagram page here
