RaceSpot Live Events, VCO and Simply Race are proud to announce our first UK Sim Racing Community Event! On May 14^th 2022, we take over a small part of Milton Keynes, as we bring you a day of talks, discussion, racing, and of course, fun racing and pretty decent prizes.

—REGISTER NOW HERE! —

We have a total of four racing events taking place over the course of the day, showcasing some of the amazing partners we have worked with over the past few years. These include:

• Welcome Hot Lap Challenge
• Porsche 992 Showdown
• BMW GT4 Showdown
• IndyCar Indianapolis Challenge

In addition to these events, we will have a number of talks and discussions throughout the day, discussing our shared journies to date, as well as where we feel Sim Racing is heading over the next few years, and how it will affect different segments of the Sim Racing audience. These include a sit down with Wil Vincent from RaceSpot TV and Florian Haasper from VCO, and the premiere episode of RaceSpot TV’s newest Podcast, RaceSpot Talk. 

RaceSpot Talk intends to discuss the big issues in Sim Racing as a product and Esport, challenging and debating what’s happening, and what may be to come. Most importantly, YOU as members of the Sim Racing can get involved and share your opinions… It’s not just going to be us talking at you!

Add in free pizza and a licensed on site bar, and we hope we’ve created a day you will enjoy, regardless of if you are an avid sim racer, or just a casual gamer. We’re opening the doors to our world, and we’d hope you will join us.

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EVENT SCHEDULE

10:30AM - 11:00AM: Welcome & Hot Lap Challenge

What better way to welcome you to an event than to chuck you onto a sim, and get you to set as fast a lap time as possible. We will be running the event with TCR Car(s) TBD, at Brands Hatch (Indy).

Drivers will have a total of 10 laps per run to set as fast a time as possible, and can have a run every time there’s not a competition going on… But be careful, as every time you go out on track, you give up your previous best time.

11:00AM - 12:00PM: INTRODUCTION TALKS

Learn more about how RaceSpot and VCO have grown and developed over the past few years, and hear expert discussion around the current state and direction of Sim Racing. There’s also the chance to ask questions, and find out more about how we work and what we do.

12:00PM - 02:30PM: PORSCHE 992 SHOWDOWN

60 Drivers, bracket style showdown. Drivers will be randomly seeded using our patented random generator (Also known as MS Excel) into groups of 15, whom will then take to the track at the home of British Motorsport, Silverstone.

Finish in the Top 7, you progress to the Semi-Finals / Finals, along with the two 8th place finishers with the fastest race laps. Each race will use a single qualifying lap and last for 10 minutes, so there’s no time to cruise. Prizes will be provided to the Top 3 at the end of the competition, provided by Porsche and Porsche Design.

02:30PM - 03:30PM: RACESPOT TALK PREMIERE EPISODE

It’s been many months in the making, but we are proud to launch our brand new podcast, RaceSpot Talk. This delves deep into some of the big issues and opportunities for Sim Racing as an Esport, and all the aspects that go into it, looking at the genre and community from a non biased, informed but lively sense of discussion.

In our first episode, RaceSpot, VCO and more will discuss the following:

– The future of competitive Sim Racing
– How to further engage communities across Sim Racing outside of the ‘elite’

We also want to know your views, and this is an interactive podcast, so you can get involved in person (With your voice and everything), or through the power of social media.

03:30PM - 06:00PM: BMW GT4 Showdown

Once again, the RaceSpot TV Random Generator comes out, as we divide 60 drivers into groups of 15. A series of 10 minute races (With a solo qualifying lap beforehand) at the track that’s hosted the European GP and some random rock music festival, Donington Park.

As with the Porsche 992 Showdown, the Top 7 in each race progress to the Semi Finals and Finals, with the two 8th place finishers with the fastest race laps. Prizes will again be given to the Top 3 at the end of the competition.

06:00PM - 09:30PM: iRACING FIXED INDIANAPOLIS TOP SPLIT BROADCAST

We’ll do it live: F**K IT! One week before one of the biggest events in Sim Racing, drivers whet their appetite for all things IndyCar and Indianapolis with a Fixed Setup 500 mile race. Gone are the arguments around setup, and in car tools, and instead, every driver is on an equal playing field. We will be commentating on the entire race live on site, and with the power of internet magic, we will also bring you live pictures of our broadcast. Grab a drink, have some pizza, and join us as we see who will be the latest driver to master the brickyard.

06:00PM - 09:30PM: IndyCar Indianapolis Challenge

Whilst we provide you live, on site commentary of the iRacing Fixed Indianapolis 500, we challenge you to beat the RaceSpot team at one of the toughest challenges in iRacing: A 4 lap qualifying effort at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Unlike in the iRacing version in qualifying, you will have 6 laps in total. Your outlap, warm up lap, then 4 qualifying laps, from which we will take an average lap time and speed. 16 corners may seem easy, but at Indianapolis, every move of the wheel is critical.

You will have as many attempts as you can during the iRacing Fixed Indianapolis 500 broadcast, but once again, if you go out more than once, you forfeit your previous time.

10:00PM: - ??:??AM: The Afterparty

Even though most of the RaceSpot crew don’t drink alcohol, doesn’t mean we don’t know how to let our hair down and party like it’s 1988 (Fun fact, Milton Keynes used to have a roller-skate disco on a Saturday night!)

Venue is TBC, but the event is taking place right in the heart of Milton Keynes’ Theatre District, so there’s plenty of places to end up. And if you get hungry late at night, KFC and Dominoes opens late.

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REGISTRATION

Registration is FREE, but we kindly ask that you register in advance. This is for us to get everything we need in order, and also to appease the Health and Safety people who rein over us! All data you provide will be stored and managed under GDPR requirements, and will only be used to inform you about the event and prepare your entries into the Porsche and BMW Series should you choose to participate.

If you are under the age of 16, you need to be accompanied by a parent or guardian. We will accept teammates in this situation so long as it’s clear that you are teammates (We have the internet), AND we get confirmation from a parent that you are able to attend and be recorded for our live footage.

—REGISTER NOW HERE! —

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SERIES INFORMATION & TERMS OF PARTICIPATION

Each of the series running below will take place on the iRacing software. RaceSpot and iRacing’s history go back to the first days of the company, and we feel it is easier to use one platform for the day rather than switching between platforms (Sorry RF2, ACC, LFS fans, maybe next time!)

More information about each of the series can be found in the dropdown tabs below. Please note that all series will run with FIXED SETUPS, and with the exception of the Welcome Hot Lap Challenge and IndyCar Indianapolis challenge, will take place with dynamic weather conditions. Please note that we are currently limited to 60 participants in both the Porsche and BMW series, and will be on a first registered, first accepted basis, with a reserve list in operation.

Venue Location

We will be at Simply Race Milton Keynes, who have kindly let us rent their venue for the entire day. Their address is:

Simply Race
Unit G3, 12 Garrick Walk
Theatre District, Milton Keynes
MK9 3PT

GETTING TO THE VENUE BY TRAIN / LOCAL BUS

Milton Keynes Central Station is a 15 – 20 Minute walk away from the venue, largely in a straight line, then a kink to the right to get to the Theatre District. MK Central is on the West Coast Main Line, so is served by London Northwestern and Avanti West Coast Trains. You can connect via London Euston or Birmingham New Street Stations for 2 Trains Per Hour. Remember also that you can get 50% of rail tickets on selected routes from National Rail as part of the Government’s big Spring Sale.

Regular busses go from Milton Keynes Central to the Theatre District, right outside the station. Journey times are 5 – 10 minutes.

GETTING TO THE VENUE BY CAR

The easiest way to get to Central Milton Keynes is to leave the M1 at Junction 14. It’s about 10 minutes to Central Milton Keynes from there, and the Theatre District is the closest part of the centre to the Motorway.

The A5 goes through the heart of Milton Keynes, and the Theatre District is about 10 minutes from the Portway junction. The A421 goes through Milton Keynes and is a good connection from Buckingham and Bedford (And traffic from the A1 / A1M). The A421 runs to the south of the Centre, and is about 5 minutes away from the venue.

PARKING, ETC

Central Milton Keynes has two main parking zones: Premium Tariffs are £2 per hour, and Standard Tariffs are 50p per hour. Parking is available around most of Central Milton Keynes, including right by the venue (Premium).

If you don’t mind a 10 minute walk, it is better to park to the North of The Centre:MK, between North Ninth, and North Twelfth Street. This is where you’ll find the best standard parking. There is also a multi storey car park next to John Lewis, and there is also discounted parking around Milton Keynes Central Station

ON SITE AMENITIES & HOUSE RULES

The venue has stairs to the Sim Racing facility. There is also a lift, making the site suitable for those with reduced mobility.

There is a licensed bar, which will be open all day, serving alcoholic and non alcoholic drinks. A Challenge 25 policy is in place for those wishing to buy alcohol, and we will not tolerate the purchase of alcohol for Under 18s / those without ID. We will ask you to leave if you are caught buying alcohol for a minor / someone without ID, and we may also pass your details to Thames Valley Police.

RaceSpot Live Events will be providing pizza throughout the day. You are also welcome to order food from Fireaway pizza, located on the ground floor next to the venue. Please ensure you dispose of food waste and containers appropriately, and do not bring any other hot food onto the premises.

There is an ATM and a convenience store located <2 minutes from the venue.

There is no space to store items when you are racing, so please come with only what you need for the day. CCTV is in operation, however RaceSpot Live Events and Simply Race will not be responsible for any items lost / stolen. Please be mindful of other people, and respect their belongings.

Smoking and vaping are not allowed on site. Please be mindful of your smoking litter, and be aware that Milton Keynes Council are known for issuing spot fines for litter, including cigarette butts being thrown on the ground.