If you’ve ever wanted to beat professional racing drivers in video games, now’s your chance. Thanks to a new initiative from Mobil 1, virtual drivers will compete against Nascar icon Tony Stewart and Indy NXT racer Jamie Chadwick. Mobil 1, Xbox, and Forza Motorsport collaborated to create the Legends vs. Leaderboard Rival Events program. Starting Thursday, gamers and fans will be able to battle against the two drivers at Maple Valley, an in-game track modelled after Mobil 1.
“I’ve been part of some really cool promotions with Mobil 1, getting to drive a Formula 1 with Lewis Hamilton, a tank that I got to crush cars with, learnt how to drift with Vaughn Gittin Jr.,” Stewart informed the crowd. “They said we’re doing an eracing game, and I was like, ‘What?'” “No getting into something cool and driving?”
Stewart’s automobile for the competition is a 1969 Ford Mustang Boss 302. Stewart will talk about his experience in a content series on Mobil 1’s social media channels, hosted by his wife, NHRA racer Leah Pruett. “I had a blast with this,” Stewart stated. “My wife, Leah, got to participate in and host this. I had no idea until we shot the production day at a ranch. But I practiced a little until it was time to tape our run to show how serious I was about it. I approached this assignment with the same zeal as I did qualifying for the Indy 500 or running a major race.
“Having the potential to bring fans in, this is a fantastic opportunity for them to race against competing full-time racecar drivers and see how they compare. We’re not sure how we’ll stack up at the end of this. Do I think my lap time can be beaten? Absolutely. I aspire to stay in the top 10% of those who attempt to beat it. My only fear is that the first person to defeat it is a five-year-old child someplace.” Meanwhile, fans can start competing against Chadwick in a 1967 Corvette on August 29. Natalie Pinkham, the Sky Sports F1 television presenter, will host a content series on Mobil 1’s social media channels.
“I definitely think people can beat my time, but I like to think not too many people,” said Chadwick with a laugh. “Beginning in this sport, which is not simple to enter into, is a terrific way to get more involved. “Being chosen to be with a legend of our sport is something I never expected. Our sport is one of the few with a crossover, allowing people to transition from esports to the real world. There are many transferable skills. The more we can do to get involved in esports, the better. Things like this competition with Mobil 1 are exciting to be a part of.”
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