Italy wins controversial Olympic virtual motorsport event

It was a controversial addition to the Olympic schedule, but eSports made its way onto the calendar for Tokyo. The virtual series worked to a different timetable, in that it started mid-May, running for over a month and airing in mid-June.

Ironically the only event during the Olympics witnessed by fans, the series was deemed a success – posing the question as to whether or not eSports will officially become a part of the Olympics.

"Digital motorsport is an essential element of the wider motorsport ecosystem because it is offering safe, low-cost opportunities for young people, and the FIA is fully committed to continuing its promotion," said FIA president, Jean Todt.

The other question continuously raised is whether or not this sport is warranted to be a part of the Olympics. A study from the International Journal of Exercise Science showed that eSports players do in fact have increased heart rates, however, another study revealed that they don't exert themselves enough to qualify as a sport.

The Olympic Virtual Series Motorsport Event was available to users of GranTurismo Sport on the PlayStation 4 console.

A field of 16 finalists were chosen from winners of individual heats run during May 2021, with a 'very Olympic' international spread including seven drivers from Europe, the Middle East and Africa, four from Asia, two from North America, two from Central and South America, and a single driver from Oceania.

This allowed Australian driver, Adam Wilk, a chance to compete.

There were three races in the final. A seven-lap sprint on the Tokyo Expressway East Outer Loop at night in a Toyota 86 GR4 was followed by a 13-lap event at the fictional Sardegna road-course in Sardinia, behind the wheel of a Toyota GR Yaris. Wilk placed tenth in this race (11.577 seconds off the lead) which earned one championship point.

The final race was an 18-lap event at the Dragon Tail Circuit in Croatia, with competitors running a Toyota GR Supra Racing Concept car, purchasable in the game for the princely sum of 450,000 credits.

Italian driver Valerio Gallo won this race and took the overall championship win with a total of 38 points.

Sadly, there was no chance to bite down on gold while enjoying a rendition of the Italian anthem.

While sitting at home in a simulator playing Gran Turismo has made its way into the history books, the prize doesn't quite look the same with the top three receiving trophies instead of Olympic medals.