During the debut year, Martin Štefanko became the tournament’s first World Champion. The 23-year-old Czech from Team Williams Esports managed to beat top favorite Lasse Sørensen (TK9 E-SPEED) at the grand final on Germany’s famous Nürburgring-Nordschleife.

The first world championship format for virtual electric racing cars was unique. Like a soccer and other sports cup, the final marked the conclusion, and was held on the world’s longest and most difficult race track.

Sørensen Dropped by the Wayside

The driver who topped the first season of the trend-setting e-sports racing series was clearly Lasse Sørensen. The Danish pro racer won three of the first five World eX starts, and claimed another victory at the final round on the Nürburgring speedway.

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But that only secured him the pole position for the decisive grand final, where all the winners of the first round qualified. In addition to Sørensen and Štefanko, the list of drivers included Risto Kappet (R8G Esports), Phillippe Denes (BS + COMPETITION), Bruno Senna (Williams Esports), as well as Luca Kita and Nicolas Hillebrand (both Biela Racing Team EURONICS). 

The Štefanko Comeback

Despite Sørensen’s great ride, it was Štefanko who crossed the finish line as the brand new winner. That moment will be remembered because the new World Champion was not the only one who let his emotions run wild with a loud victory cry. Štefanko’s mother, one floor below, was so happy with her son’s title victory that her jubilant shout could even be heard on the live broadcast.

“I’m very happy,” said the new World Champion. “Normally, I always doubt about myself. But today I had a good feeling and a lot of confidence from the beginning.” 

“The most important final was longer than other races at World eX. That’s why I was able to take advantage of my strengths: low tire wear and good energy management; I couldn’t show that on shorter races at this series. My big thanks to Williams Esports for making it possible for me to become a professional simulation racer. Now we have won our first world title – amazing!” celebrated Štefanko.

Third place overall was Risto Kappet from Romain Grosjean’s R8G Esports team, who also finished third on the Nordschleife after a fierce fight with Luca Kita from Biela Racing Team EURONICS.

Awards for the Environment

The RCCO World eX Championship is more than just Esports Racing. With each race lap, the #RacingForTheClimate jackpot grew by €10. Overall, the participants raised €12,875 and the World Champion decides which climate conservation project will receive the prize money. 

Martin Štefanko and Williams Esports chose Letcombe Brook Project, a stream running from Letcombe Regis through part of the Williams factory at Grove in Oxfordshire, England, to East Hanney. There are only 25 of these types of brooks in the entire world.

Written by I Jhonattan González

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On the 2.5-mile Indianapolis oval, the 1,000-horsepower eX ZERO reached top speeds of more than 370 kilometers per hour. The fastest lap was by Risto Kappet with the R8G Esports team vehicle with a 363.542 km/h power output.

As expected, the unusual conditions of the famed North American track, consisting of only four corners and four straights, played a decisive role. Only on rare occasions, the driver entering curve four leading was able to prevail and most of the races held on this circuit have been decided by photo finish.

Defending the lead until the very last moment 

Hillebrand celebrated a victory at the two-lap Super Final, and was able to successfully fend off his opponent Michi Hoyer’s attack down the backstretch. “That was incredibly close,” said Hillebrand, who replaced his idol, Frank Biela, for the second time in a row. After Luca Kita’s victory in Monza, the Biela Racing Team EURONICS achieved the second victory in a row at the RCCO World eX Championship.

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“I am speechless, such an unreal feeling. Many thanks to Biela Racing Team EURONICS for giving me the opportunity to participate in this exceptional series, and many thanks to RCCO World eX for hosting one of the most fun experiences I’ve ever had in simulation racing,” added the driver.

For his part, Hoyer made it to the Super Final for the second time this season, but just like in Sepang, he was narrowly defeated in the end and is still waiting for his first victory in the RCCO World eX Championship. “At least I showed up in the final today,” said the Absolute Racing rider. “It was a good race, a good battle, a well-deserved win for Nicolas. However, shattered to be beaten by just 0.022 seconds over a good laptop.”

According to the #RacingForTheClimate slogan, the winner of the first Indianapolis eX Prix will be one of the first proud owners of the most environmentally friendly laptop recently launched, the Aspire Vero, awarded by Acer. Designed with 30% recycled plastic, which saves around 21% in CO2 emissions, it is a tangible manifestation of Acer’s commitment to a more sustainable future.

Written by I Jhonattan González

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Senna became the fifth different winner of the series, and the team he represents was the second squad to take the top two places after the final round of #RacingForTheClimate at Spa-Francorchamps. 

The Brazilian finished on top, while Romain Grosjean showed a great performance on his comeback, but was unlucky at the end, which relegated him on the leaderboard.

Tight Race

Despite a difficult start, losing to Grosjean on Level 1 during a tough battle between former Formula 1 drivers, Senna recovered to win Level 2 and, alongside the Frenchman, made it through to the decisive stage. 

Senna’s teammate and winner of the previous round in Estoril, Portugal, Štefanko stood firm through the levels against the Esports drivers and competed against his teammate in Stage 5, claiming the win and ensuring to decide things between racers from the same franchise, Willliams-Esports.

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Štefanko initially ruled until Senna made an impressive overtake to assume the lead, which he maintained all the way to the finish line. The result ensures that both Williams Esports drivers have secured their places in the final at Nürburgring-Nordschleife on November 16.

After winning the race, Senna said: “It’s great to get my first win at World eX and congratulations to the team for their second win in a row. Thanks also to my teammate, Martin, and I will see him at the finals in November”.

The Leader did not have a Good Day

The Championship Leader with three wins so far this season, TK9 ESPEED’s Lasse Sørensen, left Belgium empty-handed. The young Dane made it through to Level 3 and crossed the line in second place.

However, Sørensen received his third yellow card for making contact with and spinning Henry Drury, and was therefore disqualified from the race, ending his chances of finishing on top.

Written by I Jhonattan González

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