Official League Guide · Updated May 2026
What is the Esports Racing League (ERL)?
The Esports Racing League (ERL) is a multi-platform sim racing championship where elite teams
compete across iRacing, Gran Turismo 7, Live for Speed, and RaceRoom in a structured
tournament format, culminating in a live Final4 event each season.
What is the ERL?
The Esports Racing League (ERL) is a professional sim racing championship
designed to test teams across multiple racing simulations in a single, unified season.
Unlike single-platform leagues, the ERL requires teams to compete across four different
games — iRacing, Gran Turismo 7, Live for Speed, and RaceRoom — rewarding versatility
and strategic roster management alongside raw driving speed.
Each ERL season runs as an online championship with structured group-stage heats and a
knockout tournament per event. The season concludes with the Final4,
a live in-person event where the season's top teams compete in front of a live audience
with professional broadcast production.
Platforms & Driver Requirements
Each ERL team registers a roster of up to 5 drivers for the season.
The required number of drivers per event depends on the platform:
Race Format
Every ERL event follows a knockout tournament bracket. The 18 competing
teams are split into two heat groups and progress through successive rounds:
Heat 1 & Heat 2
→
Second Chance Race (SCR)
→
Quarter Final
→
Semi Final
→
Final
- Heat races: All 18 teams compete split into two groups (Heat 1 and Heat 2). Top 5 teams per heat advance directly to the Quarter Final.
- Second Chance Race (SCR): Bottom 4 teams per heat (ranks 6–9) compete for two additional Quarter Final spots.
- Quarter Final: 12 teams compete; top 3 advance to the Semi Final.
- Semi Final: 6 teams compete; top 3 advance to the Final.
- Final: 3 teams compete for the event championship.
Points are awarded per event and accumulate into the Season Championship Standings,
which determine seeding for future events and qualification for the Final4.
The ERL Final4
The ERL Final4 is the season-closing live event — the pinnacle of the
ERL calendar. The top 4 teams from the online season travel to a dedicated venue to
compete in front of a live audience, with full broadcast production including commentary,
graphics, and replay coverage.
The Final4 format combines elements of the online season with a live head-to-head bracket,
crowning the ERL Season Champion on the day.
The ERL 2026 Season
The ERL Season 2026 features 18 elite sim racing teams
from across Europe and beyond, each bringing a specialised lineup of drivers across the
four supported platforms. Teams compete for the ERL Season Championship title and a place
at the Final4 live event.
Full team and driver rosters, live standings, event results, and driver statistics are
available in the ERL Season Hub.
Team Structure & Roster Rules
- Each team must register a roster of up to 5 drivers before the season starts.
- Drivers are deployed strategically: teams choose which drivers race on which platform each event.
- A Second Chance Driver (SCD) can be nominated for the SCR — a dedicated driver who competes only in that round.
- Teams must field 3 drivers for iRacing, LFS, and RaceRoom events; 2 drivers for GT7 events.
- Driver rosters are locked after the registration deadline; changes require admin approval.
How to Apply
Teams interested in competing in the Esports Racing League can submit an application
through the official ERL website. The application process includes:
- Completing the team application form at esports-racing-league.com
- The ERL organisation reviews all submissions and evaluates team eligibility
- Accepted teams receive access to the ERL Team Portal and driver registration
- Teams complete their driver roster before the season registration deadline
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Core and Contender teams?
The ERL uses a two-tier structure: Core teams are established participants
with a proven track record who hold a guaranteed season spot. Contender teams
are newer or developing organisations competing to prove themselves and earn Core status.
Both tiers compete in the same events with the same format.
Do ERL drivers need to own all four sim racing platforms?
Individual drivers do not need to compete on all platforms. Teams strategically assign
drivers to events based on their platform expertise — a driver who specialises in
iRacing, for example, may never race on Gran Turismo 7. Teams need at least 2–3
platform-capable drivers in their roster to cover all events.
How are season standings calculated?
Season standings accumulate points from each event's Final result. Teams earn points
based on their finishing position in the event Final, Quarter Final, and Semi Final.
The cumulative season points determine Championship Standings, seeding for heat groups
in later events, and Final4 qualification.
When does the ERL 2026 season take place?
The ERL 2026 online season runs throughout 2026, with individual events scheduled on
specific dates. The season concludes with the live Final4 event. Current event dates
and the full schedule are available on the
ERL homepage.
Is the ERL free to watch?
Yes. ERL events are broadcast live and free to watch. Live streams and VODs are
available through the official ERL channels. The
ERL Live page
lists all active streams during event days, including team streams and the official
broadcast.
What does SCR stand for in the ERL?
SCR stands for Second Chance Race. It is the round following the
Heat races where teams that did not finish in the top 5 of their heat get a second
opportunity to qualify for the Quarter Final. The top 2 finishers of the SCR advance,
joining the 10 direct heat qualifiers.