They had the money, the hype, the production, the teams, the influencers, and the drivers. ESL R1 was supposed to redefine sim racing forever. Backed by $2 million in prizes, star-studded rosters, and the esports prestige of ESL, this was meant to be the sim racing event that brought the genre into the mainstream. But instead of becoming sim racing’s Super Bowl, it vanished into obscurity almost overnight. Why did it fail? And what does this say about the future of sim racing as an esport?
This video digs into one of the most bizarre stories in sim racing history — a case study in how unlimited resources can still lead to total irrelevance. If you’ve ever wondered why sim racing isn’t bigger, or how ESL R1 burned through millions with almost zero cultural impact, you must watch this. The production was solid, the drivers were elite, and the idea was promising. But none of it mattered if no one was watching — or even could play the game.
Watch Also
