JSRA readies for Peak Performance
Several Jamaican simulation racers will start their fight for their piece of the $100,000 prize package up for grabs in the Jamaica Simulation Racing Association’s (JSRA) Peak Performance 2023 series beginning on Saturday, June 3.
“The event is scheduled to be streamed live on SportsMax and our Twitch channel at 7:00 pm with racers hitting the virtual circuit at 7:30 pm,” Stephen Stewart, president, JSRA, told the Jamaica Observer‘s weekly Auto magazine.
Peak Performance 2023 is part of the Jamaica Esports Initiative’s (JEI) National Esports League and runs seven rounds ending on August 19.
Peak Performance 2023 round one will take place on the virtual version of Virginia International Raceway using the Mercedes AMG GT4 race car and the simulation racing platform Assetto Corsa. The format sees drivers having to complete a 15-minute qualifying session, a 45-minute race with a mandatory pit stop, and then a 15-minute reverse grid sprint race.
Points are allotted down to tenth place in the main race, plus points for fastest lap and pole position, and down to eighth place in the shorter sprint race.
“We will tally the points from each event to get our first-ever National Esports sim racing champion after the finale in August,” said Stewart.
Beforehand, sim racing fans were given a preview of the excitement to come during the Peak Performance preliminary showcase event on Saturday, April 22. That event had top local talent take to the Circuit Mas Du Clos in Toyota GR86 Cup Cars for a prize pool with $50,000. Rookie sim racer MarcAnthony Eaton was the highest points scorer, having to battle with second placed Michael Paisley and third placed Jayden Harrison for the majority of the affair.
“Since the preliminaries, many of our competitors have been racing with top international sim groups across the Caribbean like GPesportsRD out of the Dominican Republic, and in our own local Chase for Pace series with impressive results. I expect that as they once again face off against each other this Saturday, and throughout the rest of Peak Performance 2023, sim racing fans are in for a treat,” said Stewart.