Gaming: what is esports?

While esports is shorthand for the top level of any competitive gaming, from Call of Duty deathmatches to the implausible sounding Farming Simulator League, sim-racing esports in particular tends to be a remarkably faithful replica of real world motor racing. The difference is that, unlike the prohibitively expensive real thing, it’s open to almost anyone as long as they have the talent and enough money for a PlayStation. It’s also a sport you can participate in, even if you’re the sort of person who gets out of breath answering the door to the pizza delivery guy.

Because it’s getting bigger. Aided by the complete absence of any real motorsport until recently, sim-racing esports has exploded in popularity as a spectator sport, with Virtual Grands Prix, Formula E’s Race at Home Challenge and iRacing special events keeping sportstarved fans entertained. With most real racing drivers kicking their heels with the rest of us, participation from the top level stars of the sport has increased too. Some of that mainstream spectator interest will naturally fall away, but what’s left will be an active community of people who want to participate in hard-fought virtual racing.

Almost certainly, if you treat it seriously enough. The fundamental principles are all exactly the same as real driving and the top level sims have become staggeringly realistic. In some ways, being quick in a sim is tougher: even with a force feedback steering wheel, what’s missing is the feeling of the car moving beneath you and the information that provides. It’s more difficult to master weight transfer, for example, but you’ll still be required to get it absolutely right to go quickly. That said, there’s also the complete absence of the sort of primal terror that, in real life, might cause you to brake 20 metres too early on the approach to a fast left-hander.

At the very least, a basic steering wheel and pedal set. In theory, you could attempt to claw your way to the top of the esports ladder using a PS4 controller but, barring a couple of exceptions, all the big esports finals take place using proper sim-racing hardware. In terms of spending, the sky’s the limit, but don’t be fooled into thinking expensive kit will instantly make you quicker. The top esports players could probably still beat you using a Guitar Hero controller.

Read Top Gear's complete guide to getting started on esports

Options are plentiful. The most well known service in sim-racing circles is iRacing, because it offers competition that is as rigidly structured and heavily regulated as real-life motorsport. So, while it might not necessarily be the last word in tyre physics, the quality of competition is second to none and every single one of the scheduled races feels like a proper event. It’s the more casual games that get the most spectator eyeballs, though: the official F1 game esports series is broadcast on Sky F1 and the Gran Turismo championships are sanctioned by the FIA and tour cities around the globe every season.

GT Sport and the official F1 games have their esports qualifiers built into the game, so you could conceivably receive an invite to the glamorous Gran Turismo finals in Monaco or end up signed by a Formula One team without ever having to put trousers on. Alternatively, there are a handful of esports pros who are quick across multiple games and can win enough regular prize money to make a living by pounding the virtual tarmac. An even rarer group still, such as Igor Fraga, are invited to race teams or driver development programmes with the goal of transitioning to becoming paid, real-life racing drivers.