The Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), the global governing body for motor sport and the federation for mobility organisations worldwide, has launched a ‘Call for Proposal’ to find promoters and organisers of FIA sanctioned Esports Championships.

As one of the most accessible and affordable forms of competition, Esports will play a major role in the FIA’s plan to increase global motor sport participation and create new pathways into motor sport, a FIA statement earlier in the week stated, while giving some details about the tender.

According to the official FIA statement, the Call for Proposal aims to identify suitable partners with whom the FIA can work on the continued development of its Esports strategy.

Proposals were expected to outline potential Esports Championship concepts, including overall format, venues and locations for on-site finals,

geographical scope and a commercial strategy that ensures long term financial stability for Esports.

Sim racing (short for ‘simulation racing’), which is a highly realistic form of virtual motorsport, is experiencing a massive growth in popularity, attracting not only casual gamers and motor sport enthusiasts but also professional racing drivers such as Max Verstappen and Esports competitors from all over the world, FIA said.

As an example of Esports’ popularity, the statement cited the FIA MENA Esports Championship in 2025 that generated 111 million views and over  6,000 drivers from 159 countries registering for the first FIA Esports Global Rally Tour in May with finalists competing live on stage at this year’s FIA Awards in Shanghai in December.

With the global Esports market revenue projected to reach $5.1 billion in 2026, the FIA’s Esports strategy has the potential to unlock significant commercial opportunities while opening access to motor sport competition, it explained.

H.E. Mohammed Ben Sulayem, President of the FIA, was quoted in the statement as saying that Esports represents one of the most accessible and rapidly growing forms of competition, creating new pathways for people around the world to engage with motor sport.

“This Call for Proposal marks an important milestone in the development of the FIA’s Esports strategy as we identify opportunities that will support sustainable growth and attract new audiences and competitors,” he added.

FIA Esports Commission President, Niroshan Pereira, said: “The launch of this public Call for Proposal marks an important step in identifying experienced organisers and promoters capable of delivering FIA Esports Championships that meet the highest standards of excellence, integrity, innovation, and audience engagement.”