PIASTRI JOINS ARG eSPORTS CUP FIELD

Oscar Piastri will be the first ‘Star’ driver to take on the ARG eSports Cup. Image: Supplied

Reigning Formula Renault Eurocup winner and Renault Sport Academy member Oscar Piastri will join Round 5 of the ARG eSports Cup at Catalunya on Thursday.

By HEATH McALPINE

The 19-year-old Victorian, who will compete in the FIA Formula 3 Championship when racing resumes is set to take on 42 drivers that contest the Australian Racing Group’s portfolio of real-life categories.

Formula 3 cars will be utilised for the second time with Piastri hoping to use his experience of both track and machine.

“I’m really looking forward to some serious sim racing. I’ve been itching to get back into something competitive so I’m rapt to be taking part in the carsales ARG eSport Cup,” said Piastri.

“I’ve been doing a little bit of racing online but nothing too serious as all the Euro F3 eSeries are on between 2:00 to 4:00 am and it’s just too much to be up at those times every night.

“Barcelona is the major European test track, so it’s a track I’ve done a lot of laps in racing and testing, so I’m pretty comfortable with it. There are some tricky bits and, in real life, the last sector is fairly hard on the tyres. You have to watch out for the sausage kerbs, so on iRacing I reckon there could be some real action in that last sector.”

Piastri is the first of the eSport Cup’s ‘Star’ driver addition for each event.

V8 Touring Car Series competitor Harley Haber leads the standings ahead of Nathan Herne and former British Touring Car champion Ash Sutton.

Round 5 can be seen live and free on the TCR Australia Facebook and YouTube channels, as well as supporting outlets. The broadcast starts at 8pm AEST.

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