Init Esports announced Thursday that Ford Performance has been named the official partner of its Screen to Speed powered by Pennzoil, a racing simulation competition developed by women for women using the iRacing simulation game platform. The competition is designed to encourage more women to get involved in esports and the professional world of motorsports and to promote diversity and inclusion.
If you are not familiar with motorsports, Ford Performance is a division of the Ford Motor Company and the brand name used for its motorsport and racing efforts, as well as its high-performance racing parts. Ford Performance joins other Init Esports partners including Pennzoil, iRacing, and Yahoo.
Init Esports CEO and founder Stefy Bau tells The Esports Advocate that approximately 150 women are currently competing in this year’s competition in online qualifiers. Those online qualifiers will officially close on Feb. 12, and the top 20 drivers will be announced publicly shortly thereafter. Those 20 drivers will be invited to Las Vegas during the Pennzoil 400 NASCAR weekend to participate in an in-person final on March 4.
The overall winner will be awarded $15K USD, a Next Level Racing simulator (retail value, approximately 400$), and participate at in-person track events with the KellyMoss race team.