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Bahrain’s gamers will be racing for glory in order to represent the kingdom in a prestigious international tournament as the local esports scene continues to bloom.
Sixteen hopefuls will take part in the Middle East Finals of the McLaren Shadow Project taking place on Friday and Saturday at The Avenues – Bahrain for the chance to represent the region in the 2019 world finals at the McLaren Technology Centre in the UK in January.
The overall winner of the McLaren Shadow Project Championship will get a seat in the team’s new F1 esports team and join the McLaren esports development programme where they will hone their skills and work with the McLaren F1 team, which is partly-owned by Bahrain’s sovereign wealth fund, Mumtalakat.
Gamers will race against each other on the official Formula One video game.
Launched in July, Shadow Project Middle-East is the result of a partnership between Bahrain-based Atyaf e-Racing, McLaren and UK-based motorsport agency MPA Creative to discover the Middle East’s next e-racing star.
The McLaren Shadow Project is a virtual racing programme that shadows McLaren’s real world. The team races online against the best teams in the world in a serious of video game championships.
Dr Mohamed Ahmed Jumaan, co-founder and director of Atyaf esports, said: “We’re excited to see the first Shadow Project event come to life here in Bahrain.
“We have a long-term plan for this programme and together with our partners McLaren, we are keen to see this grow around the region.
“We will also be following our winner through the competition in the UK and will promote his experience to our local enthusiasts to encourage participation in future activities and maybe find a star of the future!”
Atyaf e-Racing has also planned a number of fun activities for the public over the weekend. These include a retro-gaming display which will enable parents and kids to discover the world of gaming from early games such as Super Mario Kart, and various old consoles and TV sets. There will also be a free-to-play area where visitors can practice their skills on Xbox One and Forza Motorsport 7.
Furthermore, Olli Pahkala, a star of the esports scene, will be available to meet visitors and share his expertise and experience in the world of sim racing.
He has become one of its most prominent figures after finishing third in the prestigious 2014-2016 iRacing World Championship Grand Prix Series before earning a semi-final spot in the 2017 Visa Vegas eRace.
On Saturday, the main stage will open to the public, enabling friends and families to compete against one another in mini racing tournaments. Also on display will be a specially-imported road safety simulator which will provide insight and education into safe driving behaviour through virtual reality practice.
Dr Mohamed also wanted to express his appreciation for the support this event has received from Tamkeen, Bapco, DHL and technology suppliers present at the event.
