SAFEIS to sponsor the 24 Hours of Le Mans Virtual

SAFEIS to sponsor the 24 Hours of Le Mans Virtual

8 June 2020

The Saudi Arabian Federation for Electronic and Intellectual Sports (SAFEIS) will be the title sponsor of the 24 Hours of Le Mans Virtual, its goal being to “further unite the global eSports and international motorsport communities in celebration of the online staging of the unique race” to held on June 13 and 14.

“Sport speaks a universal language which, for years, has brought people together all around the world. Today, and particularly in 2020, the same is even more true of eSports. We are delighted and honored to welcome SAFEIS as the title partner to this unique event which is bringing together elite motorsport drivers and elite sim racers to compete on a world stage.  We can truly say that this is a global event, and we are confident that the involvement of SAFEIS will open up yet more avenues for international esports events at the highest level”, explained Gérard Neveu, CEO of the FIA World Endurance Championship and Le Mans eSports Series.

Having successfully welcomed FIA Formula E and the Dakar Rally in Saudi before the onset of COVID-19, the nation has now extended its support of world-class motorsport to sponsor the legendary Le Mans race through SAFEIS, the regulating body in charge of nurturing elite gaming athletes and developing the gaming community and industry in Saudi Arabia. The Saudi eSports name will be widely associated with this unique event via extensive branding rights and visibility including windscreen banners on all cars, trackside branding and access to the world’s leading figures in the eSports community. With 6 million gamers in Saudi alone, the goal for SAFEIS is to support Saudi Arabia’s ambitions to be a global gaming hub and connect the world through eSports. This new announcement occurs one week after the conclusion of ‘Gamers without Borders’, a SAFEIS initiative that united 24 million gamers across over 80 countries. 

Saudi Arabia has a longstanding association with motorsport and Le Mans and our connection to the sport has been strengthened recently by hosting global events like Formula E and Dakar in the Kingdom. But we are emerging as a global force in gaming, especially through ‘Gamers Without Borders’ which has gone on to become the biggest charity eSports event ever held”, said his Royal Highness Prince Faisal Bin Bandar Al Saud, President of the SAFEIS. “Combining these two worlds and our passions for racing and gaming seemed an ideal opportunity especially during this challenging time globally with COVID-19. We're so pleased to support an event that can unite the world and continue the Le Mans legacy while entertaining and engaging new audiences through eSports”, he added.

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