The Motorsport Australia Queensland Esports State Championship was held on the weekend with the inaugural event proving a winner for competitors and attendees.
 
Held at Queensland University of Technology (QUT) Garden Point campus on Saturday, the event saw 12 finalists competing for the state-title and special prizes, including state-of-the-art simulator hardware, provided by event partner Next Level Racing.
 
Attracting a strong crowd, the event took place with the support of the Queensland State Government, and welcomed a number of high-profile guests, including Motorsport Australia President Andrew Fraser and Director of Sport Queensland University of Technology, Emily Rosemond OLY.


QUT and Next Level Racing were also integral in running the competition itself, which was made up of eight drivers, who earned their spot by winning an intense qualifying period, and four drivers who were hand-picked by both QUT and Next Level Racing – the former of which ran in-person qualifying to select their two finalists.
 
The format was run as an elimination bracket with three stages, the first of which saw the 12 drivers split into three groups where they would each get five hot laps around the famous Mount Panorama Circuit.

The fastest eight drivers then progressed to the semi-final stage where they were split into two groups based on seeding and completed a five-lap race on the iconic circuit.
 
Following the semi-finals, the top two drivers from each race then entered the final where they would contest a 10-lap race of Mount Panorama, the winner claiming the inaugural state title, along with a Next Level GT Elite Lite Wheel Plate Edition cockpit and an ES1 Elite Seat.
 
Taking out the title after a thrilling contest was top qualifier, Kody Deith who edged out Steen Ledger, Andrew Gilliam and Dylan Birse in the final 10-lap race.


 
Ledger and Gilliam didn’t walk away empty handed though as the runner-up in Ledger received a GTLite Pro cockpit, while Gilliam won a HF8 – Haptic Feedbacking Gaming Pad.
 
The event was live broadcast via Motorsport Australia’s YouTube channel, with the replay available to watch now.

Event Results

1 - Kody Deith
2 - Steen Ledger
3 - Andrew Gilliam
4 - Dylan Birse
5 - Denis Gataric
6 - Hayden Sell
7 - Calieb Hydes
8- Kenny Conomos
9 - Jacques Goodman
10 - Luke Turner
11 - Zac Christie
12 – Tom Bidgood