Australia has claimed international honours after defeating the United Kingdom and South Africa to win the 2026 Tri-Nations Esports Cup.
Australia staged a remarkable comeback to claim the Cup, overturning a five-point deficit after the opening race to defeat the United Kingdom and South Africa in the annual international sim racing competition.
Australia finished the two-race final on 172 points, 14 points clear of the United Kingdom on 158, with South Africa third on 104.
The championship battle began at Mount Panorama, where the UK took an early advantage.
Henry Joslyn led teammate Marley Joffe home in the opening 15-lap race, with Joslyn winning by 3.5 seconds after setting the fastest lap of 2:00.751 on lap 12.
Australia responded with a strong showing behind the two UK drivers, with Dean Mackay taking third and Reece Wakefield fourth. Joshua Houghton and Phillip Worley completed the Australian presence in the top six.
Noah Osbaldeston finished seventh for the UK, while South Africa’s Essie Esterhuyse and Josh Joubert claimed eighth and ninth respectively. Jason Munsone rounded out the top 10.
The results left the United Kingdom leading the nations’ standings on 81 points after Race 1, with Australia just five points behind on 76.
South Africa sat third on 60 points, setting up a tense second race at Silverstone.
The UK again started strongly in Race 2, with Joffe taking victory ahead of Joslyn after 16 laps.
However, the Australian drivers continued to deliver strong results, with Wakefield finishing third and Mackay sixth.
Andrew Skordilis, Phillip Worley and Hudson Hughes added further top-10 finishes for Australia in seventh, eighth and ninth respectively, while South Africa’s Justin Eloff finished fifth.
Joffe’s victory was closer than the opening race, with the UK driver winning by less than two seconds. He also set the fastest lap of the race, recording a 1:57.068 on lap four.
Despite the UK securing the top two positions in both races, Australia’s depth across the field proved crucial.
The nation overturned its five-point deficit from Mount Panorama to finish the competition with 172 points and secure the 2026 Tri-Nations Esports Cup title.
The victory gives Australia international bragging rights for the next 12 months after a closely fought return to the competition’s original three-nation format.
The 2026 Tri-Nations Esports Cup was organised in partnership between Motorsport Australia, Motorsport UK and Motorsport South Africa, following the departure of Motorsport New Zealand’s Esports contingent, with all competitors racing the Ford Mustang GT3 using a fixed setup in this year’s rendition.
