Gamers across the world may soon have a thrilling reason to rejoice, for Formula E is contemplating a virtual race in Las Vegas next January. The event will see regular race drivers set against a handful of fans on simulators with a likely jackpot of USD 1 million for the winner. Series chief executive Alejandro Agag, in an interview with Reuters ahead of next week’s London finale to Formula E’s second season, said “We think e-sports (electronic sports) is a huge opportunity and we want to be the first ones fully immersed in that.”

Qualifying ‘Race to Vegas’ competitions will be launched three months in advance and 5 gamers are likely to secure slots. However, the event that will be a part of the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) next year, could possibly become a round of the regular Formula E championship in future.

Agag commented, “The fun thing would be for a gamer to win it against the professional drivers. I think it’s going to be very tough. Gamers are normally better at games than drivers. On the other hand, drivers are better than gamers at quickly getting the feel of a racetrack. It’s going to be an interesting competition.”

It may be worth noting that this is not Agag’s first tryst with virtual racing. He broached the idea of gamers challenging drivers in an ePrix for points and prize money before even the first Formula E season in 2014. “I think this is probably an experiment,” he said of the Vegas race. “Depending on how it goes I could envisage that some of these virtual races could give points for a championship in the future, but not now.”