TAMPA, Florida. (February 23, 2022) – iRacing developed driver & pro-gamer, Glenn McGee, will go up against his pro-racing counterparts for 2022; signing on for a full season in one of America's most competitive professional racing series: the Idemitsu Mazda MX-5 Cup presented by BFGoodrich® Tires. Making good on the positive news, McGee wasted no time to put the car on double pole, as part of the INDYCAR St. Petersburg Gran Prix weekend. Piloting the #23 JTR Mazda MX-5 Cup car, McGee's entry is made possible through iRacing, Mazda, V2R, and innovating partners like Global Power Components.
Racing among the many talents, winners, and motorsports champions, McGee will be the eSports champion representative of an emerging talent pool, as iRacing's official 'Virtual-2-Reality™' Driver.
“It's always so surreal when I get a chance to drive real racecar, and it’s at a pro-level, with so many great talents, during these famous motorsports events! It still doesn't make sense to me,” exclaimed McGee. “I definitely feel very blessed, and I know I wouldn't be here if it weren't for both the very real and useful skills that were developed virtually on iRacing, and the opportunities that Mazda, iRacing, Global Power Components, and all the V2R partners that have provided for this to happen.”
Uniquely developed purely through racing simulations, before making a direct jump all the way to professional motorsports, McGee will have a sizable task of going up against a notoriously aggressive field of drivers. “I love the challenge of the Mazda MX-5 Cup. It's a straight dog-fight against the best talents and experienced pros, in equal cars,” said McGee. “You really won't find a purer form of racing and the field is insane. There are so many champions and race winners here, and you get these unique situations where, for instance, you get to compare an iRacing champion against a karting world champion (Connor Zilisch),” McGee continued. “Most of these guys have been racing since they were kids, where as I hold the record for the least amount seat time spent to become a pro-driver, so there is still a lot I have to learn from these guys, its those situations that make this so interesting. I'm hoping to show well for the iRacing community. Starting with my first real-life pole position is completely unbelievable and a good start.”