Drive Lounge & Guild launch opportunity to join Esports Team
Aspiring professional sim racers now have an unprecedented opportunity to showcase their talent and take their first step toward an esports career. Drive Lounge, a premier sim racing venue operator, and Guild Esports, a global esports organisation, have partnered to create a revolutionary grassroots racing initiative. This program is designed to identify, develop, and propel the next generation of elite sim racing talent onto the international stage.
Becoming a professional sim racer requires more than just speed—it takes dedication, precision, and an expert understanding of race mechanics. This collaboration offers a structured pathway for amateur drivers to refine their skills, compete at the highest level, and potentially secure a coveted spot on the Guild Racing team.
A Unique Opportunity Awaits
Many sim racers spend years developing their skills, working hard to be spotted by a team and being given the opportunity to compete at the highest levels, doing what they enjoy. Drive Lounge and Guild have created a grassroots racing system designed to spot and nurture future talent and provide amateur racers with an exclusive pathway to pro-level competition.
Guild is building in 2025 on the significant sim racing success it saw throughout last year, with Guild Racing having established an Academy roster and Pro racing teams that claimed victory in the British F4 Esports Championship and finished sixth in the Esports World Cup. This has continued this year with the ‘Guild Prodgy Racing Team’ competing for the title in the Racing Prodigy P3 Championship, which has allowed sim racers to compete in their very own real life championship in the US.
This pro journey begins with a three-month qualification process, culminating in quarterly finals where top competitors will be assessed for entry into Guild Racing’s pro trials, and if successful join the Guild Racing Scholarship.
The qualification process will run all year with each qualification cycle taking place over a 3-month period. There will be several races and tournaments during the qualification period, all held at Drive Lounge locations, along with time for racers to set their best lap times. Racers must complete a minimum number of events/laps and will be evaluated on their outright performance, their consistency and overall ability and race craft. Finals will be held four times a year, from which the best competitors will be picked, giving aspiring racers multiple chances to be selected.
Those selected will be invited to the Guild Racing Team Trials, a rigorous program designed to introduce them to the demands of professional esports racing. During the trials, racers will be involved in rigorous race training in the simulators, alongside gaining professional coaching, and insight into the lifestyle and discipline required at the highest level.
To participate, racers subscribe to join ‘The Guild’ with membership costing £34.99 a month. This includes £30 of SIM racing time at Drive Lounge, along with exclusive entry to the qualifying tournaments, access to a high-performance esports ecosystem, and a loyalty program that includes discounts on additional race time and coaching.
This initiative marks a major step forward in bridging the gap between amateur sim racing and the professional esports scene. Aspiring drivers now have the chance to gain expert mentorship, refine their skills, and compete for a chance to join one of the world’s most prestigious esports racing teams.
To have a look at the Drive Lounge membership options - head here.
