Events
Sim Racing Competitions for Money: 2026 Prize Pools and Who Can Enter
Short version. The big money is closed to amateurs. F1 Sim Racing pays $750,000 to drivers signed by F1 teams. The most realistic paid ladders for an ordinary player are the Porsche Esports Supercup ($30,000) and the open qualifying series of eNASCAR ($500,000), both on iRacing.
| Competition | 2026 prize pool | Can an amateur enter? | Game |
|---|---|---|---|
| F1 Sim Racing World Championship | $750,000 | No. Drivers are signed by F1 teams | EA F1 25 |
| eNASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing Series | $500,000 | Partly. An open qualifying series feeds a smaller championship field | iRacing |
| Esports World Cup, Trackmania | $500,000 | No. A 32-player field of top players | Trackmania |
| Porsche Esports Supercup | $30,000 | Yes, from an iRacing Class C license through open qualifiers | iRacing |
| Gran Turismo World Series | Trophies worth $150 to $250, no cash | Yes, online qualifiers are open to all | GT7 |
The Realistic Ladder
- Start in open ranked racing on iRacing, GT7 Sport mode or ACC with Low Fuel Motorsport. None of these pay, but they build the rating the paid series ask for
- Target an open qualifier. Porsche and eNASCAR both run public qualifying on iRacing
- Expect to be measured on consistency. Every paid ladder above filters on license, safety rating or driver rating before speed
Want to Race It Yourself?
None of these series require expensive gear to enter, but the drivers at the top all run load cell pedals. See our pedals guide and Logitech Pro vs T-LCM.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you make money sim racing?
A handful of drivers do, through signed team seats and the few open ladders above. For almost everyone else it is a hobby.
Which sim racing competition has the biggest prize pool?
Of the 2026 events we checked, the F1 Sim Racing World Championship at $750,000.
Does the Gran Turismo World Series pay cash?
The 2026 terms list trophies for live event podiums. We found no cash purse.
Sources
Checked on 27 September 2026. Dates can move, so confirm on the organiser's page before you plan around them.