Esports News: F1 drivers Verstappen and Norris to share LMP2 car in Virtual Le Mans

Formula 1 drivers Max Verstappen and Lando Norris will team up at the Virtual Le Mans 24 Hours, sharing an LMP2 car for sim race outfit Team Redline.

The virtual rFactor 2 race, which is a partnership between Le Mans organiser ACO, the World Endurance Championship and Motorsport Games, will take place on the original 13-14 June date of the endurance classic.

The real-world race has been postponed to 19-20 September due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Red Bull's Verstappen and McLaren's Norris are the first current F1 drivers confirmed for the virtual event.

They will share an ORECA 07 LMP2 car, the race's top class alongside GTE, for well-known sim race outfit Team Redline.

Sim racing veterans Atze Kerkhof and Greger Huttu complete the team's line-up.

Last week's entry list revealed 50 entries from regular WEC teams and manufacturers, dedicated sim race teams and American powerhouse Team Penske.

Porsche previously announced four Porsche 911 GTE entries with a roster including Nick Tandy and Patrick Pilet, as well as former Porsche LMP1 stars Andre Lotterer and Neel Jani, factory driver Matt Campbell, Porsche junior Jaxon Evans and Simona de Silvestro.

The manufacturer's line-up also includes sim racers Josh Rogers, Mitchell deJong, Martin Kronke, Jeremy Bouteloup, Tommy Ostgaard, David Williams and Mack Bakkum, all regulars of the Porsche Esports Supercup.

Princess Charlene of Monaco has entered a Ferrari GTE team with WEC drivers Francesco Castellacci and Giancarlo Fisichella, as well as former Ferrari F1 star Felipe Massa and sim racer Tony Mella.

LMP2 team United Autosports will field an ORECA 07 for its WEC regulars Alex Brundle, Filipe Albuquerque and Job van Uitert, and McLaren Autosport BRDC Award winner Tom Gamble.

LMP1 privateer ByKolles is represented by team regular Tom Dillmann, WTCR runner-up Esteban Guerrieri and sim racers Jernej Simoncic and Jesper Pedersen.

The Virtual Le Mans 24 Hours will be streamed live on Motorsport.tv. The race starts on 13 June at 14:00 BST.