Bathurst co-driver to lead Logitech G Eseries line-up

A Bathurst 1000 favourite is set to debut at the Cash Converters Supercars Eseries with Tony D’Alberto to contest the six-round season, while sim racer and Hyundai Excel driver Ethan Grigg-Gault will return to the Pro Series.

D’Alberto who will co-drive with Shell V-Power Racing Team in this year’s Repco Bathurst 1000, will represent Logitech G in their racing team entry for the All Star Eseries.

Logitech G, a leading innovator in gaming tech, producing the revolutionary TruForce Next-Gen Simulation for at-home eRacing, has backed Australian eSports in racing for many years, watching its transformation.

“What we are so excited about is that the technological advancements are now allowing the sport to expand from online to on track and in reverse, “said Daniel Hall, Logitech G ANZ’s Snr Category Manager.

“It is also proving that both the Virtual Pro Racers and Supercar Driver skill sets are very much transferable.”

After watching the Supercars championship field battle it out virtually at home last year, D’Alberto admitted he is a fan of the online competition.

“I am really excited to be a part of it, I sat on the couch last year and watched and I thought Supercars did a great job,” D’Alberto told Supercars.com.

“I know all these guys, so to see them in the virtual world was really exciting.

“I did a bit of sim racing last year, but when the opportunity to join the Logitech G Racing Team in this year’s Eseries came up, I jumped at it.

“I am a little anxious about it, so I’ve got to put some hours in and I’m hoping Ethan can help me come up to speed on the sim, and I can help him in the real world in his Excel racing.”

D’Alberto is set to return to the Supercars field for this year’s Great Race at Mount Panorama after he finished fourth at Bathurst alongside Fabian Coulthard in the DJR Team Penske Mustang in 2020.

After spending six successive seasons as a co-driver in the Repco Supercars championship, the 2017 Bathurst podium sitter is expecting tough competition when the main game drivers return to online racing.

“I think in some ways the ovals will be easier, as it will be so close and tight, you might be able to snag a good lap time and push yourself up the grid,” D’Alberto said.

“Going to Bathurst is going to be as tricky though, we saw last year when we had guest sim racers, they were competitive, but the top guys like SVG can still stack up against them.

“I think Bathurst might be a leveler of those who have real track and sim racing experience.”

Grigg-Gault returns to the series after a successful 2020 campaign, claiming two podium finishes and seven top 10 results.

A driver for the Logitech G-backed Evolution Racing Team, Grigg-Gault had his first taste of real-life racing in March, competing in the Victorian State Race Series held at Winton Motor Raceway.

Netting eighth place in his debut real-life Hyundai Excel race, the iRacing expert is keen to continue to transfer his virtual skills to the track.

“I’m glad to be back in the Eseries for Logitech G Racing Team,” Grigg-Gault told Supercars.com.

“Sim racing has taught me everything I know, and I build on it when in my real-life race car.

“I’ve been involved with Logitech G for years now and it was great to be able to go to the track and be coached by Tony at Winton as well.

“Now we get to team up in the Eseries, I can help him with the sim racing, and he can help me with the real thing.”

D’Alberto and Grigg-Gault join a list of current Repco Supercars Championship drivers already confirmed for the Cash Converters six-round Eseries which will start on August 25.

The Eseries will be broadcast live on Fox Sports 506, Kayo, 7Plus, as well as streamed on Supercars’ Twitch, Facebook and YouTube channels.