ETSA Pilot Challenges 2026.
The ETSA pilot runs two championships in 2026: the Rally Challenge on Assetto Corsa Rally and the F4 Challenge on iRacing. Both are open to everyone, worldwide, and test drivers, operations, rankings and simulator access before wider continental development.
What these challenges are.
ETSA is the continental vision. The Rally and F4 Challenges are the Ethiopian pilot implementation: live championships used to test the systems, rules and operational model that can later support a wider African talent pathway.
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ETSA
The long-term African esports talent search framework.
EMSA Esports
The first national pilot project, based in Ethiopia.
Rally and F4 Challenges
The current pilot championships, on Assetto Corsa Rally and iRacing.
Two championships. Pick one or race both.
Both challenges are open to everyone. Dates, standings and results are on the live championship centre.
Rally Challenge 2026
Seven-round Time Attack championship on Assetto Corsa Rally, July to December. You buy Assetto Corsa Rally yourself on Steam. Format and points are below.
F4 Challenge 2026
Five single-seater race rounds on iRacing, August to December, from the opening Test round at Okayama to the final round in Norway. Each round has a practice week before the race. You need an iRacing license, handed out by your ASN or provided by ETSA on proof of membership.
Free Practice. Official Challenge. Results. Reveal.
Each month follows a fixed rhythm. Only laps set during the official challenge week count toward the championship classification from Round 2 onward.
Swipe through the four weeks
Free Practice
Drivers prepare, learn the combination and work on consistency.
Official Time Attack
Only valid laps set during this week are eligible.
Results
Submitted times are reviewed and results are published.
Break / Reveal
The next round combination is confirmed for drivers.
How to join the ETSA pilot.
The pilot is open to everyone. Three simple steps, or get started online.
1. Join your country ASN
Become a member of your country's ASN (national sporting federation) to represent your country.
2. Get your iRacing license and Assetto Corsa Rally
Your ASN hands out your iRacing license if it can. If not, send ETSA proof of your ASN membership and ETSA will provide it. Assetto Corsa Rally you must buy yourself on Steam.
3. Subscribe to the challenges
Subscribe to take part in the Rally Challenge 2026 or the F4 Challenge 2026. Once you have your driver ID and account page, the ETSA agent is available there. It must run on your rig for your times to be official and recognised, under the terms of use. The calendar is almost finished, so stay tuned for the upcoming dates.
Eligibility and submission rules.
The championship is operated through ASN membership and an official submission process. The goal is to create a repeatable and verifiable competition process.
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Eligibility
Open to everyone, from anywhere in the world. Register with your country's ASN to represent your country. You must buy Assetto Corsa Rally yourself on Steam.
Valid Lap
The lap must appear on the official in-game Time Attack leaderboard and match the confirmed round combination.
Submission
Drivers submit leaderboard screen, lap time, Steam name, surroundings, selfie and timestamp before Sunday 23:59 CET.
Follow the Rally and F4 Challenges.
Choose a championship to view its rounds, standings and latest results as the season develops.
Two championships. One live centre.
View Live- AC Rally Challenge: Seven-round Time Attack championship
- F4 Challenge: Five single-seater rounds, August to December 2026
- Follow: Schedules, standings and latest results
Experience the Ethiopian Esport Centre.
Step inside the simulator space supporting Ethiopian esport activity, driver participation and technical development.
Press play with sound to experience the rigs, drivers and competitive environment.
Swipe through the venue
Championship classification starts from Round 2.
Round 1 is a pilot round and does not award points. From Round 2 to Round 7, only each driver’s best valid lap is counted. Times are ranked from fastest to slowest.
Championship points
| Position | Points |
|---|---|
| 1st | 25 |
| 2nd | 18 |
| 3rd | 15 |
| 4th | 12 |
| 5th | 10 |
| 6th | 8 |
| 7th | 6 |
| 8th | 4 |
| 9th | 2 |
| 10th | 1 |
| Outside Top 10 | 0 |
Swipe for prize details
Champion
Points accumulate from Round 2 to Round 7. The driver with the highest total becomes the EMSA Esport Rally Champion 2026.
Prize Money
1st Place: 100,000 Birr
2nd Place: 50,000 Birr
3rd Place: 25,000 Birr
Tie Breakers
1. Most wins
2. Most podiums
3. Best result in the final round
One pilot. Two championships. A scalable model.
The Rally and F4 Challenges are where the ETSA concept becomes operational: drivers, simulator access, submissions, rankings, event discipline and championship structure.
Contact ETSA