Want to get your hands on a new Ford Focus RS? You could put your name down on the waiting list and pony up the $35,900 MSRP. Or you could win one by playing video games.
That’s right: the 350-horsepower hot hatch is the top prize for the inaugural Forza Racing Championship. So if you win, you’ll get an actual Focus RS to put in your driveway. Of course you’ll need to face the competition first.
Every week, gamers will have the opportunity to compete in a new Forza RC Elite Series Rivals Qualifier event. The top 16 players each week will have a chance to compete in the weekly Elite Series Cup event, and the top four will move onto the Grand Finals on September 4. Whoever wins that will drive home in a Focus RS.
The losers get presents such as Xbox One S consoles, Elite controllers, Logitech wheels and more. And everyone who participates will get a virtual 1973 Ford Escort 1600 to play with in the game, complete with special livery.
There’s also a less competitive ForzaRC Open Series League that will allow players of varying skill levels to compete against each other and win in-game content bonuses. But if you want to win the Focus RS, you’re going to have to dice it with the best of ’em in the Elite Series.
As you may have ascertained by now, the competition is sponsored by Ford Performance, so competitors will be driving unmodified versions of the Mustang GT, Formula Ford EcoBoost 200, and Ford GT Le Mans.