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Honda Racing eMS Returns for Third Season in Gran Turismo 7: A New Global Format

Honda's official esports series, Honda Racing eMS, is set to begin its third season in Gran Turismo 7, introducing a completely revamped format that embraces an unprecedented global dimension. Qualifiers begin this week, marking the start of a competition that promises to be the most inclusive ever organized by the Japanese automotive manufacturer.

Format Evolution: From Local Event to Global Competition

The Honda Racing eMS has undergone significant transformations since its origins. The first edition focused exclusively on Japanese drivers with a hot-lap competition culminating in a live finale. The second season already showed signs of international opening, inviting drivers from other regions to form half the grid in the grand finale held in Aoyama, Tokyo.

This year represents a decisive evolutionary leap. Honda has decided to eliminate the live final event, replacing it with three distinct online finals taking place in early December 2025. This strategic choice allows for the inclusion of significantly more drivers from around the world, dividing the competition into three macro-regions.

The Three Regions of Global Competition

The new regional format includes:

Asia-Oceania (ASOC): This region encompasses the entire Asian continent and Oceania, maintaining a strong connection to Honda's Japanese roots.

North America/Latin America (NALA): A geographic area uniting the United States, Canada, and all Latin American countries, creating an extremely diverse competitive pool.

Europe/Middle East/Africa (EMEA): The most geographically extensive region, embracing three continents and representing one of Honda's most complex organizational challenges.

Each region will have its own champion, effectively tripling the winners compared to previous editions and ensuring authentic global representation.

Qualification Method: Time Trial in Gran Turismo 7

Qualification maintains the winning time trial formula, integrated into Gran Turismo 7's Sport Mode/Time Trials section. The competition is open to participants aged seven and above (six in Japan), demonstrating Honda's commitment to including even the youngest drivers.

The qualifying event uses the Gr.2 Honda NSX Concept-GT '16, decorated with a special Honda Racing Company (HRC) livery. This choice is not coincidental: the NSX represents Honda's technological excellence in motorsport, combining pure performance with engineering innovation.

The chosen circuit is Autodrome Lago Maggiore, one of Gran Turismo 7's most technical and spectacular tracks. Although it hasn't been specified which of the 12 layouts will be used, indications suggest the Full Course in standard direction, offering a complete challenge that will test all driver skills.

Finals Structure and Qualification

Regional finals will take place on December 6 and 7, 2025, with the top ten times from each region qualifying for the concluding event. However, there's an important exception: Takuma Sasaki, the 2024 champion, automatically has a reserved spot in the ASOC finals, reducing available spots in that region to nine.

Age criteria for finals participation are more restrictive than qualifications: drivers must be at least 18 years old (19 in South Korea, 21 in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates). This differentiation allows young drivers to participate in qualifications as a formative experience while maintaining finals at an appropriate maturity level.

Record Participation Expected

Previous editions recorded impressive numbers: both in 2023 and 2024, a remarkable 200,000 drivers set a time in the qualifying event. With the new global format offering 30 spots (29 considering Sasaki's reserved spot) instead of previous more limited formats, even more massive participation is expected.

Prizes and Rewards

Honda has maintained the tradition of rewarding all participants. Anyone who records a valid time in the rankings will receive the Honda NSX Concept-GT '16 with the special HRC livery as a reward. This inclusive approach ensures that even drivers who don't qualify for finals receive tangible recognition for their participation.

As in previous editions, a game credit system is also expected, similar to regular time trials, although prize values and thresholds might be adjusted for the occasion.

Timeline and Schedule

The qualifying period will begin Friday, August 29, 2025, immediately after Gran Turismo 7's update 1.62. Drivers will have almost a full month to perfect their times, with qualifying closure set for Sunday, September 28, 2025 (time not yet specified).

This wide time interval allows drivers worldwide to adapt to different time zones and have multiple opportunities to improve their performance.

Significance for Digital Motorsport

Honda Racing eMS represents much more than a simple esports competition. It's a bridge between Honda's real-world motorsport and Gran Turismo's digital universe, where driving skills translate directly from one environment to another. Honda's choice to globally expand this event demonstrates the growing importance of esports in the contemporary automotive landscape.

The event also serves as a showcase for Honda technologies, allowing participants to virtually experience the brand's engineering excellence through the NSX Concept-GT, a car representing the pinnacle of Honda's GT motorsport competencies.

Conclusions

The third season of Honda Racing eMS marks an epochal turning point for the competition, transforming it from a regional event to a true global celebration of Honda digital motorsport. With three regional champions, hundreds of thousands of expected participants, and a format embracing all continents, this edition promises to be the most spectacular and inclusive in the event's history.

For all Gran Turismo 7 and Honda motorsport enthusiasts, the appointment is set for Friday, August 29. The race toward December's finals is about to begin, and with it, the opportunity to enter Honda Racing eMS history.

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