Hugo Allan has won the Global Esports Games NZ Qualifiers and earned his spot in the global qualifying event. Taking pole and winning both races it was a dominant performance.

Event Details & Format

The Global Esports Games 2026 (GEG) is the Global Esports Federations (GEF) latest event, set to take place in Las Angeles in December. 115+ countries are expected to be represented across 6 different esports titles, for the first time that includes iRacing.

The NZ iRacing qualifying event came together very last minute, with just a few days notice given for drivers to sign up. The team scrambled to hold a qualifying event before the start of the global qualifiers with very little notice given by the GEF. It’s an esports cliche to be poorly organised so how fitting of the Global Esports Federation.

A collaboration between NZ Esports and the NZ Sim Racing Collective the qualifiers would take place in two phases.

• First an open qualifier time trial that ran across the weekend Jul 25-26th. The top 18 qualifying for phase 2.

• Then a race night, which took place on July 28th. 15 minute solo qualifying before the 20 minute sprint and 45 minute feature races with the same points on offer for each.
  These races were broadcast live on NZ Sim Racing TV.

Both phases featured the Ferrari 296 GT3 that is expected to be used at the world finals at the Mugello circuit using a fixed setup.

Watch the broadcast recording on NZ Sim Racing TV.

Race Recap

Right from qualifying it was Hugo Allan out in front. He took pole ahead of Bryce Harding and Stefain McCartain.

Current E-Black for Assetto Corsa Competizione, and top Gran Turismo driver, Matthew McEwen also made it through the open qualifier and proved he’s a top competitor across sims by qualifying in 5th.

Another former E-Black and regular iRacing front runner, Ewan Baker was also in the running putting his car up in 6th.

Race 1

Hugo had to go defensive off the line into turn one with a 4 wide situation. From then on it became a case of continue to extend the lead for the full 20 minutes as Hugo ran off to a dominant victory.

Bryce Harding settled into his own rhythm for a calm race to finish second while all the action kicked off behind.

McDonnell and McCartain battled it out with McEwen and Baker tucked in behind. Baker managed to capitalize and get past McEwen but with a slow down penalty last in the race the position was always under pressure.

The battle for third continued on throughout the race before reaching boiling point on the final lap. McDonnell closed in for another attack and coming onto the final lap he was looking to strike. Looking to cover McCartain headed to the inside line and McDonnell carrying extra speed int he draft clattered into the back of him spinning McCartain into the fence.

Stefain McCartain was out of the running and dropped out of the race.

McDonnell continued on to cross the line in 3rd but was handed a 10 second penalty by the live stewards that dropped him down the order.

That left is Allan, Harding, Baker, McEwen, and Simmonds as the top 5 from race 1.

Race 2

In race two it was Harding who got off the line best. Side by side into turn 1 it wasn’t until coming out of 3 that Harding sealed the move sweeping past Allan and bring the GEG qualifier alive.

With 24 points on offer for each race Harding new the score. He needed to win and finish ahead of Allan to have any shot at winning and progress to the global qualifiers. With the tie breaker going back to qualifying position Harding would need Allan to drop below second.

Allan was having non of it. He never dropped more than half a second behind Harding while the two of them extended the gap over Baker in third. Just past the 5 minute mark Allan had his chance and he took it. Making the move back into the lead Allan was back in control and he never looked back from there.

McDonnell managed to make his way forward past Baker and up into second when Harding made a mistake. But Harding never lost speed, he caught back up and with 5 minutes to go made the move past McDonnell to lock in second place once again.

In the end it was Allan, Harding, McDonnell, Baker, and Simmonds taking out the top 5 in race 2. Giving Hugo Allan the overall win for the night.

Final Results

Hugo now joins the E-Blacks as a New Zealand esports representative competing internationally. He progresses into the global online qualifiers to face off against up to 70 drivers from different countries all vying for the 24 available spots in the Global Esports Games iRacing competition.

Best of luck Hugo. Do us proud.