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May 31, 2025
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It was during GPVWC Day 2013 in Amsterdam that the GPVWC administration gave a glimpse into how they wanted to motivate new driving talent to join the league.
For the 2014 season, the Academy Series (then known as the Open Series) was born. It served as a non-championship series designed to encourage talented drivers to move up the ladder if the opportunity arose, rather than staying too long at the entry level.
The 2014 season was a success, hosting 17 rounds on tracks mostly used in higher-level series. Bruno Sousa Ferreira, Teemu Valkeejarvi, and Tomeu Cabrer were among the race winners of that inaugural season.
In 2015, the number of participants increased, with 92 drivers competing throughout the year. Many returned for multiple rounds or progressed to the Formula Challenge Series (the predecessor of today?s Formula Sprint 2).
The Move to rFactor 2 and an Open Series Team in FC
The 2016 season marked a turning point, as the league transitioned to a completely new simulator: rFactor 2. To further promote talent through the career ladder, an Open Series team was established within the Formula Challenge Series, with the aim of preparing drivers for higher-tier competitions.
The 2016 season featured future FS1 champion Mike Kwint and current Superleague driver Wopke Hoekstra. However, participation declined, and the series was discontinued for the 2017 season.
The Return, Name Change, and Success
As rFactor 2 gained popularity in 2017, demand grew for the return of the Open Series. During GPVWC Day 2017 in Antwerp, it was officially announced that the series would return for the 2018 season under a new name: the GPVWC Academy Series. The general sentiment was that this series was once again necessary to support new drivers in adapting to rFactor 2 and to ease them into the world of sim racing.
The 2018 season was a major success, with 106 drivers taking part. Future champion Jonathan Holmes, current FS1 race winner Lorenzo di Ciuttis, and Fabio Sixta were among the notable winners. The 2019 season saw even further growth, with 151 drivers competing.
The COVID Season and Format Change
At the start of the 2020 season, the COVID-19 pandemic changed the world. With more people staying home, sim racing saw a surge in popularity, and driver participation remained comparable to the 2019 season.
For 2021, GPVWC introduced a new race format. Instead of a single long race, the format now featured shorter sprint races, intended to better prepare drivers for the Formula Sprint 2 format. This change proved highly successful: 174 different drivers competed during the 2021 season, the highest number to date.
Legacy and Impact
The Academy Series has been a major success story for GPVWC. The league has achieved something many others struggle with: creating a welcoming, low-pressure environment where aspiring sim racers can learn and develop their skills.
In fact, between 80% and 95% of the drivers on the 2025 Formula Sprint 1 and Formula Sprint 2 grids have previously competed in the Academy Series.
If you want to get started in GPVWC, the Academy Series is the perfect place to start.
The 2014 season was a success, hosting 17 rounds on tracks mostly used in higher-level series. Bruno Sousa Ferreira, Teemu Valkeejarvi, and Tomeu Cabrer were among the race winners of that inaugural season.
In 2015, the number of participants increased, with 92 drivers competing throughout the year. Many returned for multiple rounds or progressed to the Formula Challenge Series (the predecessor of today?s Formula Sprint 2).
The Move to rFactor 2 and an Open Series Team in FC
The 2016 season marked a turning point, as the league transitioned to a completely new simulator: rFactor 2. To further promote talent through the career ladder, an Open Series team was established within the Formula Challenge Series, with the aim of preparing drivers for higher-tier competitions.
The 2016 season featured future FS1 champion Mike Kwint and current Superleague driver Wopke Hoekstra. However, participation declined, and the series was discontinued for the 2017 season.
The Return, Name Change, and Success
As rFactor 2 gained popularity in 2017, demand grew for the return of the Open Series. During GPVWC Day 2017 in Antwerp, it was officially announced that the series would return for the 2018 season under a new name: the GPVWC Academy Series. The general sentiment was that this series was once again necessary to support new drivers in adapting to rFactor 2 and to ease them into the world of sim racing.
The 2018 season was a major success, with 106 drivers taking part. Future champion Jonathan Holmes, current FS1 race winner Lorenzo di Ciuttis, and Fabio Sixta were among the notable winners. The 2019 season saw even further growth, with 151 drivers competing.
The COVID Season and Format Change
At the start of the 2020 season, the COVID-19 pandemic changed the world. With more people staying home, sim racing saw a surge in popularity, and driver participation remained comparable to the 2019 season.
For 2021, GPVWC introduced a new race format. Instead of a single long race, the format now featured shorter sprint races, intended to better prepare drivers for the Formula Sprint 2 format. This change proved highly successful: 174 different drivers competed during the 2021 season, the highest number to date.
Legacy and Impact
The Academy Series has been a major success story for GPVWC. The league has achieved something many others struggle with: creating a welcoming, low-pressure environment where aspiring sim racers can learn and develop their skills.
In fact, between 80% and 95% of the drivers on the 2025 Formula Sprint 1 and Formula Sprint 2 grids have previously competed in the Academy Series.
If you want to get started in GPVWC, the Academy Series is the perfect place to start.
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