16-year-old Jakob Rafoss became the first ever official Nordic champion in motorsport “on screen”.
Sunday 28 April at 11:50
– It is very cool to be able to say that I am Nordic champion, says the 16-year-old from Kvinesdal to VG.
The e-sport profile already has three 1st places in the World Cup in this branch, rallycross and racing, so in that sense the triumph was not so surprising.
– This is probably one of the biggest things I have been involved in, almost like winning the World Cup, says Rafoss.
The special thing, however, was that the championship, which took place in Stockholm on Saturday, had official status from the international motor sports federation FIA.
– It is an official FIA championship, and the federations in the Nordic countries are behind it, so it has a lot of prestige, says Formula 1 commentator Atle Gulbrandsen to VG.
Father Jan Kåre Rafoss explains:
– The FIA has now set aside large amounts of money for e-sports, and this is one of the measures.
– Norway has some of the world’s best esports athletes in virtual car racing, explains Atle Gulbrandsen.
The participants in Stockholm on Saturday were from 12 years old and upwards of 40.
– I have also raced against several of them in the WC, says Jakob Rafoss.
The championship was – virtually – run on the Lånke course in Trønster.
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