CCSR Collegiate Championship for Sim Racing OPENS REGISTRATION FOR INAUGURAL 2026-27 school year

CCSR Time Trials Begin on September 8

College Drivers Nationwide Can Now Begin Their Road to the May Madness 2027 Live Finale - and Race for the Ultimate Prize

Registration Opens August 24 | iRacing Time Trials Begin September 8

August 24, 2026 - The race to May Madness starts now.

INIT Esports and CECC are officially opening registration for the inaugural CCSR - Collegiate Championship for Sim Racing, launching a new nationwide competition designed to find the fastest collegiate sim racers and bring them together for an in-person championship finale at May Madness 2027.

And there is more than a championship title on the line.

The ultimate prize in each category will include a sim racing rig plus two tickets to the 2027 Indy 500, giving both the Open and Women’s categories something serious to race for.

Beginning August 24, students from colleges and universities across the United States can register to represent their school and earn their way onto the CCSR grid.

And there are no conference boundaries.

Any college or university can participate, regardless of conference affiliation.

With Open and Women’s categories, GT racing, months of qualification, and a limited number of opportunities to advance, CCSR is creating a new pathway from campus competition to the national stage.

THE ROAD TO MAY MADNESS BEGINS ON iRACING

The first challenge is simple: be fast enough to move on.

From September 8 through November 30, registered competitors will have the opportunity to set their times through official CCSR Time Trials hosted on the iRacing platform.

Those results will help determine which drivers receive invitations to the CCSR Playoffs.

A limited number of Wild Card entries will complete the playoff field.

Every lap matters. Every position matters. And not everyone moves on.

NO SIM? NO iRACING? DON'T COUNT YOURSELF OUT.

Want to compete but don't have access to a sim racing rig at your school or at home? Don't let that stop you.

CCSR wants to make the championship accessible to as many college drivers as possible. If you don't have access to a simulator, we'll do our best to connect you with the closest participating sim center or facility so you can get on track and set your times.

Don't have iRacing yet? We've got you covered there, too.

Eligible drivers who are new to iRacing can request a FREE 3-month iRacing code to get started and take part in the competition. Codes are valid for new iRacing accounts only and are subject to availability.

For simulator-access assistance or to request an iRacing code, contact schools@initesports.com.

No rig? No account? Don't sit this season out. Reach out and get on the grid.

FIVE PLAYOFFS. ONE GOAL.

Drivers who earn their place will advance to a five-round online playoff series:

Playoff 1 - Wednesday, January 27, 2027

Playoff 2 - Wednesday, February 3, 2027

Playoff 3 - Wednesday, February 10, 2027

Playoff 4 - Wednesday, February 17, 2027

Playoff 5 - Wednesday, February 24, 2027

Across the playoff rounds, competitors will battle in GT3 cars for the opportunity to continue their journey toward May Madness.

By the end of February, the field will have spoken.

The drivers who survive will have one final destination: May Madness 2027.

FROM ONLINE QUALIFYING TO AN IRL FINALE

Finalists will return to the track in April for dedicated preparation races:

April 14 - Open Class PracticeApril 15 - Women’s Class Practice

Then, during the first week of May 2027, the competition leaves the online-only world behind.

The championship contenders will come together for the CCSR IRL Finale at May Madness 2027, where the inaugural collegiate champions will be crowned.

And the stakes don't end with the trophy.

THE ULTIMATE PRIZE

The championship prize package will include:

OPEN CATEGORY 🏆 1 Sim Racing Rig + 2 Tickets

WOMEN’S CATEGORY 🏆 1 Sim Racing Rig + 2 Tickets

Two categories. Two championship battles. Two ultimate prize packages.

For college sim racers, this is the opportunity to put their name - and their school - on the map from the very first season.

There is no established champion to beat.

There is no history yet.

Someone has to become the first.

REGISTRATION OPENS AUGUST 24

Whether your school already has an established esports program or you are the driver ready to put your university on the sim racing map, the starting line is the same.

Registration opens August 24, 2026.

Time Trials begin September 8.

The road to May Madness begins with your first lap.

Think you're fast enough? Prove it.

Register: www.initesports.gg/ccsr

CCSR 2026–27 AT A GLANCE

• August 24, 2026: Registration Opens

• September 8 – November 30, 2026: iRacing Time Trials

• January 27 – February 24, 2027: CCSR Playoffs

• April 14–15, 2027: Open & Women’s Practice Races

• First Week of May 2027: IRL Championship Finale at May Madness

• Classes: Open & Women

• Cars: GT3

• Ultimate Prize: Sim Racing Rig + 2 Tickets per category

• Eligibility: College and university competitors nationwide, regardless of conference affiliation

  
  

ABOUT CCSR

The Collegiate Championship for Sim Racing (CCSR) is a national collegiate sim racing competition created by INIT Esports × CECC. The championship provides college and university competitors with a structured pathway from online qualification through national playoffs and into an in-person championship finale at May Madness.

CCSR is built to expand competitive sim racing opportunities across collegiate esports while creating dedicated opportunities for both Open and Women’s competition.

Registration and information: www.initesports.gg/ccsr