Following the global launch of McLaren Shadow - the virtual racing programme that shadows McLaren’s real-world – Bahrain-based TIG Holdings, UK-based motorsport agency MPA Creative and McLaren have today announced an exciting new esports partnership.

This ground-breaking partnership will be the first Arabic language esports competition and will culminate in giving a GCC national the opportunity to compete in the McLaren Shadow worldwide finals at the McLaren Technology Centre, Woking, UK in January 2019.

This partnership represents a long-term commitment to deliver a high-profile, accessible and appealing public programme to engage with consumers across the GCC region.

The programme is built on three key components: the first, a competition to identify, nurture and develop a talented GCC national to participate in The McLaren Shadow global finals; the second, a broad consumer engagement attracting participants of all ages to take part in a week-long public event at the Seef Mall, Bahrain; the third, to provide invaluable road safety and driver awareness education to improve road safety standards across the GCC region.

Ben Payne, McLaren Director of esports, said:

‘This is a hugely exciting extension of the Shadow Project and we are delighted to be able to announce this partnership with TIG Holdings to engage with esports fans and competitors across the GCC. As a company, McLaren has very close ties with the region and Bahrain in particular. To be able to welcome entrants from across the region and feature a GCC champion at our world finals is a real boost for the McLaren Shadow Project.’

Dr Mohammed Ahmed Jumaan, Co-Founder and Director of TIG Holdings, said:

‘We are very excited to be able to announce this partnership, Motorsport is very popular in the region, and we are harnessing that passion for racing and all things automotive to deliver a competition with broad public appeal that creates a clear path to McLaren’s world finals while educating road users across the region on key driver awareness and safety messages. Our long-term agreements with McLaren and MPA Creative provide us with a solid and sustainable platform to expand this initiative across the Arab-speaking world over time.’

Full details of the competition rules, online qualification events and how to sign-up can be found at www.Battlefy.com.