Fordzilla. That’s the name Ford itself has gone with for its latest project – an esports racing team designed to compete on the world stage. Yep, Fordzilla.

We won’t bore you with lengthy definitions of esports or its history – you’ve got as far as connecting to the internet, so we’ll safely assume you’re living in the current century. If you are, you’ll also know how big a business esports is these days. Gaming analytics company Newzoo says that in 2019 the esports market will be worth US$1.1bn. That’s a lot.

It also says that the audience will reach 453.8 million people this year. That’s more than the populations of the UK and USA combined.

It’s easy to see why Ford wants a slice of the pie then. Having launched Fordzilla, trials will take place to fill spots on national teams from France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK, after which, the best players from each will also join forces to form a European team. Gamers, your country really does need you.

Ford also claims that, via the medium of Forza Motorsport 7, it hopes to build on its real-world racing heritage.

So, what do you think folks? Can esports really compare to real-world racing? And are we about to see the world’s biggest manufacturers start to battle it out in the digital world as well as in person?

STORY Greg Potts