The American Formula Sim Series has named motorsport partnerships veteran and Gradient Racing Partner Marketing Manager Brian McRae as its official Series Director ahead of its inaugural winter championship.
Operating under Speedway Venture Studio LLC, the series combines the technical precision of formula road racing with high-speed American ovals in the 550-horsepower Dallara SF23 on iRacing, putting a $5,000 purse and a real-world Formula 3 test on the line for 20 selected drivers.
- Car: Dallara SF23 (Toyota Turbo 2.0L, 550+ hp) on iRacing
- Grid: 20 selected drivers via rolling application review
- Schedule: 10 rounds (7 road courses, 3 ovals) from November to February
- Prize: $5,000 championship purse + real-world Formula 3 test
- Series Director: Brian McRae (Partner Marketing Manager, Gradient Racing)
- Real-World Tie: IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship (Ford Mustang GTD)
- Organizer: Speedway Venture Studio LLC
- Broadcast: Planned national coverage on SPEED SPORT 1
Real-World Motorsport Pedigree
Outside of the sim cockpit, Brian McRae (Brian Scott McRae) serves as the Partner Marketing Manager for Gradient Racing, campaigning the Ford Mustang GTD in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. Bringing over two decades of corporate sales, commercial sponsorship, and brand strategy experience to the table, McRae is a regular industry panelist on the Performance Racing Industry (PRI) education series, specializing in long-term commercial trust and motorsport monetization.
In sim racing, McRae has consistently advocated for sim racing competition as a legitimate pathway for driver development and motorsport entertainment. Rather than viewing the sim as a separate gaming universe, his philosophy treats sim racing competition as an accessible pipeline where drivers sharpen racecraft under pressure and sponsors connect with deeply engaged racing fans.
Building a Twenty-Car Grid
As Series Director, McRae manages driver enrollment, candidate evaluations, and sporting logistics for the championship. The calendar is deliberately punishing, taking competitors from traditional road courses like Sonoma, Watkins Glen, Road Atlanta, and Road America to high-banked ovals like New Hampshire, Milwaukee Mile, and Nashville Superspeedway.
Drivers must demonstrate racecraft, tire management, and traffic discipline across both disciplines to contend for the championship title and the real-world F3 evaluation test.
How to Apply or Partner
Driver applications are being evaluated on a rolling basis until all twenty grid spots are confirmed. Prospective competitors can submit their racing background, iRating, and equipment credentials directly on the official American Formula Sim Series website.