2023-09-08 20:36:11
This competition, where the riders are YouTubers, attracted more than 40,000 people to the Bugatti Le Mans circuit last year and brings together a million spectators on Twitch. This new edition saw its tickets sold out in one hour.
« With my partner, we took our Friday off to be able to go to Le Mans, since we have been waiting for the GP Explorer for so long!“, enthuses Maeva Billerey, a 23-year-old beautician, about the Formula 4 competition organized this Saturday, September 9, by YouTuber Lucas Hauchard, better known under the pseudonym Squeezie (18 million subscribers) and his production company, Bump. The second edition of this competition, called the GP Explorer, takes place at the Bugatti circuit in Le Mans in Sarthe, from 8 a.m. to midnight. On the program, stands, surprise entertainment, the race and a concert to close the day.
And what makes the originality of this “big prize“, is that it is not professional pilots who compete but well-known personalities from the web. All with means of organization and production practically similar to sports competitions broadcast on television. A shift that arouses the curiosity of many fans and attracts a sizable audience. The event, broadcast live on the Twitch streaming platform, brought together more than a million spectators for the first edition last year and, at the same time, broke an audience record on the platform.
Faced with the enthusiasm, the capacity to accommodate the public on site increased from 40,000 to 60,000. And the event is sold out: tickets, sold for around fifty euros, sold out in less than an hour at the end of May.I spent five hours on the GP site to make sure I had my place“laughs Maeva. In the region, most hotels are taken by storm. “We rented all our rooms a few days after the places were sold, from June», confirms the Hotel Circuit Le Mans.
“Breaking the barriers of the internet”
Last year, the competition was won by Sylvain Lévy (from the automotive YouTuber duo Vilebrequin). Among the participants this year are other content creators, who bring together millions of subscribers on the internet. YouTubers like Theodort, Mister V or Seb but also streamers such as Maxime Biaggi and Maghla. Rappers are also there. A team is made up of Marseille rappers SCH and Soso Maness, while rapper Kekra is in a team with streamer Billy.
Throughout the year, these participants raise expectations by regularly communicating about their training. Some post entire videos where they talk about the steps to being ready for race day. From the first tests in the car to the stress on the eve of the competition, their communities have the feeling of accompanying them on this adventure. “ I’ve been watching Squeezie videos since I was nine and it’s a pleasure to be able to support them in such a racebelieves Maeva, and for the most part we are from the generation that grew up with YouTube then Twitch».
Just like Maeva, who comes from Lille by car with her partner, many of the spectators present on site have organized their weekend around this event. Some people do not hesitate to travel a long way to attend the GP Explorer. Like Clémence Muller, who came from Romans-sur-Isère in Drôme. “With three friends, we are currently driving eleven hours to reach Le Mans!“, she explains, with joy. The Bisontin Thomas Jacquet is going there for the second time.“Last year was one of the most memorable moments of my life”he assures.
Like 60,000 people, Thomas Jacquet from Bison hits the road this evening to go to the second edition of the GP Explorer. Already last year, he was one of the 40,000 people in the stands to watch the race between his favorite YouTubers. Thomas Jacquet
The young 23-year-old real estate agent is preparing to drive six hours with his friends to attend the second edition. “What is special compared to other sporting events is that here we are experiencing an exceptional moment with personalities that we have sometimes followed since their beginnings, complete the young manand we meet between fans, the GP breaks the barriers of the internet“, he emphasizes.
“It’s highlighting a polluting sport”
However, detractors of the event point out the fact that the famous YouTuber is using his notoriety among a young audience to “highlight a polluting sport like that of car racing“. Maeva, for example, admits that since she watched the first edition of the GP Explorer on Twitch, she watches Formula 1 competitions from time to time. “ I’m going to see the results of drivers like Charles Leclerc or Pierre Gasly“, she explains.
The two athletes participated in one of Squeezie’s latest videos ten days ago. The video alone has nearly 10 million views. “However, I find that it remains a sport and that there is a fun approach to the GP Explorer“Judge Maeva. “I don’t think we should attack this event and this hobby which only lasts one weekend. There are other battles to fight first, such as the use of private jets for short trips for example.», concludes the young woman.
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