Virtual racers can celebrate the holiday season with good cheer and competition, seeing how they stack up against five NTT INDYCAR SERIES stars in the INDYCAR Holiday Hot Lap Challenge from Nov. 28 through Dec. 18.

Participants in the eSports time-trial competition will turn hot laps in the Dallara IR-18 INDYCAR SERIES car on the rFactor 2 platform (Windows PC) on three NTT INDYCAR SERIES circuits – two natural road courses and one oval – in three weekly events.

They will try to beat the best laps posted in advance by NTT INDYCAR SERIES stars Santino Ferrucci (AJ Foyt Racing), Romain Grosjean (Andretti Autosport), Christian Lundgaard (Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing), David Malukas (Dale Coyne Racing with HMD) and Simon Pagenaud (Meyer Shank Racing), with the quickest participants from the United States earning a special prize package of INDYCAR gear. Prizes also will be awarded randomly to any American-based player who turns a lap in the Challenge.

The lineup of tracks:

Nov. 28-Dec. 4: Indianapolis Motor Speedway (road course)

Dec. 5-11: World Wide Technology Raceway (oval)

Dec. 12-18: WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca (road course)

Entry is fun, fast and free for everyone who owns rFactor 2 and the Dallara INDYCAR SERIES car and the three tracks. Players can register by entering the “Competitions” section of rFactor 2 and finding the INDYCAR Holiday Hot Lap Challenge.

To keep the competition as fair and even as possible, car setups will be fixed, emphasizing the skill of the driver. Drivers only can change steering lock, brake pressure, starting fuel loads, fuel strategy and brake bias.

But this won’t be a Sunday drive on Easy Street, as car damage will be set to 100 percent, driving assists are not allowed, and track limits will be strictly enforced.

The INDYCAR Holiday Hot Lap Challenge is organized by INDYCAR and Motorsport Games.