Hexagon & Oracle Red Bull Sim Racing Launch Future Skills Challenge to Bridge Esports and Engineering

TL;DR:

• Hexagon and Oracle Red Bull Sim Racing launch the Future Skills Challenge to find digital engineering talent.
• The competition bridges esports and real-world engineering, targeting gamers, students, and professionals.
• Finalists will receive an exclusive experience at the Oracle Red Bull Sim Racing Erena in Milton Keynes.
• The initiative aims to address skills gaps in manufacturing by showcasing esports’ relevance to engineering careers.

Hexagon, in a strategic partnership with the Oracle Red Bull Sim Racing team, the reigning champions of the F1 Sim Racing World Championship, has unveiled the Future Skills Challenge. This global competition aims to identify and cultivate the next generation of digital-native engineering talent. This partnership underscores Hexagon’s commitment to fostering digital innovation and future-ready skills within the engineering and manufacturing sectors.

Bridging Esports and Engineering with the Future Skills Challenge

Hexagon’s Manufacturing Intelligence division and Oracle Red Bull Sim Racing have collaborated to create the Future Skills Challenge, an innovative competition designed to attract gamers, students, and industry professionals who possess a keen interest in esports, engineering, motorsport, and advanced technology. The competition seeks to highlight the transferable skills between the fast-paced world of esports and the demanding field of high-performance engineering and automotive manufacturing.

Exclusive Experience at the Oracle Red Bull Sim Racing Erena

Six successful finalists will be awarded an exclusive invitation to a high-energy showcase event held at Red Bull’s state-of-the-art Sim Racing Erena in Milton Keynes this September. Participants will have the opportunity to engage in personalized coaching sessions with Oracle Red Bull Sim Racing’s elite sim racers, experience advanced driving simulators, and gain a rare behind-the-scenes perspective of Red Bull Technology Group’s cutting-edge facilities. Furthermore, the overall competition winner will receive a valuable Fanatec sim racing equipment bundle, valued at approximately €4,000.

Simulating Real-World Engineering Dynamics

Participants will be required to complete a series of custom puzzles and problem-solving scenarios that simulate real-world engineering dynamics. These challenges are designed to evaluate cognitive skills and technical abilities, encompassing data analytics, AI-driven decision-making, and digital twin concepts. The competition emphasizes the parallels between the fast-paced, data-driven environment of esports and the core competencies required in high-performance engineering and automotive manufacturing.

Addressing the Skills Gap in Manufacturing

This collaboration with Oracle Red Bull Sim Racing aligns with Hexagon’s broader mission to address the persistent skills gap within the engineering and manufacturing industries. The industry faces significant challenges in attracting young talent, often due to outdated perceptions of traditional career paths. By engaging with the esports community, Hexagon aims to showcase the dynamic, technology-driven opportunities available in digital manufacturing and engineering, inspiring a new generation of innovators.

Joe Soltysik, head of esports at Red Bull Racing and Red Bull Technology, stated, “We are delighted to be launching this groundbreaking competition with long-standing Oracle Red Bull Racing partner Hexagon. As the engineer role in sim racing becomes increasingly complex, the line between real and virtual has never been so close. By working with Hexagon, we can create new pathways for budding engineers to build a career within esports, manufacturing and beyond.”

Josh Weiss, President at Hexagon’s Manufacturing Intelligence division, added, “We’re proud to partner with Oracle Red Bull Sim Racing to encourage the next generation of digital engineers. There is increasing synergy between esports and engineering, and sim racing offers an authentic proving ground for several transferable skills.”

Competition Details and Registration

The Future Skills Challenge will run from June 1 to June 30, 2025, and will feature two age categories: 18-and-under and 19-and-over. A dynamic leaderboard will allow participants to track their progress in real-time. Detailed information regarding the competition, prizes, and registration can be found at: https://www.redbullsimracing.com/int-en/future-skills-challenge-powered-by-hexagon-oracle-red-bull-sim-racing.