A New Zealand first! Star sponsor online gaming.

16 May 2018

Star Insurance Specialists becomes the official partner of the Project Cars 2 NZ Championship.

In a category first, for Australasia, kiwi insurance company Star Insurance Specialists is about to make their mark in the booming New Zealand esports industry as the headline sponsor for the upcoming Project CARS 2 NZ Championship.

The competition, presented by New Zealand esports broadcaster LetsPlay.Live (LPL) will feature 8 of the country’s top racing sim drivers as they compete for a share of $10,000.

Nicholas Baker, Chief Executive Officer at Star Insurance Specialists commented: “We are proud to be at the forefront of New Zealand esports. We enjoy exploring new opportunities to connect with our customers who appreciate our innovative products, and deliver on our promise to create extraordinary insurance for Kiwis with exceptional vehicles.”

“We’re excited to bring motor racing enthusiasts together in a new digital arena. We have several insurance options that are a natural fit for esports enthusiasts, including our Project & Performance and Motorsport packages. esports and LetsPlay.Live is a great fit for us.”

“We hope that the success of our partnership with LetsPlay.Live inspires more kiwi brands to invest in these powerful and exciting opportunities to drive the sport even further.”

LPL Director, Duane Mutu, noted this was an especially important partnership as it highlights a key progression in the esports industry.

“More and more the esports audience is becoming increasingly mainstream, and we are now seeing enterprising brands outside the traditional gaming circles looking to take an active role in growing the industry.”

“Partners like Star Insurance Specialists, who are clearly as passionate as we are about the New Zealand esports scene, help us to deliver quality broadcasts and open up new pathways for players, commentary talent, and viewers alike.”

The esports industry is currently experiencing a period of amazing growth in both viewers and participation. Gemba reports this market has already reached an audience of 465,000 in New Zealand, increasing more than 20 per cent in the past 12 months. This audience contrary to popular belief is not as young as many would think, the average age of a gamer is now in the mid-thirties, whilst esports enthusiasts (those who regularly engage in watching esports) sits at the mid-to-late twenties.

Beginning May 1st, The Project CARS 2 NZ Championship is broadcast every Tuesday night, 7:30pm on SKY Sport . The competition will see eight of the top racers compete in 16 races over eight weeks featuring famous racetracks from around the globe.