Photo: Jakob Ebrey / BritishGT.com
Series organiser of the British GT Championship, SRO Motorsports, has announced that the multi-class format will continue for the 2018 season and that entries are now being accepted, earlier than in previous years.
SRO had been discussing the idea of splitting the grids for separate GT3 and GT4 races due to the increasing popularity of GT4 machinery. However, after considerable discussion with all the stakeholders, the existing format will remain.
Despite talk over the past two seasons of the demise of the GT3 category in a national series, SRO has reserved 14 of the 34 full-season spaces for entries in the premier class. It has said, however, that this number could be revised either way ahead of the launch of the 2018 season.
Benjamin Franassovici. Championship Manager is looking forward to the 2018 season.
“After a memorable and record-breaking 2017 campaign we’re hopeful that British GT will be bigger and better than ever before next season,” said Franassovici. “Demand is already such that it makes sense for us to open the selection process earlier than usual so that teams have more time to plan once assured of their entry. That’s whi I strongly suggest anyone interested should not delay registering the interest.”
“July’s announcement about the possibility of running separate GT3 and GT4 races resulted in much discussion in and outside of British GT’s paddock,” continued Franassovici. “There are pros and cons to both but after consultation with teams, and also taking inrto consideration the opinions of our fans, we believe a singly multi–class championship remains the overwhelmingly best and strongest option for our championship in the foreseeable future.”
EnduranceandGT.co.uk says:
“This is an well-considered decision. Much of the appeal of sportscar racing, to both drivers and fans alike, is the multi-class format where drivers of faster machinery must contend with traffic. Additionally, if a national championship, such as the British GT Championship, is considered a potential stepping-stone to GTE and competing on a European and international stage, then drivers need to learn their craft within multi-class grids racing at iconic circuits.”
The 2018 British GT season opens at Oulton Park on March 31 – April 2.
