The new FIA GT Series has been unveiled by promoters SRO Motorsports Group today at the Autosport International show, taking over from the previous GT1 World Championship.
Following months of discussion between SRO, FIA and a number of GT teams the details of the series have now been confirmed and will be run as a limited program of six key events following a sprint race format. In a bid to keep costs down in the on-going economic downturn the series will race five of it’s six races in Europe, with the sixth being held in the Middle East.
Ten two-car teams have already signed up to the newly unveiled series including the nine-times World Rally Champion Sebastien Loeb and his team who also announced their plans earlier today.
With a target of 24 entries the class of 2013 is already shaping up well with former World Championship teams Belgian Audi Club Team WRT from Belgium, Vita4One Racing from Germany with BMW, Reiter Engineering from Germany with Lamborghini and Sunred from Spain most likely with Audi.
Spa and Nurburgring 24 hours winning team Phoenix Racing from Germany will be bringing their Audi’s, joined by HDC from the Czech Republic with Mercedes, Prospeed Competition from Belgium (Porsche) and Novadriver from Portugal (Audi).
Rodrive Competições from Portugal are finalising a programme which will see them bring two Fords to the grid with Lambda Performance.
New comer Rodrive Competições from Portugal is working on a programme to run two Fords in partnership with Lambda Performance.
BMW Team Brazil has expressed an interest in competing in the series and will be looking to field and all-Brazilian line-up.
Hexis Racing, Sofrev Autosport and Sainteloc Racing will be joining the grid for the first race of the season and will be evaluating the season on a race-by-race basis.
The FIA GT format and regulations will be very similar to those of the former FIA GT1 World Championship, with the only significant difference being the introduction of a specific class for Pro-Am and young driver pairings.
SRO founder and CEO, Stephane Ratel commented“After three challenging years in promoting the FIA GT1 World Championship, we are pleased to have devised a realistic and credible platform that will bring together a strong, competitive and quality field for 2013.
“European events selected on their ability to deliver large and visible crowds, an overseas closing event to keep an exotic flavour; a strong mix of full Pro, Pro-Am and young driver pairings, as well as a focus on improving the series coverage will lay solid foundations for future GT growth.
“Together with the FIA and with the support of the teams, we are confident in the potential of this re-designed GT Sprint package that will be known as the FIA GT Series.”
The calendar for the 2013 FIA GT Series is as follows:
1 April: Nogaro, France
21 April: Zolder, Belgium
14 July: Zandvoort, Netherlands
18 August: Slovakia Ring, Slovakia
13 October: Navarra, Spain
16 or 23 November: Middle East (date and location to be confirmed)
