The 2011 British GT Championship will feature a variety of formats across its eight event calendar, with a three hour race at Donington Park a highlight of the schedule confirmed today.
Weekends with a pair of 60-minute races once more make up the bulk of the calendar with four events using the format including an as yet unconfirmed visit to either Silverstone or Donington, planned for “late July”. The format will also be used at Brands Hatch and Rockingham as well as the series' only trip abroad – to Spa-Francorchamps where the drivers from the British championship will face a further challenge with the series grid being merged with the FIA GT4 European Cup for the weekend.
The season will be begin of 23-25 April at Oulton Park with the first of three two-hour races with a refuelling stop during the season, the other two being a visit to the then brand new Snetterton 300 layout on 14-15 May and the Silverstone Arena layout.
The, at least on paper, blue riband event of the series will take place on 24-25 September at Donington Park.
“The 150-minute race held at Spa was a highlight of the 2010 season and a favourite with the drivers, and I think they will welcome the opportunity to really stretch themselves and their machines as a 'one off' over a three-hour race duration,” said series manager Benjamin Franassovicci.
“We believe this calendar is the best ever for British GT and we are happy that half of the planned events will be to a longer-distance format. It's going to be an exciting season, for sure.”
Also confirmed today were a number of changes to the regulations for 2011. Most notable amongst these is the switch from using success ballast to balance performance to a system based around the lengths of the compulsory driver change stops – the more successful teams being given a longer minimum time for their changes.
2011 British GT Championship Calendar
23-25 Apr Oulton Park 2hr race
14/15 May Snetterton 300 2hr race
18/19 Jun Brands Hatch 2x1hr races
07/08 Jul Spa-Francorchamps 2x1hr races
03/04 Sep Rockingham 2x1hr races
24/25 Sep Donington Park GP 3hr race
08/09 Oct Silverstone Arena 2hr race
tbc Silverstone or Donington 2x1hr races
