Monday 19th March 2007

British GT and F3 season preview

Kicking off at Oulton Park in April

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Ascari KZ1

The British F3 and GT championships have been officially launched for the season ahead, with the first round of each championship taking place at Oulton Park on April 9th.

The Lloyds TSB Insurance British F3 International series has attracted 22 championship class entrants and 10 national class entries - for those competing in older chassis and sealed engines - with drivers representing 19 different countries. Dallara, the dominant chassis manufacturer of the series, faces competition from Lola and the new Mygale chassis, with engines from either Mercedes Benz or Mugen Honda throughout the field.

As ever, the grid is a mixture of proven drivers and aspiring hopefuls, with plenty of past champions from other series - both from inside the UK and as far as Australia - all hoping to progress towards Formula 1 like previous F3 stars Jenson Button and Takuma Sato recently. It should be a fiercely contested year, with races at Spa, Bucharest and Monza as well as the tradition British favourites.

British GTs

Aston Martin

The Avon tyres British GT championship has switched to a different class structure for this season, with the top class now being run to GT3 regulations, once again supported by the GTC category. The new regulations have really opened up the field for this season, with a cracking grid of current supercars in racing guise. Both Damax and team Eurotech will be fielding Ascari KZ1Rs to meet the Italian challenge from Ferrari and for the first time, Lamborghini. They are joined by the Barwell run Aston Martin DBRS9 and, as ever, a phalanx of Porsche GT3s.

The GT championship remains an all-British track series, with two races per weekend. Success ballast is awarded depending on finishing position. 1st, 2nd and 3rd receive 30, 20 and 10kg respectively, with 4th, 5th and 6th or lower having a reduction of 10, 20 and 30kg respectively.

GT3

Mosler

Viper

As official media partner to both championships, we’re aiming to keep you up to date with all the latest news as it happens and hope to see many of you at the races throughout the year.

[996gt3rs]

The gt3 series is looking seriously sweet! I would give my left *?* for one of those ascari's!

[Uncle Bulgaria]

are there any TVRs, just not the same without them.

[Dragaan]

Uncle Bulgaria said:

are there any TVRs, just not the same without them.

No, sorry.

With all the new pictured though, Madigital Media have been really able to crack on with our British GT mod for
GTR2. I wonder if someone from Pistonheads could send me a copy of the logo that is being used on the cars? I can make my own if necessary, but an authentic file makes it a much nicer look. Here one just to drool over for now

[lord summerisle]

Dragaan said:

I wonder if someone from Pistonheads could send me a copy of the logo that is being used on the cars?

[Dragaan]

I was hoping for a graphic, but that is a great help. I can easily make one from that. Thx very much

Incidentally, who is the best person to contact at Pistonheads regarding the press coverage of the BGT?

Edited by Dragaan on Monday 19th March 21:39

[garlick]

Dragaan said:

I was hoping for a graphic, but that is a great help. I can easily make one from that. Thx very much

Incidentally, who is the best person to contact at Pistonheads regarding the press coverage of the BGT?

Edited by Dragaan on Monday 19th March 21:39

Me [e-mail]!

Send me a note Dragaan.

[irs]

Are they gonna be shown on TV?

[bobdylan]

cant understand why gt raceing has failed to crack tv yet , if folk give it 5 mins of atention then maybe super size me im size zero lets swop wifes get surgery super make over build a house and do the garden tv mite show its self for what it relly is ..... crap. bubbel gum for the mind

[lord summerisle]

Dragaan said:

I was hoping for a graphic,

Aye, but it was the first thing i found, knowing what was on the cars.

ah - found it.

[lord summerisle]

irs said:

Are they gonna be shown on TV?

on channel 4 apparently

[macsport]

irs said:

Are they gonna be shown on TV?

Channel 4 and Motors TV following each round. A full TV schedule will be posted on the British F3 and British GT websites.

Jeff

Edited by macsport on Tuesday 20th March 13:28

[Wicker Man]

The British GTs looks like it'll be a cracking championship this year.

There may be no TVRs but there are still plenty of other British built cars to cheer on.

More news here but no TV schedule yet.

Edited by Wicker Man on Tuesday 20th March 15:23

[Dragaan]

lord summerisle said:

Aye, but it was the first thing i found, knowing what was on the cars.

ah - found it.

You're a star! I will hopefully have it on something for you all to look at soon.

Regarding TV coverage, Motors TV is by far the best, reducing the whole weekend into an hour as opposed to the 1/2 hour Channel 4 give it.

Here's to hoping that things will pick up now though, since apparently the "SRO are keen to push the fan experience further and there is something in the pipeline that, if the deal comes off, will give the fans something extra at some, if not all, the meetings this year."

Also, since this thread is a preview of the BGT, here's what to expect at Oulton Park next month (ignore what it says on the motorsportvision.co.uk site):

BF3

BGT

UK FFord

VW Cup

Caterhams

Ginettas

T Cars (sat only)

Edited by Dragaan on Tuesday 20th March 17:26

Edited by Dragaan on Tuesday 20th March 17:27

[macsport]

Wicker Man said:

but no TV schedule yet.

Wicker Man

We usually get the TV Schedule about 7-10 days before the race meeting. As soon as I get the schedule posted on the F3 and GT websites I'll post a notice in this forum.

Jeff

[lord summerisle]

Dragaan said:

Caterhams

Ginettas

At least this years Caterham race shouldnt be plauged by the small problem they had last year with a sump problem that effected alot of the racers...

and also hoping the ginettas dont have a big smash like last year... know a few marshals down at Shell & Island have lovely kittens after that one last year.

[teamholdenracing]

Wicker Man said:

The British GTs looks like it'll be a cracking championship this year.

There may be no TVRs but there are still plenty of other British built cars to cheer on.

More news here but no TV schedule yet.

Edited by Wicker Man on Tuesday 20th March 15:23

We had discussions with SRO about entering our Sagaris V8 this year, but sadly the regulations do not allow us to enter a car that, whilst TVR through and through, is an evolution of a one make series car and a current road car. Its a great shame, but there you go.

[msportuk]

Some pics from the British GT media day are online at MSportUK.com now.

D

[Dragaan]

msportuk said:

Some pics from the British GT media day are online at MSportUK.com now.

D

Excellent. Some of those are exactly what I needed. Its so hard to get photos taken of the rear of the car.

[lord summerisle]

teamholdenracing said:

We had discussions with SRO about entering our Sagaris V8 this year, but sadly the regulations do not allow us to enter a car that, whilst TVR through and through, is an evolution of a one make series car and a current road car. Its a great shame, but there you go.

If it was a Sag body on a Sag chassis (with custom cage that fixes to something solid) would that be allowed? or does the regs extend that it would need to run with a speed 6 engine?

[Dragaan]

Dragaan said:

You're a star! I will hopefully have it on something for you all to look at soon.

As promised. This is the first 'completed' car we have done for the 2007 season although we won't be finalising it until after we see what sponsors they add for Oulton park. Its also a little thank you to Archibold.