My attendance is looking decidedly shaky - I am desperate to go!
The International GT Open is one of the best GT series in my opinion. The GT2 Ferraris sound superb. The racing last year was excellent and Brands Hatch pit access remained as open & friendly as ever.

I may try and slip down there for a couple of hours on the Sunday but it could destroy any hope of family harmony.


FIA Formula Two & International GT Open
Brands Hatch
13 – 15 July 2012*

Friday 13 July
09.00 European F3 Open Practice
09.40 FIA Formula Two Practice
10.40 International GT Open Practice
11.50 European F3 Open Practice
12.30 Britcar MSA British Endurance Championship Practice
13.15 Lunch
13.55 International GT Open Practice
15.10 FIA Formula Two Practice
16.05 Aston Martin GT4 Challenge Qualifying
17.00 European F3 Open Practice
17.40 Britcar MSA British Endurance Championship Practice

Saturday 14 July
09.00 FIA Formula Two Qualifying
09.45 International GT Open Qualifying
10.30 Britcar MSA British Endurance Championship Qualifying
11.20 European F3 Open Qualifying
11.55 International GT Open Qualifying
12.45 Formula Junior Qualifying
13.45 FIA Formula Two Race 1
14.55 International GT Open Race 2
16.35 European F3 Open Race 3
17.25 Aston Martin GT4 Challenge Race 4

Sunday 15 July
10.00 European F3 Open Qualifying
10.35 FIA Formula Two Qualifying
11.15 Formula Junior Race 5
12.15 International GT Open Race 6
13.40 European F3 Open Race 7
14.50 FIA Formula Two Race 8
15.30 Break
16.20 Britcar MSA British Endurance Championship Race 9

Thanks Andy

If weather is better than torrential will probably go tomorrow.

Haven't got Motors TV either so it's go or see nothing.

Looking at the entries on the MSV website the entry is massive. Also over 30 cars in Britcar as well.

They seem to like Paddock this morning. 3 red flags in 1st qually. Sadly a few no shows.

I watched the race (GT Open) live on Motors TV - I think there were 19 cars on the grid?
There were 27 at the last round (Spa - and the grid included McLaren/Mosler/Lotus)

I get the impression that there is a hard core of competitors and other people float in if it is their 'local' race. Last year round at Brands Hatch was a couple of weeks before the British GT raced at the circuit. A number of the BGT entered the GT Open - noticeably those at the sharp end looking to get some test time, I guess.

Stonkingly good race today. Weather good, so big increase in speed......
Didn't stop the ferraris falling off though.
Some pics later if I can get them out of the camera...

I think that the ELMS have been mucked up by the FIA/ACO (mainly the FIA as usual) by deciding that the WEC and the ELMS will not run together at European race meetings. To make matters worse they also decided that the ELMS would not run on WEC circuits. So the ELMS get the second choice circuits and don’t get to go to the drivers favourites such as Spa.

So basically the customers, wealthy amateurs, have voted with their feet and gone and raced in the GT Open. Which I guess the powers that be only regard as a minor championship and not worthy of their assistance and advice. Probably explains why it is doing so well.

I don’t think that the date clash helped but it may have just highlighted the problem of dissatisfied competitors/customers deciding which championship they would race in. After all round 2 of the ELMS at Zolder was cancelled earlier this year because of a lack of entries. Had the race meetings been on back to back weekends then several of the GT teams might have competed in both events as it would have reduced costs and therefor increased profits.

A few of my snaps from Brands Hatch.

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so whats the class format must admit never really watch the gt open thought it was way to porsche and ferrari dominant! Are they ex-gt1 corvettes? how do they fit in? de-tuned?