The return of real GT racing?
Discussion
A couple of seasons ago we were told the recession had killed GT racing. Grids were dying, spectators numbers almost non-existent and everybody was depressed.
Well I just had an afternoon of watching the European GT3 round at Portimau, the British GT round at Oulton and the FIA GT1 boys at the Sachsenring...and I have to say it looks like GT racing is well and truely back. Awesome races, but the relly really noticable thing was the amount of different machinery and how seriously it looks like the manufacturers are taking it.
Fez, Lambo, Audi, BMW, Merc, Ford, Porsche, Chevvy all doing proper battle. Throw in the Brits with indie TVRs, Chevron, Ginetta, Lotus and what a great combo.
The good times are back
Well I just had an afternoon of watching the European GT3 round at Portimau, the British GT round at Oulton and the FIA GT1 boys at the Sachsenring...and I have to say it looks like GT racing is well and truely back. Awesome races, but the relly really noticable thing was the amount of different machinery and how seriously it looks like the manufacturers are taking it.
Fez, Lambo, Audi, BMW, Merc, Ford, Porsche, Chevvy all doing proper battle. Throw in the Brits with indie TVRs, Chevron, Ginetta, Lotus and what a great combo.
The good times are back
It still needs more people watching. . .better TV and spectators etc, and more financial support for teams, drivers and the representative championships. These cars don't come cheap, British GT has had a bounce back year but will still struggle to attract BTCC style crowds which would help draw in sponsorship and investment needed to take it to the next level. Same goes for World GT1, and European GT3, and the other national championships.
The racing is great, the cars awesome. . .I do hope GT Racing gets what it deserves!
The racing is great, the cars awesome. . .I do hope GT Racing gets what it deserves!
World GT1 will be dead next season. In Autosport Ratel says he wants 9-12 marques, in two car teams, signed up and paid for by July, or he'll cancel the championship.
GT3 is a great series but the politics behind the scenes needs sorting before teams/manufacturers walk away.
GT3 is a great series but the politics behind the scenes needs sorting before teams/manufacturers walk away.
Edited by anonymous-user on Sunday 15th May 18:57
DJRC said:
Better TV?
I'd argue GT racing is the most covered motorsport on tv at the moment!
I meant a good TV deal which drives a larger audience, so terrestrial in this country, shown live. Not on Motors TV where audiences are super tiny, or on Bloomberg, or pay TV like ESPN. All the big championships have strong TV deals with the exception of things like GT1/GT3 BGT etc.I'd argue GT racing is the most covered motorsport on tv at the moment!
Would be a shame if GT1 ended this year, its been a tough fight for Ratel to get where he is, well against the odds. GT1 may be on the rocks but GT3 is another brainchild of Ratel and should hopefully continue to grow and grow.
Gt Racing is great at the Moment but its too expensive now for the average teams to get involved in GT racing GT3 cars which are the entry level in serious GT racing are now €350000+ and Fia GT3 is only for amutur drivers
I really like what Ginetta and Chevron are trying to do by Creating a GT3 car for under €100000 thats the level GT3 should be and when it first appeared in 2006 the benchmark car was a Porsche 997 Cup Car costing £75000 New and now GT3 is as quick and expensive as GT2
I dont think GT3 is sustainable at the current costs and this in turn stops teams from entering and progresssing up to GT2 etc
I really like what Ginetta and Chevron are trying to do by Creating a GT3 car for under €100000 thats the level GT3 should be and when it first appeared in 2006 the benchmark car was a Porsche 997 Cup Car costing £75000 New and now GT3 is as quick and expensive as GT2
I dont think GT3 is sustainable at the current costs and this in turn stops teams from entering and progresssing up to GT2 etc
Edited by Markgt3 on Tuesday 17th May 00:24
Indeed, costs have increased beyond expectations. But looking up and down the grid you can see a wide range of high quality racing cars, that can be bought off the shelf. Don't think there has ever been a better selection of racing cars. As for GT2. . .$$$$$ its even worse! The cars are in some cases slower than GT3, they are so restricted meaning teams spend $$$$ trying to get performance from clever means.
I'm not so sure about it being too expensive, if people have cash they will spend it, and looking at Grids in BGT this year, ADAC GT Masters and FIA GT3 I think the wealthy GT drivers are showing there is a market for GT3 spec cars regardless of costs.
As for a ladder which helps GT teams develop to GT3 level, that is meant to be GT4, I've yet to be convinced this level is working. Ginetta has always provided a cheap route to GT racing and I respect them for that, but in a production based championship I'm not a fan of the cars at all and has sparked numerous debates in the paddock over the years. In one make series racing they are fantastic however.
I'm not so sure about it being too expensive, if people have cash they will spend it, and looking at Grids in BGT this year, ADAC GT Masters and FIA GT3 I think the wealthy GT drivers are showing there is a market for GT3 spec cars regardless of costs.
As for a ladder which helps GT teams develop to GT3 level, that is meant to be GT4, I've yet to be convinced this level is working. Ginetta has always provided a cheap route to GT racing and I respect them for that, but in a production based championship I'm not a fan of the cars at all and has sparked numerous debates in the paddock over the years. In one make series racing they are fantastic however.
Markgt3 said:
Gt Racing is great at the Moment but its too expensive now for the average teams to get involved in GT racing GT3 cars which are the entry level in serious GT racing are now €350000+ and Fia GT3 is only for amutur drivers
I really like what Ginetta and Chevron are trying to do by Creating a GT3 car for under €100000 thats the level GT3 should be and when it first appeared in 2006 the benchmark car was a Porsche 997 Cup Car costing £75000 New and now GT3 is as quick and expensive as GT2
I dont think GT3 is sustainable at the current costs and this in turn stops teams from entering and progresssing up to GT2 etc
I'll think you'll find that the Oulton Park winng TVR Sagaris of Danny Winstanley and the Cerbera of Mike Saunders that won the first round (later disqualified) cost significantly less than the prices you've quoted.I really like what Ginetta and Chevron are trying to do by Creating a GT3 car for under €100000 thats the level GT3 should be and when it first appeared in 2006 the benchmark car was a Porsche 997 Cup Car costing £75000 New and now GT3 is as quick and expensive as GT2
I dont think GT3 is sustainable at the current costs and this in turn stops teams from entering and progresssing up to GT2 etc
It just needs ingenuity and driving skill.
V8 GRF said:
Markgt3 said:
Gt Racing is great at the Moment but its too expensive now for the average teams to get involved in GT racing GT3 cars which are the entry level in serious GT racing are now €350000+ and Fia GT3 is only for amutur drivers
I really like what Ginetta and Chevron are trying to do by Creating a GT3 car for under €100000 thats the level GT3 should be and when it first appeared in 2006 the benchmark car was a Porsche 997 Cup Car costing £75000 New and now GT3 is as quick and expensive as GT2
I dont think GT3 is sustainable at the current costs and this in turn stops teams from entering and progresssing up to GT2 etc
I'll think you'll find that the Oulton Park winng TVR Sagaris of Danny Winstanley and the Cerbera of Mike Saunders that won the first round (later disqualified) cost significantly less than the prices you've quoted.I really like what Ginetta and Chevron are trying to do by Creating a GT3 car for under €100000 thats the level GT3 should be and when it first appeared in 2006 the benchmark car was a Porsche 997 Cup Car costing £75000 New and now GT3 is as quick and expensive as GT2
I dont think GT3 is sustainable at the current costs and this in turn stops teams from entering and progresssing up to GT2 etc
It just needs ingenuity and driving skill.
Don't give em any ideas Dave, They will be buying all the road TVR Sagaris and converting em into race cars.
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