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GRAND-AM
EXCLUSIVE! SPORTS CAR: New Global GT Platform Taking Shape
John Dagys learns of the latest proposal in GT convergence talks, which calls for two-class structure, common base car between categories...
The future of GT racing appears to be around the basis of a single base car formula but with modifications to allow for privateer and factory-type racing. (Photo: John Dagys)
Following more than three months of meetings and negotiations, it appears the world’s leading sports car racing manufacturers are headed towards a new path in the creation of a global GT platform.
SPEED.com has learned that the FIA and ACO’s initial proposal to merge GTE and GT3-spec machinery into a single GT formula has evolved into a concept that could see the continuation of two distinct categories but instead utilizing the same, manufacturer-unique, base car for both classes.
The latest “GT Convergence” meeting, held late last month in Paris, confirmed that talks have shifted towards a new dual-platform proposal that would embrace the manufacturers’ desires to provide suitable options as both factory entries and for privateers.
"My understanding is that we'll have two GT classes,” said Romolo Liebchen, Head of Audi Sport customer racing. “I think this approach is good. For the first approach, for the customer side, I think we have something to offer. And for the professional approach, we'll have to see what we can do and how we can do it.
"It makes no sense to spend all the time and money for a [class] where you'd have three or four cars. This must be the major goal, to have a base car and make this variation out of these cars."
Audi is among the dozen-or-so manufacturers with FIA GT3-spec machinery, which are eligible to compete in various championships worldwide. Recently, cars such as the R8 LMS and Ferrari’s F458 Italia GT3, along with the new Aston Martin Vantage V12 GT3, have been modified to also fit within the popular Rolex Series GT category in GRAND-AM.
What sets GT3 cars apart from the ACO-homologated GTE machines is that they are built to no common technical platform and are instead balanced by the FIA. GTE-spec cars, on the other hand, must conform to strict technical regulations, although Balance of Performance measures are also used, along with an increasing amount of technical waivers for select models.
The proposal to merge the two platforms, set forth back in October, was vetoed by manufacturers on the grounds of costs, particularly for privateers wanting a reasonably priced way to go racing.
Instead, talks have since centered on the concept of a base car but with different “kits” being made available to adapt the car for either a cost-effective privateer class or a fully fledged factory-based category. The two proposed classes are being known as “GT” and “GT+” internally.
“As a manufacturer, we need a platform that can showcase our technical competency... But on the other hand, Porsche has a long history of customer sport programs,” said Porsche Motorsport North America President Jens Walther. “Ever since we built the first 911, we’ve always supported customers to go racing.
“So while the GTE class is very important for us, as we can showcase technical development, [customer racing] is also important, especially in the North American market, to have a class where customers, amateurs, together with pros, can compete on the highest level, yet at a budget level that's appropriate.
“We've seen this growing out a little bit in [recent] years, where platforms are mixed. A manufacturer's platform had a certain budget level and the Pro-Am level was growing into that almost. The higher the costs go, the fewer the amateur and gentlemen drivers and sponsors are willing to support these programs. That creates a threat to the face of motorsports.
“If we would only compete in the manufacturers' level, we would miss out on the opportunity of having stronger fields and this is what the fans want to see.”
SPEED.com understands that that the next GT Convergence meeting, scheduled for March 5, will see the initial groundwork laid for the proposed platform, including preliminary chassis, engine and aerodynamic regulations, as well as provisionally defining what components could be carried over between the two types of cars.
It’s undecided what will constitute the base car. But with the majority of manufacturers already offering GT3 models, it could be the most efficient route to take. However, it may not be the ultimate solution, with BMW’s new Z4 GTE, the first GT3-based car adapted to GTE regulations, being case in point.
"Going from a GT3 to a GTE is probably harder than the other way around,” said BMW Motorsport director Jens Marquardt. “You basically have to get rid of mostly everything on the GT3, then bring it down to the GTE confirming set of regulations. Then to regain a comparable performance level takes quite some effort.
"For us, GT is a really strong pillar of our customer racing, so it means that it should be affordable. We would like to make this available to people all around the world. Knowing that there are differences in the classes, it should be a target to get a set of [new] regulations together.”
SPEED.com has learned that the FIA and ACO’s initial proposal to merge GTE and GT3-spec machinery into a single GT formula has evolved into a concept that could see the continuation of two distinct categories but instead utilizing the same, manufacturer-unique, base car for both classes.
The latest “GT Convergence” meeting, held late last month in Paris, confirmed that talks have shifted towards a new dual-platform proposal that would embrace the manufacturers’ desires to provide suitable options as both factory entries and for privateers.
"My understanding is that we'll have two GT classes,” said Romolo Liebchen, Head of Audi Sport customer racing. “I think this approach is good. For the first approach, for the customer side, I think we have something to offer. And for the professional approach, we'll have to see what we can do and how we can do it.
"It makes no sense to spend all the time and money for a [class] where you'd have three or four cars. This must be the major goal, to have a base car and make this variation out of these cars."
Audi is among the dozen-or-so manufacturers with FIA GT3-spec machinery, which are eligible to compete in various championships worldwide. Recently, cars such as the R8 LMS and Ferrari’s F458 Italia GT3, along with the new Aston Martin Vantage V12 GT3, have been modified to also fit within the popular Rolex Series GT category in GRAND-AM.
What sets GT3 cars apart from the ACO-homologated GTE machines is that they are built to no common technical platform and are instead balanced by the FIA. GTE-spec cars, on the other hand, must conform to strict technical regulations, although Balance of Performance measures are also used, along with an increasing amount of technical waivers for select models.
The proposal to merge the two platforms, set forth back in October, was vetoed by manufacturers on the grounds of costs, particularly for privateers wanting a reasonably priced way to go racing.
Instead, talks have since centered on the concept of a base car but with different “kits” being made available to adapt the car for either a cost-effective privateer class or a fully fledged factory-based category. The two proposed classes are being known as “GT” and “GT+” internally.
“As a manufacturer, we need a platform that can showcase our technical competency... But on the other hand, Porsche has a long history of customer sport programs,” said Porsche Motorsport North America President Jens Walther. “Ever since we built the first 911, we’ve always supported customers to go racing.
“So while the GTE class is very important for us, as we can showcase technical development, [customer racing] is also important, especially in the North American market, to have a class where customers, amateurs, together with pros, can compete on the highest level, yet at a budget level that's appropriate.
“We've seen this growing out a little bit in [recent] years, where platforms are mixed. A manufacturer's platform had a certain budget level and the Pro-Am level was growing into that almost. The higher the costs go, the fewer the amateur and gentlemen drivers and sponsors are willing to support these programs. That creates a threat to the face of motorsports.
“If we would only compete in the manufacturers' level, we would miss out on the opportunity of having stronger fields and this is what the fans want to see.”
SPEED.com understands that that the next GT Convergence meeting, scheduled for March 5, will see the initial groundwork laid for the proposed platform, including preliminary chassis, engine and aerodynamic regulations, as well as provisionally defining what components could be carried over between the two types of cars.
It’s undecided what will constitute the base car. But with the majority of manufacturers already offering GT3 models, it could be the most efficient route to take. However, it may not be the ultimate solution, with BMW’s new Z4 GTE, the first GT3-based car adapted to GTE regulations, being case in point.
"Going from a GT3 to a GTE is probably harder than the other way around,” said BMW Motorsport director Jens Marquardt. “You basically have to get rid of mostly everything on the GT3, then bring it down to the GTE confirming set of regulations. Then to regain a comparable performance level takes quite some effort.
"For us, GT is a really strong pillar of our customer racing, so it means that it should be affordable. We would like to make this available to people all around the world. Knowing that there are differences in the classes, it should be a target to get a set of [new] regulations together.”
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