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GT Racing
GT: World Challenge Set For GT3 Expansion
John Dagys gets insight from Pirelli World Challenge competition director Geoff Carter on the series’ adoption of select GT3 cars for 2013...
The Pirelli World Challenge will accept FIA GT3-spec cars from BMW and Mercedes-Benz, along with the existing Audi R8 LMS, for 2013. (Photo: Markus Berns/SRO)
After years of talks and failed attempts to break into region, it appears the globally popular GT3 platform has finally found a home in North America.
WC Vision, promoter of the Pirelli World Challenge, announced Monday that it will accept three of the formula’s most popular cars - the Audi R8 LMS, Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG and BMW Z4 - into its championship beginning next year.
The move by the SCCA-sanctioned series, which features single-driver, sprint-style races primarily on IZOD IndyCar Series weekends, will mark the first U.S.-based series to adopt GT3-spec cars without major modifications.
In speaking to competition director Geoff Carter, embracing the GT3 platform also comes at an opportune time in the wake of the ALMS and GRAND-AM merger, with uncertainty resting over the soon-to-be-unified series' class structure.
"We see a changing landscape in the North American road racing series, with [GRAND-AM’s] acquisition of the ALMS,” Carter told SPEED.com. “Our GT class has had 12 to 14 cars on a regular basis and we want 20 to 25. The landscape right now is so fertile for these GT3 cars and we just decided it was time to try and make it work."
Initiated independently of the FIA and SRO, WC Vision started putting the building blocks for GT3 in place this year by accepting a 2011-spec Audi R8 LMS, run by James Sofronas’ GMG Racing.
The first attempt to race a relatively unmodified FIA GT3 car in America brought considerable interest within the World Challenge paddock and well as prospective teams wanting to introduce new cars to the U.S. market.
That’s what prompted Carter to begin negotiations with manufacturers and eventually open up the door for additional models. For 2013, that means the likely addition of the gull-winged Mercedes SLS AMG and the BMW Z4. And more appear to be on their way.
“The GT3 cars are homeless at the moment, certainly in North America,” Carter said. “If you're an average [customer] who wants to race it, you can't really buy a production car and convert it. It would cost twice the money compared to these cars that are already available in Europe.
“We felt like it was in our fan's best interest and our company's best interest to find a way to accept these cars."
Unlike GT3 cars like the Audi R8 and Ferrari 458, which have been adapted to GRAND-AM’s standard, the only changes needed to make a FIA GT3-spec car legal in World Challenge is the installation of a new splitter and rear wing, along with the elimination of dive planes. Carter said the modifications cost between $5,000-8,000 per car.
In addition to GMG, which plans to return with a multi-car Audi R8 LMS effort next year, Carter says there is a potential for three to four Mercedes SLS AMGs on the grid, along with a two-car BMW Z4 team from Europe that’s looking into establishing a U.S. base.
It could add up to to potential of as many as 10 GT3-spec cars for 2013, which would join the brace of Cadillac CTS-V.Rs, Volvo S60s, Nissan GT-Rs, Corvettes and Porsches currently competing in the growing GT category.
"There's been two [GT3] Ferrari 458s that have shown some interest, so that's the next car we're working on,” Carter said. “We've said no to the Callaway Corvette. Nobody's approached us with us, but we realize it alienates the two Corvettes we already have. We don't like opposing models.
“The answer is that [we’ll consider adding new cars] as they show interest. We just want to find a way to make it all work."
WC Vision, promoter of the Pirelli World Challenge, announced Monday that it will accept three of the formula’s most popular cars - the Audi R8 LMS, Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG and BMW Z4 - into its championship beginning next year.
The move by the SCCA-sanctioned series, which features single-driver, sprint-style races primarily on IZOD IndyCar Series weekends, will mark the first U.S.-based series to adopt GT3-spec cars without major modifications.
In speaking to competition director Geoff Carter, embracing the GT3 platform also comes at an opportune time in the wake of the ALMS and GRAND-AM merger, with uncertainty resting over the soon-to-be-unified series' class structure.
"We see a changing landscape in the North American road racing series, with [GRAND-AM’s] acquisition of the ALMS,” Carter told SPEED.com. “Our GT class has had 12 to 14 cars on a regular basis and we want 20 to 25. The landscape right now is so fertile for these GT3 cars and we just decided it was time to try and make it work."
Initiated independently of the FIA and SRO, WC Vision started putting the building blocks for GT3 in place this year by accepting a 2011-spec Audi R8 LMS, run by James Sofronas’ GMG Racing.
The first attempt to race a relatively unmodified FIA GT3 car in America brought considerable interest within the World Challenge paddock and well as prospective teams wanting to introduce new cars to the U.S. market.
That’s what prompted Carter to begin negotiations with manufacturers and eventually open up the door for additional models. For 2013, that means the likely addition of the gull-winged Mercedes SLS AMG and the BMW Z4. And more appear to be on their way.
“The GT3 cars are homeless at the moment, certainly in North America,” Carter said. “If you're an average [customer] who wants to race it, you can't really buy a production car and convert it. It would cost twice the money compared to these cars that are already available in Europe.
“We felt like it was in our fan's best interest and our company's best interest to find a way to accept these cars."
Unlike GT3 cars like the Audi R8 and Ferrari 458, which have been adapted to GRAND-AM’s standard, the only changes needed to make a FIA GT3-spec car legal in World Challenge is the installation of a new splitter and rear wing, along with the elimination of dive planes. Carter said the modifications cost between $5,000-8,000 per car.
In addition to GMG, which plans to return with a multi-car Audi R8 LMS effort next year, Carter says there is a potential for three to four Mercedes SLS AMGs on the grid, along with a two-car BMW Z4 team from Europe that’s looking into establishing a U.S. base.
It could add up to to potential of as many as 10 GT3-spec cars for 2013, which would join the brace of Cadillac CTS-V.Rs, Volvo S60s, Nissan GT-Rs, Corvettes and Porsches currently competing in the growing GT category.
"There's been two [GT3] Ferrari 458s that have shown some interest, so that's the next car we're working on,” Carter said. “We've said no to the Callaway Corvette. Nobody's approached us with us, but we realize it alienates the two Corvettes we already have. We don't like opposing models.
“The answer is that [we’ll consider adding new cars] as they show interest. We just want to find a way to make it all work."
FIA GT Nogaro
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