GT1 World
FIA GT1 World Championship officially launched
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The FIA GT1 World Championship was officially launched this afternoon at the Automobile Club de France in the Place de la Concorde. FIA President Jean Todt and SRO Motorsport Group CEO Stephane Ratel joined with numerous members of the press, the teams and other guests to unveil the new FIA World Championship.
At the press conference Jean Todt was very happy to be launching the FIA GT1 World Championship and was content with the new addition to the range of FIA World Championships. “It’s a big privilege for me to be here to share this important moment with Stephane Ratel, whose determination and patience has brought together all the different elements to form the FIA GT1 World Championship”, said Todt. “I like the way the 10 GT1 World Championship races are divided geographically. It is a good balance. The championship also features very talented drivers and six great brands. I’m sure it will be very spectacular. You can be sure that me as president and my colleagues at the FIA will do everything to ensure that it succeeds.”
In announcing the revamped FIA GT1 World Championship format, Stephane Ratel said: “We now have a clear product which has only been achieved before by Formula One. Sports car racing has always been a bit messy. Finally, after 15 years of effort, we do have 24 cars, we have two-car teams only, we have two teams per brand, two, one-hour races, and I think for the spectator it will be very easy to follow and appreciate.”
Ratel also made it clear that the FIA GT1 World Championship will do anything to reach out to the fans. “We are also want to make full use of 21st century media. We will use HD television production and we have appointed Sport 5 of the Legardere Group for the distribution of our TV rights. We have also launched GT1World.com which is aimed directly at our fans.”
“GT racing is about the iconic, prestigious brands which are filled with history. Our ambition is to regenerate GT racing and transform it from a championship which was aiming at a specialized, somewhat limited and ageing audience and bring it to a far larger and younger fan base.”
After the press conference 12 of the GT1 cars were unveiled at the Place Vendôme.
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GT1 is doing well
Dont know about GT2, it’s not looking good for them.
totally opposite in my opinion look at le mans last year and this year hardly any gt1 cars and gt2 this year is the second largest class
Agree. Actually looking forward more to the GT2 European Champonship – bring on Spa!
I was talking about the GT2 Championship Series. I havent herd mush news coming out from that side.
CRS and AF Corse are now in the LMS. The only team I herd, that will be in the new GT2 Championship Series is ProSpeed Competition. But I dont know if that is true or not.
Announcements regarding GT2 are likely to be made later this week.
Expected is an announcement saying that the GT2 European Championship will not be happening though.
on Endurance-Info forums, they said, the GT2 Championship is going to be canceled ! all the teams gone to LMS now or maybe GT Open too
Being separated, GT1 will draw away TV coverage and fans from GT2. So it’s hard for GT2 teams to commit.
Meanwhile it gives GT1 teams more fans. And the international side of it draws them more because of the exposure.
It’s official, no FIA GT2 in 2010. There’s another reason why it went wrong. The concept of FIA GT2 en FIA GT3 is the same ( pro-am ) and GT3 costs 150.000 EURO less / car / season. On the other hand GT3 is as quick as GT2… And, we won’t forget that (parasite) Pareja and GT Open wasn’t helping the series at all. Ratel has ideas, brings alive GT3’s, GT4’s and new GT1’s… Pareja just organises series based on Ratel’s ideas. I’ve already read that he wants to have new GT1’s in his series next year…. Who supports a man like him…. I wish SRO more luck in 2011 ( he’s not giving up, you know… ).