FIA GT1 Championship
Stephane Ratel speaks about the GT1 World Championship
© Planetlemans – Brecht Decancq
After the FIA GT1 World Championship qualifying race at Spa-Francorchamps this afternoon Stephane Ratel held his annual press conference on the state of the SRO series and plans for the future. With the FIA GT1 World Championship being SRO’s flagship product Ratel started on the new championship.
Stephane Ratel: “We wanted to make sportscar racing in the form of GT’s more professional, we wanted to give it the clarity that was missing to sportscars, we wanted to have a new format of sprint, we wanted to have a high level of drivers and I think we have achieved all of these goals altogether. I believe it (the FIA GT1 World Championship) is one of the most disputed championships in the world.”
Even though the FIA GT1 World Championship is only in its first year and only on its fifth race weekend, but the main objective remains to grow and to globalize the world championship. SRO wants to bring the championship to what they believe are key markets for GT racing. These are the fast expanding markets and the main ones.
As a result SRO is currently working hard to bring the FIA GT1 World Championship to the United States and Canada. Even though negotiations are underway Ratel made it clear that nothing had been signed, but said the championship has a “fair chance” to race in North America next season.
The second market the SRO is looking at is China. According to Ratel the SRO has extremely good contacts with local authorities and they are working hard to get the championship to China.
As has been said before the number of events in Europe will be reduced in order the events overseas. Unfortunately one of the overseas events planned for this season will not go ahead. The race was set to take place on the A1GP circuit on the streets of Durban, but after parts of that track was destroyed the circuit and the FIA looking more closely to street circuits safety the track had to be completely redesigned. Even though a complete new design was presented and both SRO and the Durban municipality came to an agreement there was just not enough time to get everything ready in time for this year, according to Ratel. The race is now postponed for 2011.
The cancellation of Durban for 2010 will not mean the FIA GT1 World Championship is down to nine rounds as Ratel immediately announced a replacement round is likely to take place on October 24th. Even though a deal is not yet in place, but very close to being signed, the circuit for the eighth round would be the Circuito de Navarra in Northern Spain.
“Navarra is a brand new circuit with very good facilities and we think it would be an ideal replacement race. It will be less of a headache to from Europe to our two races in South America than to go to South Africa first, always with the risk of accidents on a street race and then go to South America.”
Ratel also made it clear that the current cars are still homologated for 2011 and that the SRO is working hard on new cars for 2012. One of them is the already announced BMW Alpina GT1 project, a private project that is supported by Ratel and the SRO, just like other competitive private projects in GT1 like the Lamborghini and Ford GT.
The Alpina BMW B6 GT1 could well make its debut into the 2011 season although the championship regulations would need some tweaking as they currently state that manufacturers running in the World Championship must enter four cars.
One of the possible solutions would be to allow one of the old brands to run just two cars and allow the new team to run only two cars in 2011.
Ratel’s objective for 2012 is still to have eleven brands on the grid with two cars each. Looking at the brands running in GT3 Ratel called his idea “not a crazy dream”.
Even though TV coverage was non-existent for the qualifying race at Spa-Francorchamps SRO is working hard on promotion and sponsorship for the FIA GT1 World Championship. Motorsport marketing agency JMI is working hard on selling sponsorship this year and Ratel hopes that the championship shows it potential this year and that they will get the return next year.
Two major markets are targeted: the people who want to buy these GT cars, via television on Bloomberg for example, and the younger audience via live internet TV, social networks and a video game. Ratel made it clear though that TV coverage on the major broadcasters like the BBC, RAI Uno and TF1 for example is not something that is expected in the near future.
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I am liking Ratels “vision” of this series. While the 60 min race is fun to watch and I like the mandatory pitstop for driver change and tires, could it be lengthened to 90 min? Can the GT1 cars go 90 min on a single tank of fuel? WOuld this neccessitate a splash of fuel along with the driver change and tires? Since it is very obvious that the tires currently used are only good for about 30 min of hard running would a different compound be made available or would the last 10-15 min of a drivers stint be made that much more difficult?
I agree Marcus a tweak here or there is all that’s needed.
I think 2 hours would be ideal for the Championship Race. Leave the Qualifying Race 1 hour since its worth less points. You should have to work harder for more points, it only makes sense.
The mandate of 4 cars per manufacturer makes sense only if you have support of more than a few manufacturers. Right now you have Rieter (Lambo), Matech (Ford), Nismo JP (GTR) and AMR (Aston Martin). All have 2010 spec cars. What going to become of the Grand-fathered cars come 2012? I’m sure Callaway can build a 2012 spec GT1 Vette. That only leaves the MC12 and I’m sure Vitaphone are considering their options.
As for coming to the States, if your reading this Ratel -
Go back to Laguna Seca. Makes sure its in June/July/August so the weather is good.
Indy Car lost its date at Watkins Glen, jump on that!
Canadians will go to any event. Mosport would be ideal, but I don’t know if safety will be a problem for an FIA sanctioned series. I doubt if you can get a Montreal date (they are limited), you can go to Trois-Rivières since they lack a headlining show of this magnitude.
I am also like hes “visions” as well. I hope the series does come here to NA. Also to have eleven brands on the grid by 2012. Sounds great! But it think that’s a tall order to pass.
We currently have 6 + 1 next year in 2011 (7). I just don’t see any other manufactures coming into the game. But i guess he has alot of faith.
I still think at LEAST a two hour race would be better, but I understand the economics of the decision. The series really hasn’t caught on yet as I think sprint races really don’t show the potential of the cars.
But who am I too complain. The series needs a year or two to fully develop then we might have something.
Still though, go Corvette! :3
@ Anthony
I like your idea of the 1 hour qualifier and a 2 hour main event. Im even good with them remaining on separate days as they are now.
The 4 cars per manufacturer was required to get the series “up and running” I believe. No fun watching only 12 cars race, need the numbers on the track. And lets face it, the drivers need jobs too . . .
As for coming to North America, LAGUNA BABY ! ! ! I would buy my ticket now! In all seriousness, NA has MANY historic and competitive tracks to choose from (I just hope its Laguna Seca).
Great news if indeed the BMW does come on board.
Why isn’t Ratel pushing for better (more broadcaster) TV coverage for GT1? Bloomberg only shows the odd race and doesn’t even push the show in their commercials.
I guess he’s targeting only rich people as they seemingly watch Bloomberg? At least that;s what I thought was said in the article and I could be misreading it, but it seems like he is satisfied with what they have.
I hope they come to Australia next year. Preferably to Sandown or Phillip island coz i’m from Melbourne and they’re both great tracks.
If they come to the US, I want to see them at Indy. I want to hear those engines screaming down that front stretch and over those bricks.
An interesting debate with many questions:
- More manufacturers ? Yes please – if possible.
- More cars per manufacturer ? Probably not, manufacturer dominance has ultimately damaged sportcar racing since the 1960’s.
- Longer races ? Yes, but only if the series can attract TV, sponsors AND manufacturers to longer races, and M. Ratel advises that this is not the case.
- Weight penalties ? Ideally not, they are anti competitive and encourage the tactics we see in the WTCC. Lambo won at Spa [well done Reiter] but which ‘reliable’ team leads the FIA Drivers Championship ?
The 24 Hours was a varied, and interesting endurance race with a sting in the tale for BMW, but most of the GT1’s raced flat out in both their races. The fans loved them, and ultimately we buy the cars and products that the manufacturers and sponsore are trying to sell thro’ TV.
So more GT1 -AND – more GT2/GT3/GTN races please M. Ratel. many thanks to the RACB and TOTAL too, it was a good weekend, and it didn’t rain that often………..
If Ratel puts his goal very high ( 11 brands ), then you can conclude 2 things. First, putting the level high, it gives people an idea about his motivation to get there… Second, 11 brands x 2 cars gives 22 cars. At the moment, we’ve got 24. Conclusion, he already knows which 11 brands are interested… otherwhise, he should be talking about 12 brands.
Not beïng from the US, i’ll fully support the Laguna Seca idea.
About Bloomberg and rich people, give the guy some time… Another point. Who is buying these brands? Right, mostly rich people…
@XJ8, Ratel has been listening to you. Next year, there’ll be more GT2/GT3/GTN-races… ( see GT1-website, press conference SPA ).
Finally, i’m happy ( after all ) that more and more people, watching the GT1-races, are loving the show. The championshiprace could be better a little bit longer, 1,5 is enough ( then you’ve got a total of 2,5 hours of racing ), but it’s only 1 hour because that’s easier to sell to broadcasters…
I applaud Ratel for GT1. He’s given life in the old cars again, and introduced some new cars while at it. I believe a few years away from Le Mans should allow the series and regulations to shape itself in the way it pleases. I just wish TV coverage was a bit better. I can’t afford ESPN.
@HD any ideas what brands Ratel has got in mind?