British GT firm SRO announces rival for faltering French GT Championship

British GT organiser, the Stephane Ratel Organisation, will set up a new championship in France in an effort to rejuvenate sportscar racing in the country.

SRO, which organises both British GT and the Blancpain GT classes in Europe, has announced outline plans for a new French GT class due to start next year.

The new series would run over five rounds at French tracks, with an additional race planned for both Spain and Portugal. SRO is open to talks with the French governing body, the FFSA, for the new class to become the French championship from 2018.

SRO’S plan comes after just nine cars turned out for the opening round of the Oreca-run French GT Championship at Nogaro recently. That entry consisted of four LMP3 prototypes and five Ferrari 458 Italia GT3S. Many teams have already graduated to the Blancpain classes, with others upset by the inclusion of LMP3.

SRO head Stephane Ratel said: “I’m doing this because the series was so successful when SRO ran it [from 1998-2010]. Every GT series in Europe is booming, but the French one has sunk.

“The moment that [LMP3S being allowed] was announced I said French GT is dead and started working on this project.”

A statement from Oreca said it was open to altering the series and that between 12-15 cars are expected for round two.