BRITISH GT CONSIDER SA NIGHT RACE FOR 2019
Series also doesn’ t expect any gt 2 entries for the start of season
British GT is considering the addition of a night race to its calendar in 2019.
Championship manager Benjamin Franassovici believes that a night race would bring British GT into line with other Sro-run series including the Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup, which has a six hour into-the-night race at Paul Ricard, and bring a different element to the category.
MN understands that Donington Park is the most likely venue for any proposed night race, although SRO will have to work through noise curfew loopholes before the concept becomes a reality.
“I’m always open to do something a little bit different, a one-off race where we do something quirky that stands out from the rest,” Franassovici told MN. “It’s got to be doable, we have noise restrictions and stuff like this that need to be looked into, but it’s something on my shortlist. If I can do it and if the teams are happy, we will look into that.”
A provisional seven-round calendar for 2019 was announced at the Spa 24 Hours in July, with the june 22/23 weekend listed as TBC amid continued uncertainty surrounding the proposed sale of Rockingham, although it has not been discounted altogether.
Franassovici indicated that a proposed return to Thruxton for the first time since the pitlane debacle in 2008 would be unpopular with the majority of teams, and explained that Mondello Park would also be unsuitable for the latest generation of GT3 machinery.
“Mondello is a cute little track but I think our cars have maybe outgrown a track layout of that type,” he explained. “It would be nice to go to a place like Mondello but I don’t think it’s quite suitable – something to not completely cross out, but maybe not ideal.”
SRO also announced that a new GT2 concept for road-going machinery with more power and reduced aerodynamics would be trialled in British GT next year, but Franassovici added that 2019 will likely come too early for the class, with no cars currently in existence.
Sixteen entries are reserved for GT3 and GT2 cars, although SRO will likely admit GT2 entries on a one-off basis if it is deemed suitable for the race format, with concerns over whether the cars can contest a two-hour endurance format.
“I think next year is too early for it to happen because the cars won’t be quite ready or delivered,” Franassovici said.
“It’s a great project, but I don’t think the cars will be ready for next year and then we’ll have to see how they can be part of our platform in British GT. Our successful format is sprint races, two hours and three hours, so those cars I don’t think will be ready for that format.”