2018 Australian GT Championship

[GTRMagic]

No calendar as yet, but it seems the AusGT isn’t headed to the Adelaide 500 event...

Story Here

[D.R.T.]

Very interesting move by the South Australian government. I wonder what was their criteria for the decision.

[one five five]

Maybe AGT couldn't guarantee enough Audi R8's on their grid?

[peckstar]

Audi Customer Racing Australia shows off new factory

Lot of audis to top up that grid

No BOP, no handicapped pit stops (I believe thats correct)

[one five five]

Originally Posted by peckstar

Audi Customer Racing Australia shows off new factory

Lot of audis to top up that grid

No BOP, no handicapped pit stops (I believe thats correct)

Why would that series need BoP or handicapped pit stops?

[peckstar]

Originally Posted by one five five

Why would that series need BoP or handicapped pit stops?

I dont know, why would it?

I said it wont, however it does have success ballast

[D.R.T.]

Do you think that was part of the criteria that the South Australian Government used? Pit stop handicaps?

[peckstar]

Originally Posted by D.R.T.

Do you think that was part of the criteria that the South Australian Government used? Pit stop handicaps?

Yes, It was in the feedback, too confusing, reduced entertainment, crowd didnt like it.

However, Im sure the interest here is in bringing in an Asian audience who watch the current Audi R8 Cup, matching it up against the best of Aust, with a simplier form of racing

[one five five]

It's funny how certain posters have gone from loving GT's when the Supercars involvement was first mooted, to now sticking the boot into the category every chance they get now the Supercars bid has been rejected....

Didn't the Adelaide organisers originally announce an Asian Ferrari series as a support race for the Clipsal 500 a year or two back (the same year that the Dunlop Series was originally dropped from the support card before later being reinstated).... the Asian Ferrari series never showed....

[peckstar]

Originally Posted by one five five

It's funny how certain posters have gone from loving GT's when the Supercars involvement was first mooted, to now sticking the boot into the category every chance they get now the Supercars bid has been rejected....

Didn't the Adelaide organisers originally announce an Asian Ferrari series as a support race for the Clipsal 500 a year or two back (the same year that the Dunlop Series was originally dropped from the support card before later being reinstated).... the Asian Ferrari series never showed....

The same posters who loved GTs before, had the same opinions/question in this forum about certain things that are weak in the series, before, during and after the potential Supercars involvement. Because fields are diminishing and that's a concern

the same year as Stadium Super Truck was announced, which did come and has provided great entertainment. Will Audi come, no one knows at this stage only that it appears to have been announced. But it should be a good category, at least as a 1 off (or maybe 2 with Aust F1 GP event)

[peckstar]

Fleet of Mercedes GT4s headed to Australia

Gt4 as previously mentioned (in the 2017 thread) will be able to race next year

This is a weird comment though, wonder what he means

We might do that Intercontinental series next year and then just run the GT4s here, but we’ll wait and see what happens, what categories and what tracks they’re offering (on the Australian GT calendar), and what we’re doing.”

imagine not running you Gt3 car in the local series so you run in the bigger Intercontinental series, unheard of

[D.R.T.]

Originally Posted by peckstar

Yes, It was in the feedback, too confusing, reduced entertainment, crowd didnt like it.

However, Im sure the interest here is in bringing in an Asian audience who watch the current Audi R8 Cup, matching it up against the best of Aust, with a simplier form of racing

Which feedback was this?

[peckstar]

Originally Posted by D.R.T.

Which feedback was this?

The feedback Clipsal received after last years event

[D.R.T.]

Originally Posted by peckstar

The feedback Clipsal received after last years event

Is there a source or further detail for this feedback? For example detailed consumer data from interviews or surveys or just a random punters feedback on an Internet forum?

[peckstar]

by definition the survey is of random punters and in this case it completed through an internet based survey or people who engaged with the 2017 clipsal. It was quite intense and asked people what the thought of each of the support categories and a number of other event related things both general and focused.

However why do you care if aust Gt start at Adelaide or Melbourne or some other track. the Audi R8 cup will be great to watch, close racing, allowing the best of Australia to compete against professional (including an ex F1 driver) and amateur drivers from overseas while attracting an Asian audience to the event. surely thats all that should matter.

And why didnt the Australian Audi teams travel to NZ on the weekend, the cars were ready

[D.R.T.]

Originally Posted by peckstar

by definition the survey is of random punters and in this case it completed through an internet based survey or people who engaged with the 2017 clipsal. It was quite intense and asked people what the thought of each of the support categories and a number of other event related things both general and focused.

So there is no evidence or source of information released by the SA Government regarding the criteria or reasons for the change in support category.

It may have been easier just to have said that from the start Peckstar.

[peckstar]

Originally Posted by D.R.T.

So there is no evidence or source of information released by the SA Government regarding the criteria or reasons for the change in support category.

It may have been easier just to have said that from the start Peckstar.

you never asked that, so why would i have said that

Audi R8 series series will be great, at least as a one off

[Tourer]

Originally Posted by D.R.T.

Very interesting move by the South Australian government. I wonder what was their criteria for the decision.

There's probably a few things that have added to the decision. My best guess would be a list something along the lines of:

• Uncertainty over AGT management in 2018
• Need to publish full list of supports soon for event promotion
• Small AGT fields in 2017 leading to some concern for 2018
• Dollars on offer & "prestige" of an "international" series
• Corporate support from Audi

This is definitely not an AGT bash but the current uncertainty re who is running it etc would in my view be a big factor - I see this impacting on more and more 2018 plans the longer it takes to resolve.

[mayhem]

Originally Posted by Tourer

There's probably a few things that have added to the decision. My best guess would be a list something along the lines of:

• Uncertainty over AGT management in 2018
• Need to publish full list of supports soon for event promotion
• Small AGT fields in 2017 leading to some concern for 2018
• Dollars on offer & "prestige" of an "international" series
• Corporate support from Audi

This is definitely not an AGT bash but the current uncertainty re who is running it etc would in my view be a big factor - I see this impacting on more and more 2018 plans the longer it takes to resolve.

Most sensible post here in some time.

[old fart]

Originally Posted by peckstar

by definition the survey is of random punters and in this case it completed through an internet based survey or people who engaged with the 2017 clipsal. It was quite intense and asked people what the thought of each of the support categories and a number of other event related things both general and focused.

However why do you care if aust Gt start at Adelaide or Melbourne or some other track. the Audi R8 cup will be great to watch, close racing, allowing the best of Australia to compete against professional (including an ex F1 driver) and amateur drivers from overseas while attracting an Asian audience to the event. surely thats all that should matter.

And why didnt the Australian Audi teams travel to NZ on the weekend, the cars were ready

Perhaps the potential for costly and time consuming repairs prior to Challenge Bathurst.

It seems that the 2 days here getting useful data and seat time for the 12 hour which is only 3 months away is possibly more cost effective than going across the ditch. Unfortunately NZ has not been kind to cars of late.

[peckstar]

Originally Posted by old fart

Perhaps the potential for costly and time consuming repairs prior to Challenge Bathurst.

It seems that the 2 days here getting useful data and seat time for the 12 hour which is only 3 months away is possibly more cost effective than going across the ditch. Unfortunately NZ has not been kind to cars of late.

so then we have a problem dont we. Cars would rather run timed laps and compete at the non Aust GT championship, than run at the Aust Gt championship.

[one five five]

Originally Posted by Tourer

Dollars on offer & "prestige" of an "international" series

A one-make Asian series is hardly International prestige

It is something different though, and probably what the organisers are looking for

Originally Posted by peckstar

so then we have a problem dont we. Cars would rather run timed laps and compete at the non Aust GT championship, than run at the Aust Gt championship.

Teams putting racing at Bathurst over other things, only been happening on two and four wheels since what, 1938?

[D.R.T.]

Originally Posted by peckstar

so then we have a problem dont we. Cars would rather run timed laps and compete at the non Aust GT championship, than run at the Aust Gt championship.

Is it a surprise that the Bathurst 12 Hour and its preparation is valued that highly by Australian teams?

[peckstar]

Originally Posted by D.R.T.

Is it a surprise that the Bathurst 12 Hour and its preparation is valued that highly by Australian teams?

Well according to yourself, yes it is a surprise People would rather run in an SRO event as opposed to Aust GT sprint or Enduro!

Will be interesting to see how many run at challenge bathurst, last year there were only a few GT3 cars

[one five five]

Originally Posted by peckstar

Well according to yourself, yes it is a surprise People would rather run in an SRO event as opposed to Aust GT sprint or Enduro!

I don't know why anyone bothers....but anyway

the SRO event you are talking is at Bathurst, a track that Australian two & four wheel teams have sacrificed national title events at other places to be ready for Bathurst for over 75 years, it even happened in the early days of your beloved Supercars era when competing in the full series wasn't a requirement

When Australian teams actually withdraw from AGT rounds and enter & participate in next years Hampton Downs 12hr and Sepang 12hr, then we will know how appealing those SRO events are over an AGT event

But keep pushing your barrow anyhow...