British GT 2024

[Jamie Brown]

Calendar previously announced in July including a return to Spa, and the final round now being staged at Brands Hatch.

2024 CALENDAR

12 March >> Media Day, Donington Park
30 March + 1 April >> Oulton Park (2x 1-hour)
27-28 April >> Silverstone GP (1x 3-hour)
25-26 May >> Donington Park (1x 3-hour)
22-23 June >> SRO Speedweek, Spa (1x 2-hour)
13-14 July >> Snetterton (2x 1-hour)
7-8 September >> Donington Park (1x 2-hour)
28-29 September >> Brands Hatch (1x 2-hour)

First announcement for 2024:

GT3 Class - 2 Cars

Barwell Motorsport - Lamborghini Huracan GT3 - TBC / TBC
Barwell Motorsport - Lamborghini Huracan GT3 - TBC / TBC

https://www.barwellmotorsport.co.uk/...inis_in_2024_/


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[chunterer]

Thanks for starting this.

My hopes are for another Bimmer M4 GT3, and a to see Audi, Ferrari and Porsche return in some capacity.

I wondered if Academy are thinking of running a GT3 Mustang, or will they stick to GT4 with the new car?

[Bcarr6]

Pretty sure they said only GT3 Mustangs in Europe in 2024 will be in WEC and GTWC

[chunterer]

Originally Posted by Bcarr6

Pretty sure they said only GT3 Mustangs in Europe in 2024 will be in WEC and GTWC

The GTWC annoncement wasn't thought of as a given a few months ago amd was quite recent so it's possible more cars will be available if testing goes well?

[chunterer]

I am guessing the following just for a bit of fun chat;

GT3:
2x Century M4
2x 2 Seas Merc
2x other Merc
2x Barwell Huracan
2x Optimum Mclaren
2x Other Mclaren
1x Beachdean Aston
1x Other Aston or Huracan
1x Tempesta Mclaren
1x TBC Ferrari
1x TBC Porsche
1x Academy Mustang??(can hope)
Will anyone plump for a 2nd or 3rd hand Audi R8?

Will SRO keep the max 17 car class or 34 cars overall limits per meeting with the exception of Silverstone?

[Bcarr6]

Originally Posted by chunterer

I am guessing the following just for a bit of fun chat;

GT3:
2x Century M4
2x 2 Seas Merc
2x other Merc
2x Barwell Huracan
2x Optimum Mclaren
2x Other Mclaren
1x Beachdean Aston
1x Other Aston or Huracan
1x Tempesta Mclaren
1x TBC Ferrari
1x TBC Porsche
1x Academy Mustang??(can hope)
Will anyone plump for a 2nd or 3rd hand Audi R8?

Will SRO keep the max 17 car class or 34 cars overall limits per meeting with the exception of Silverstone?

Ford aren't expecting to release any Mustangs into series outside of GTWX and WEC in Europe in 2024.

Tempesta have a new 296 GT3 either ordered or already in possession.

Gut feeling is we will see one more additional 2024 spec Aston alongside Beechdean, you've got to think that AMR will want some presence here in year one of the new Evo.

I do believe 35 is the limit

[GregUK]

Originally Posted by Bcarr6

Ford aren't expecting to release any Mustangs into series outside of GTWX and WEC in Europe in 2024.

I have also heard that GT3 Mustangs will be in short supply. That's a shame.

[chunterer]

Originally Posted by Bcarr6

Ford aren't expecting to release any Mustangs into series outside of GTWX and WEC in Europe in 2024.

Tempesta have a new 296 GT3 either ordered or already in possession.

Gut feeling is we will see one more additional 2024 spec Aston alongside Beechdean, you've got to think that AMR will want some presence here in year one of the new Evo.

I do believe 35 is the limit

Interesting about the Tempesta Ferrari. Hopefully they continue to dovetail UK and Europe?

Yes I read some more about Fords plans. They are expecting SRO series including in Europe to be their biggest market for 'Stang' privateers.

Simil

GM have been suggesting similar views about the C8 GT3. But hey expect to deliver selected customer cars, including to Europe later next year. Hopefully we might see one in British GT!

[Truckosaurus]

Shame the Spa round is so close to Le Mans, two successive continental trips is difficult for people with jobs and/or families.

[stuart thompson]

I see Century have entered 2 M4 GT3’s for the Dubai 24hrs, could this be a hint to 2 cars next year?

[chunterer]

Originally Posted by stuart thompson

I see Century have entered 2 M4 GT3’s for the Dubai 24hrs, could this be a hint to 2 cars next year?

Yes I noticed this too. Be great to have 2 out next year. Guessing one driver would have previous GT3 experience and the 2nd might be a graduate from their GT4 cars.

[Bcarr6]

Originally Posted by chunterer

Yes I noticed this too. Be great to have 2 out next year. Guessing one driver would have previous GT3 experience and the 2nd might be a graduate from their GT4 cars.

I dont think the second GT3 is new, they had it in 2023 too.

Be great to see them double up in GT3 next year, all in the funding as always

[Jamie Brown]

Looks like Enduro Motorsport have closed there doors. Shame we won’t see them back in 2024.


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[v8supes]

I do wonder if Team Parker might be planning a return of the Bentley for next season? Its entered in the Dubai 24 hour.

[BertMk2]

Originally Posted by v8supes

I do wonder if Team Parker might be planning a return of the Bentley for next season? Its entered in the Dubai 24 hour.

I hope so - it's a great car.

[Jamie Brown]

Century Motorsport - BMW M4 GT3 - Carl Cavers / Lewis Plato

https://www.britishgt.com/news/1002/...entury-and-bmw


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[Jamie Brown]

Paddock Motorsport - McLaren 720S GT3 Evo - Mark Smith / Martin Plowman

https://www.britishgt.com/news/1003/...ed-gt3-line-up


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[flatlandsman]

3 rounds at Donington blimey that is quite a few huh! Why cant Silverstone have more than one, or is it the usual with them they dont make us any money so sod them!

[Racing Harz]

Originally Posted by flatlandsman

3 rounds at Donington blimey that is quite a few huh! Why cant Silverstone have more than one, or is it the usual with them they dont make us any money so sod them!

Two rounds and the media day.

[Badlands99]

Why would you want to go to Silverstone twice????
They can't even be bothered to open the 'right' grandstand on the pit straight so that spectators (who they are totally not interested in) can see down the main straight!
Once is more than enough!

[Adam43]

That will totally be it! Apart from the sod them bit.

[GCCheddaris]

Sadly Thruxton no longer seems to be considered, a great shame.

[Jamie Brown]

Thruxton pit lane is too small for British GT. They never went back after the chaos in 2008.


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[chunterer]

Originally Posted by Jamie Brown

Thruxton pit lane is too small for British GT. They never went back after the chaos in 2008.


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You might think so, yet it is big enough to host the huge BTCC grids?

Thruxton and Croft should both be on the calendar imo.

[SSmith]

Originally Posted by Jamie Brown

Thruxton pit lane is too small for British GT. They never went back after the chaos in 2008.

Originally Posted by chunterer

You might think so, yet it is big enough to host the huge BTCC grids?

Thruxton and Croft should both be on the calendar imo.

I think there's also the consideration of the speed of Thruxton and with the pace differential between a GT3 and GT4 perhaps there was some apprehension about potential accidents when slower cars were getting lapped - especially with a peak grid size of 35. British GT has also historically been reluctant to hold standalone races for GT3 and GT4 cars - part of its USP is multi-class racing.
There's also tyres to consider at Thruxton - think of all the problems the BTCC had with punctures in 2016 and Porsche Carrera Cup GB in 2020/2021.

If we think about 2023 numbers BTCC had 27 cars versus British GT at about 33-35. Even at its NGTC peak the BTCC had 32. Some BTCC entries tend to be based out of marquees at BTCC meets whereas all 35 British GT entries would expect to have a pit garage. When British GT was visiting circuits like Thruxton, Croft and Knockhill the peak grid size was probably in the low-20s in the mid/late-2000s. There's also the need for full pitstop equipment for tyre changes and refuelling rigs (something the BTCC doesn't need) and a narrow pitlane like Thruxton or Croft (or Knockhill for that matter) would probably not be considered entirely safe.

There's also the consideration of facilities, tyre barriers, circuit infrastructure etc. - perhaps circuits like Thruxton and Croft meet the BTCC's standards given their cars are slower but don't meet SRO and British GTs high standards with fast GT cars.