British GT 2024

[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.