Euro GT

[FIRE]

Because of a difficult financial situation there will be no Euro GT championship in 2005. They hope to organise independent events this season and have a full championhip in 2006. Source: www.autosport.nl

[Gabrio]

Originally Posted by FIRE

Because of a difficult financial situation there will be no Euro GT championship in 2005. They hope to organise independent events this season and have a full championhip in 2006. Source: www.autosport.nl

Another one gone....

[Kicking-back]

One less unnecessary series causing confusion and cluttering things up...

[SALEEN S7R]

Unneessary? I dont think so. Once the FIA GT championship does eventually get FIA "World championship" staus this series has the potential to grow into a feeder series for the FIA GT series, a level in between various national GT championships like FFSA, British GT, Spanish GT, Belcar etc and FIA GT. It may not happen of course, but the series does IMO have a potential place on the sportscar racing ladder.

It is a shame IMO that this series appears to have pretty poor organisation or else the series could well be keeping its head above water. Hopefully the SRO will either step in to try and help this series, or another series like this will be created in the coming years for potential FIA GT entrants who just havent quite got the recources and experince to enter a FIA "World championship" series, yes u can argue that the LMES is there for that, but the LMES is looking like it may be over subscribed for 2005 as we all know. Will be interesting to see what happens in the future.

[Marcel ten Caat]

Originally Posted by Gabrio

Another one gone....

I don't think we can see this as 'another one gone'. Their last full season was in 2003, last year they only did 1 weekend at the Marlboro Masters.

Early 2006 we'll hear "We hope to organise independent events this season and have a full championhip in 2007".

And if there's a financial problem it's probably caused by the ammount of top series in Europe. EuroGT was probably supposed to be racing in Germany, Holland, Belgium again. Three countries that have their own (sort of) GT series.
Belgium has Belcar, Holland has Dutch Supercar Challenge and Germany will have the ADAC „Procar-Series“. And teams can't spend their money twice.

[SALEEN S7R]

Agreed, although perhaps the series does have a future, especially when u consider that LIVE tv coverage, or at least same day coverage is a real possibilty with the introduction of Eurosport 2. I hope the series does eventually get back on its feet with a title sponsor, has potential to be something good. They could even team up with Formula Superfund and the truck racing series like those 2 series have, all are European based, maybe im clutching at straws but IMO itd be sad to see the series dissapear.

[FIRE]

The people behind Euro GT (Hein Hartman and his wife) will organise the Dutch Porsche Cup in 2005. So beside money they have probably no time to organize Euro GT.
A half year ago Hartman said he liked the Daytona Prototype class, so maybe in a next few years there will be Euro DP.

[FIRE]

A Club will be set-up to enable the promotion of the Euro GT Series in the best possible way.

For 2006 a total of 5 race events is planned.
The following circuits might be considered:
• Nürburgring
• Hockenheimring
• Lausitzring
• Spa – Francorchamps
• Zolder
• Assen
• Zandvoort

Only top-class GT cars will be allowed to race in two Classes, a free Class (GT) and a limited Class (N-GT). Racing in a fraternal atmosphere with a professional presentation takes priority over championship ambitions during the first year. A more commercial presentation can be considered once the basis has been created.

Full article

[Marcel ten Caat]

Originally Posted by Stranger

Early 2006 we'll hear "We hope to organise independent events this season and have a full championhip in 2007".

Ok, I was wrong. It was end of 2005 already :P

[FIRE]

Originally Posted by Stranger

Ok, I was wrong. It was end of 2005 already :P

Still first see then believe.

[FIRE]

There was a presentation about the 2006 season:

The Series will consist of 3 Classes: EGT1, EGT2 and EGT3. The Technical Regulations are similar to the FIA Standards, but with some significant exceptions. There will be no air restrictors in the EGT1 Class for example. Race cars with around 700 BHP, like the V8SuperStar of the Swissracing Team, will start in the EGT1 Class.
...
Gottfried Grasser, one of the first drivers who committed to the Euro GT Series 2006 and will participate with his Ultima confirms: “Our Ultima was built according to the GT1 Regulations but it has no homologation. Unfortunately we were not able to let this car compete in the proper way so far. We are therefore very happy with the new platform. The relaunch of the Euro GT Series will also result in a revival of the standard V8STAR cars, which will compete in the EGT2 Class. The EGT3 Regulations are technically identical to the FIA GT3 Regulations.
...
Two races of 40 minutes each will be the thrilling highlight of weekends.
The show will not be a huge financial burden for the teams: the entry fee will be 7.000 Euros and manufacturer teams will be prohibited.
...
The Series’ organization is also working on TV broadcasting. The races will be presented live on the internet and for 2007 a complete media package is planned.
...
The event program, the race format, and the calendar convinced no less than 18 drivers to sign up during the past four weeks. Several other teams joined in during the Brazilian Race Night in Wegburg, such as the V8Star Team of MIS Sport Promotion. MIS will compete with the V8Star vice-champion Thomas Mutsch in the EG2 Class.

Provisional 2006 race calendar:
March 03 Test day in Valencia (Spanisch GT Championship)
April 14 – 16 Spa – Francorchamps (Le Mans Endurance Series)
May 12 – 14 Zolder (Super Prix)
July 07 – 09 Eurospeedway Lausitz (Belcar)
July 21 – 23 Dijon (GTP)
September 15 – 17 Nürburgring (GTP)

Other dates are under negotiation.

Full article: http://www.eurogtseries.com/

[Flat12-Aircool]

This series has it's merits I suppose, but I'd rather see a few more LMS races and for the LMS to mature into a proper Euro championship of 8 to 10 events.

[Marcel ten Caat]

You mixed up the dates
Quite some errors in that press release though

March 03 Test day in Valencia (Spanisch GT Championship)
April 14 – 16 Nürburgring (GTP)
May 12 – 14 Spa – Francorchamps (Le Mans Endurance Series)
July 07 – 09 Zolder (Super Prx)
July 21 – 23 Eurospeedway Lausitz (Belcar)
September 15 – 17 Dijon (GTP)

[FIRE]

FIA has asked (or forced ) Euro GT to change their name because "Euro" would suggest it's a FIA championship. The championship is now called Rhino's GT Series (Rhino is an energy drink).

[SALEEN S7R]

Indeed, I got the press release yesterday too. Still, the series looks to be shaping up for a better season than 2005, especially when you compare the entry lists, FIA backing or not. It is also interesting to note that Motors TV will this year show the championship in 8, 24 minute programmes throughout the season. Okay it isnt fantastic, but it is better than what the series has had previously.

[E46]

International GT Open had to change its name too. FIA rules.

[panoz.lmp1]

Pictures & Race Reports & News around the event on www.projectlemans.de. It was a nice weekend with two victories for Wolfgang Kaufmann and the Wieth Racing Ferrari 550 GTS

[GT-Eins]

Not a bad grid indeed:

And this was only race 2 - in race 1 20 cars started
a further race-report & alternative pictures can be found here :
http://www.gt-eins.de/Berichte2006/sonstige/regt1.html

I´m really looking forward to the next round at the 1000km of Spa