British GT 2003 calendar

[redshoes]

From www.f3-gt.com

2003 BRITISH F3/GT CHAMPIONSHIP PROVISIONAL CALENDAR

April 5/6 Donington Park National
April 20/21 Snetterton
May 3/4 Brands Hatch GP
May 10/11 Knockhill
May 25/26 Silverstone International + BTCC
June 21/22 Castle Combe
July 12/13 Oulton Park
July 26/27 Croft
August 9/10 Thruxton
August 30/31Spa-Francorchamps
September 6/7 Donington Park GP (F3 Only) + BTCC
September 27/28 Rockingham

F3 – 12 rounds
GT – 11 rounds

BRITISH FORMULA 3 CHAMPIONSHIP – KEY POINTS

New three race format: Single Scholarship and Championship races + combined feature race at nine rounds.

Revised qualifying format. Morning sessions to decide grid for the single class races. Afternoon sessions to decide the grid for the feature race, Championship class to take priority on the feature race grid.

Increased International awareness by TV and Media is a priority.

Subject to agreement with the governing bodies and teams, to investigate the possibility of an F3 “Oval” race at Rockingham.

British F3 Championship prize fund in excess of £140,000.

A Scholarship award to continue, one of many examples of the BRDC’s continuing commitment to young driver discovery and development.

12 different circuit variations.
F3 Championship organised in association with the BARC.

BRITISH GT CHAMPIONSHIP – KEY POINTS

11 round Championship.

Standard race length of 75 minutes to increase the amount of track time for teams, drivers and spectators and to recognise the 75th Anniversary year of the BRDC.

Option of introducing of several longer/variable style races:
- Castle Combe/Knockhill 2 x 40 mins “Supersprints”
- Snetterton 2 hours
- Silverstone 3 hours evening/dusk race for the British Empire Trophy
- Spa 1000Kms

Open GT class to remain and cars to able to run to 2002 regulations. The performance between GT and GTO cars to be equalised through pit stops.

Entry level British GT Cup class for high-performance sports cars running below GTO specification. This would encompass Porsche Cup cars, Ferrari and TVR one-make championship cars, other potential vehicle types could include Audi TTs, Vauxhall VX220s, Morgan Aeros, Lotus Elise and BMW M3s, for example.

Performance to be equalised by close technical control based around power to weight ratio.

Dunlop to continue as the official tyre.

BRITISH F3/GT TELEVISION
The Championship promoters and organisers are finalising the 2003 arrangements with the current broadcast and production partners; Channel 4 and BHP Sport.

BRITISH F3/GT CHAMPIONSHIP RACE WEEKENDS
Race weekend schedule to provide a full day of close, competitive racing from full grids. Discussions ongoing with potential support race categories:
Provisional standard race weekend schedule (this will vary depending on any venue restrictions and any different format GT Race):

Day 1
0900 – 0930 Support race practice
0940 – 1000 British F3 Scholarship race qualifying practice
1010 – 1030 British F3 Championship race qualifying practice
1040 – 1110 British GT qualifying practice – session one
1120 – 1230 Support race practice/qualifying
1330 – 1400 Support race practice/qualifying
1410 – 1430 British F3 Feature race qualifying practice – Scholarship
1440 – 1500 British F3 Feature race qualifying practice – Championship
1510 – 1540 British GT qualifying practice – session two
1550 – 1720 Support & Guest race practice/qualifying

Day 2
0915 – 0930 British GT Championship warm up
0940 Guest Race
1020 Support Race
1100 British F3 Scholarship Race
1140 Support Race
F3/GT Pits Walkabout
1300 British F3 Championship Race
1340 Support Race
1430 British GT Championship Race – 75 Minutes
1600 British F3 Championship Feature Race
1645 Support Race
1730 Guest Race

[rdjones]

Cheers for that Redshoes - the Spa date wasn't there meant to be a GP that weekend???????

[Adam43]

What exactly does "equalised through pit stops" mean?

Longer races - I like that...

[jase]

Adam, that's a question we are all asking

[Muppet]

Jason, it means we'll have to stand in front of a Stealth or Speed 12 for 2 minutes during their pit stops. ;-)

[rick vaux]

MMmm dont think i like the idea of an F3 racing around an oval, if one car was to hit the wall and the rest not quite avoid an impact, i don`t really think that the teams and the drivers will have the budget to repair the cars in time.
This would be enjoyed by the drivers though i`m sure.
Glad to see the GT cars being given longer though, so long as the playing field is level to start with, otherwise the S7 will have an even bigger lead at the flag...

Only two super weekends, thats a shame...

[Muppet]

Rick, surely you mean "excellent, we have 11 super weekends of GT racing!" ;-)

...and best of all the GT's get to avoid playing "sardines" in the dark at Donington next year.

The triple headers were too expensive for everyone involved; BTCC, F3 and GT teams as well as officials, etc. had to pay for 3 days instead of 2.

[jase]

Originally posted by Muppet
Rick, surely you mean "excellent, we have 11 super weekends of GT racing!" ;-)

...and best of all the GT's get to avoid playing "sardines" in the dark at Donington next year.

But looking at the timetable, the GT race at Silverstone is a dusk race so no scramble to get out at the end of the Sunday

The triple headers were too expensive for everyone involved; BTCC, F3 and GT teams as well as officials, etc. had to pay for 3 days instead of 2.

And the Friday was only a glorified test day, no one came to see it.

And Muppet, It will be your job to stand on front of the cars next year, you'll have the shirt no doubt

[NME]

Hey RedShoes CONGRATZ on your 2000th post !

[rick vaux]

Mup. Touche.....was meant as tongue in cheek.......

[Muppet]

Originally posted by jasongore
Muppet, It will be your job to stand on front of the cars next year, you'll have the shirt no doubt

Shirt? If it's like the one I had at the FIA meeting it will be tarmac coloured and I'll be more likely to get mown down... hey, aren't you getting bright new oranges for next year?

[jase]

Originally posted by Muppet
...hey, aren't you getting bright new oranges for next year?

:confused: Do you know something I don't??

[Adam43]

Originally posted by rick vaux
MMmm dont think i like the idea of an F3 racing around an oval, if one car was to hit the wall and the rest not quite avoid an impact, i don`t really think that the teams and the drivers will have the budget to repair the cars in time.

That could be one reason why the list is for the last race of the season!

[Muppet]

Shame we can't have GT's on the oval...


...only joking!!