FIA/ACO to create universal GT class

[Simmi]

Not a lot to go on at this point but over in Fuji there has been a press conference to say that the FIA/ACO are setting up a working group to look at creating one GT class for somewhere around 2015.

John Dagys first to break it from what I can see.

Check his tweets here: https://twitter.com/johndagys

BREAKING: FIA and ACO to form technical working group to create a single GT category in future (in 2015 or later) #GT #GT3

This means, in the not-too-distant future, there will be a single GT category spread across the world. No more GTE vs. GT3, etc

First meeting with manufacturers in November. Announcement of category expected for Le Mans next June.

A lot to digest. Thoughts...

[Simmi]

Article here: http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/103398

A class that has a concrete rulebook like GTE, but with the reduced costs of GT3 is the aim.

So manufacturers only need to build one car. There will be a transition period apparently so existing cars are not made redundant.

[arakis]

Originally Posted by Simmi

Article here: http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/103398

A class that has a concrete rulebook like GTE, but with the reduced costs of GT3 is the aim.

So manufacturers only need to build one car. There will be a transition period apparently so existing cars are not made redundant.

hmm, guess I was wrong...this sounds interesting, but how are they gonna reduce the costs...I mean Ferrari Lambos etc cost like 200K for just base car, while the BMW \4 cost like 40-50k

[Fogelhund]

You would have to conclude that assuming they don't screw this up, that this merger of GT rules is very favourable.

[arakis]

Originally Posted by Fogelhund

You would have to conclude that assuming they don't screw this up, that this merger of GT rules is very favorable.

If they make a rule set that can be respected, without going for waivers, or BoP, or at least limit the number of them per season, I'd be a happy little camper...

I mean it'll never be as good as it was at the start of 997 vs 430 era...but nothing ever will...I thought they're just gonna re badge the GT3, but this is actually something I could live with,,,

[MagVanisher]

Good thing they would not invest on two GT classes for a single car. Thank God!

Still, at least they didn't force the GT500 class to merge into the FIA GT class since they're already merge with DTM.

[urdragon]

It will be a success, if they can control manufacture spent on cars, if the cars cost increase, a new low cost class will appear and we will finish like we are now, with only the manufacturers spending on the high class development.

This can really push back few manufactures that now could be thinking to start to develop by zero a GTE, the Mclaren seems very interested in GTE so beyond that car that will or has already been started to be developed, I mean.

Maybe that's (Mac was going to be the last GTE) what the FIA/ACO thought.

[Simmi]

It does make you wonder whether there really were going to be GTE versions of the likes of the Z4, SLS etc. Maybe there still will be in the interim if they feel it makes sense.

With the whole thing opened up you'd have to have some kind of GT qualification for Le Mans if it proves to be half as popular as GT3.

I assume this also removes a potentially tough decision for the ALMS/Grand-Am folks with a transition year in '14 followed by a new GT class in '15.

[GT3.14]

Am I the only one not excited about this? GT2 has at least 2 new manufacturers coming in. GT3 is the most successful formula ever. Hundreds of them have been sold. Both have provided incredibly close competition. And what do we do? We throw them out. We already have a capacity grid at Le Mans, do we need a more popular class? P1-P2 was looking promising to displace GTE-AM. GT3 certainly cannot become more popular, everyone is making a GT3 car. But we will not have any more newcomers if a rule change is nigh. And if the cars are supposed to be closer to production form, how are they going to convince ANYONE that their car will be able to compete a 458/458 successor or McLaren with slicks and wings? If it is not broke, don't fix it (new rules), and do not break it (8.0 litre engines for one car).

[R4z3rw33n]

Interesting news.

Here's hoping there's some form of technical specification/governance in the final product's regulations. Enacting a global monopoly with a purely BoP-based formula's bound to create a world of pain.

As far as cost-capping is concerned, there's an element of uncertainty. There's certainly decent opportunity as far as sales (and, support concerning which) are concerned.
It'll be interesting to see whether the concept works (i.e. allows for sufficient revenue) on a larger scale, particularly with such a large volume of providers.

It's interesting cost-capping's been mentioned at all, with GTE having been predominantly manufacturer-oriented; the current scenario doesn't appear to have placed too significant a barrier upon entry for interested marques.

Originally Posted by Simmi

It does make you wonder whether there really were going to be GTE versions of the likes of the Z4, SLS etc. Maybe there still will be in the interim if they feel it makes sense.

With the whole thing opened up you'd have to have some kind of GT qualification for Le Mans if it proves to be half as popular as GT3.

I assume this also removes a potentially tough decision for the ALMS/Grand-Am folks with a transition year in '14 followed by a new GT class in '15.

Agreed. This seems to play right into GA's hands.

There's no longer a need for the unified series to accommodate both GTE and (GA's specific flavour of) GT3 beyond 2015.
They have a decent amount of time to decommission their adaptation of GT3, and provide for solely two GT classes (i.e. unified GTE/3, GTX) within the overall structure.

[helgi]

If they will be able to crop some useless machinery and get real GTs in one set of rules for most of the championships then it would be better for sport - less conspiracy BoP theories.

[Simmi]

Originally Posted by GT3.14

Am I the only one not excited about this? GT2 has at least 2 new manufacturers coming in. GT3 is the most successful formula ever. Hundreds of them have been sold. Both have provided incredibly close competition. And what do we do? We throw them out. We already have a capacity grid at Le Mans, do we need a more popular class? P1-P2 was looking promising to displace GTE-AM. GT3 certainly cannot become more popular, everyone is making a GT3 car. But we will not have any more newcomers if a rule change is nigh. And if the cars are supposed to be closer to production form, how are they going to convince ANYONE that their car will be able to compete a 458/458 successor or McLaren with slicks and wings? If it is not broke, don't fix it (new rules), and do not break it (8.0 litre engines for one car).

For sure GT3 is wildly popular and lots have been sold. But the proposed changes are not for next season - they are for 2015 at the earliest with the likely scenario where older machinery will live on for an extra year.

So unless you want to look at the same group of cars (many of which are already getting on in life) trundling on for the next four years something new needs to come along. It's not tenable for manufacturers to have to make two versions the same car.

I also disagree about Le Mans/capacity issues. The GT grid there and in the WEC this year has been poor and a clear weak link in the series.

[Salamus]

This announcement does sound promising but I hope this new class doesn't become a BoP mess. There has to be a different set of rules under the same class to accommodate the differences in some cars.

It also makes sense that this new class is coming around 2015. By then, the number of P2s will most likely decrease due to their transition phase. We come see more GTs at Le Mans and WEC grids when the rules come into effect.

[GT3.14]

Originally Posted by Simmi

So unless you want to look at the same group of cars (many of which are already getting on in life) trundling on for the next four years something new needs to come along.

But wouldn't the manufacturers just roll out a replacement? Like Ferrari did with the 430-458 and Aston the DBRS9-V12 Vantage. Audi will just build a GT3 version of the R8 replacement, BMW the Z4, and so on. Old models will phase out and new ones will come in. The models will phase in and out, but the formula should be constant. Coming out with new rules is what will lead to us looking at the same cars for years as no one will invest in new machinery. Durheimer must be furious; the rules intended completely change after 2014, Bentley's first full season. The future regulations could prevent the Conti from competing after that.

[The Badger]

What exactly do they intend on doing ?

Upping GTE to a new GT class , and leaving GT3 for the AM kinda class ?

[MitchZ06]

Merge the 2 so there's 1 GT class.

[GT3.14]

Originally Posted by The Badger

What exactly do they intend on doing ?

Upping GTE to a new GT class , and leaving GT3 for the AM kinda class ?

Doing away with them both and creating a cheaper version of GT2 apparently. GT2.5 if you will.

[Simmi]

Yeah but you could build a new car for in theory similar cost that would be eligible for both classes.

So Ferrari could roll out one replacement instead of two. That's the entire point.

Imagine a manufacturer on the outside looking in when this actually gets put into place. If done right you'd have a car you could sell to gentleman drivers and be able to go and compete at Le Mans as a manufacturer.

Will be interesting to see what Ratel thinks about this. Will he embrace it and keep the 'World' tag or again create a haven for older machinery.

It is interesting to see how this fits in with prospective manufacturers. Bentley certainly are one of the ones affected in terms of what they could sell in their first full season.

But you can't park a new concept that could be of huge benefit long-term just because it puts out one manufacturer.

[MitchZ06]

How will this stop Bentley? They'll make accomodations to fit in all who are racing currently in either class or those who have announced an entry into either class....

[GT3.14]

If it does work, and proves to be as popular as GT3, how will they determine which of the 200 applicants get a WEC or Le Mans entry?

[Simmi]

Originally Posted by MitchZ06

How will this stop Bentley? They'll make accomodations to fit in all who are racing currently in either class or those who have announced an entry into either class....

It's not clear how long they will merge in older machinery though.

So with Bentley planning to develop in '13 and sell in '14, this could limit the number of years you could run it for. If I'm a customer I'd probably just stick with what I had for the extra year and buy a new regs car in '15 that you know you'll get 3/4+ seasons out of.

if they'd budgeted to sell x amount of GT3's it could hurt them.

[Salamus]

Originally Posted by GT3.14

If it does work, and proves to be as popular as GT3, how will they determine which of the 200 applicants get a WEC or Le Mans entry?

Not everyone wants to be in the WEC or go to Le Mans! There are still a lot of other championships to choose from.

[GTKers]

SO.... Gt4 will be the new Gt3?? there will be a gt5 category as well?

[adam46]

I think I will never like GT racing as much as I did from 2001-2006-ish with proper multi-class racing. I like the idea of having a Faster GT Class and a Slower One.

What can I say I grew up playing GTR and watching FIA GT as part of the LG Super Weekend package, so that's my idea of GT racing.

I guess I always have some form of solace with the (Dutch) Supercar Challenge...

[Speed-King]

Originally Posted by adam46

I think I will never like GT racing as much as I did from 2001-2006-ish with proper multi-class racing. I like the idea of having a Faster GT Class and a Slower One.

What can I say I grew up playing GTR and watching FIA GT as part of the LG Super Weekend package, so that's my idea of GT racing.

I guess I always have some form of solace with the (Dutch) Supercar Challenge...

Same here... that's why I hope that Grand Am's new for 2013 GX-class carries over into the new North American series and in time becomes a global plattform (minus the tubeframes, maybe). From what I've read the Porsche Cayman might become the mainstay of that class and I think that would be a good car to build a lower class around. No V8s allowed either.