S. Ratel vs. the big 4

[HORNDAWG]

Well it seems that GM, Ferrari, AMR and Porsche are flexing their collective muscle as it concerns the 2010 FIA GT rule set. What effect, if any, is this going to have on the ACO rules and subsequently the ALMS? It would seem that in super secret meetings of the "BIG 4" in GT that they have decided they would prefer a single GT class. Will this lead to a GT/GS structure in the future?...

L.P.

[John Dagys]

Good question. When i asked Scott A. at Petit about Ratel's then-proposed new split "GT3" formula for 2010, he said that the ALMS was not interested in adopting the formula but if the ACO went ahead with it, then the Series would pretty much go with it as well.

I personally like the idea of the single GT class - and while they're at it, combine the LMP classes too.. It makes it simpler for the fans to follow and should make for better racing. And if there's concerns for the privateers then, make a FIA GT style "Citation Cup" inside LMP and GT classes.

But as for the current GT3 cars - I don't think they should split them up and make them the new "GT1" and "GT2". GT3 should stay GT3. Ratel invested a lot into this formula and has national GT series in Great Britain, Belgium, France, Germany and now Brazil + the European Championship. All of those championships (just finally getting adjusted to the new regs) would face totally new regs in 2010.

We need a SOLID set of regulations to go by. There can't be changes to the rules every other year. For crying out loud, these current LMP regulations are only four years old! and we're going to get new ones in 2009? We need stability for manufactures to enter and grow our sport even more...

[mariantic]

Originally Posted by John Dagys

Good question. When i asked Scott A. at Petit about Ratel's then-proposed new split "GT3" formula for 2010, he said that the ALMS was not interested in adopting the formula but if the ACO went ahead with it, then the Series would pretty much go with it as well.

The ACO position is that they want to keep two classes of GTs (4 classes = 4 races to watch - important @ Le Mans)

Although they want GT1 & GT2 it doesn't mean they will be the current GT1 & GT2.

One interesting thing in the SRO version is that a given car cannot homologate to 2 classes. So no GT2 Corvettes, no GT1 911s...

So the underlying logic is 4 races "for the fans" & if it's a Corvette you know which race it's in

[HORNDAWG]

Well here is a link to the new FIA GT-1 (World Championship) and GT-2 rules. I guess we will see how this pans out with the ACO's plans come the 2010 LM invite list according to this:

LM GT1 - 2010

• Category open to cars complying with the 2010 FIA GT regulations

• After reception of entries for the 2010 Le Mans 24 Hours, the ACO will decide to maintain the GT1 category (or not) according to well-defined criteria (presence of manufacturers, quality of the entries, reliability guarantees)

• Otherwise, the ACO reserves itself the right to keep only a single GT category in 2010

LM GT2 - 2010

• The current GT cars are eligible up to the end of 2011

• Cars complying with the 2010 FIA GT regulations are eligible from 2010 onwards

• The ACO reserves itself the right to adjust the performances between the current GT2 cars and the 2010 FIA GT2s for Le Mans events

• The ACO retains its independence concerning the homologation of a GT2 car