Ratel: GT1 will thrive in new format
GT1 promoter Stephane Ratel is confident that the format of the new World Championship guarantees a healthy future for GT racing
The new GT1 series supersedes the FIA GT Championship this year, and features shorter races and a single-class field - with GT2 now racing in a separate European championship.
Ratel, whose Stephane Ratel Organisation group has promoted GT series since the mid-1990s, believes the changes will make GT1 attractive to a much wider audience.
"GT racing will see some major changes for the better in 2010," he said. "We have shaped the new FIA GT1 World Championship with the aim of making GT racing more fan and media friendly.
"Before, the racing consisted of long-distance racing, a mix of GT-spec cars in the same race, teams competing with a different number of cars - it was all very confusing to follow.
"The GT1 championship will run one-hour races, 12 independent teams with two cars each in the same livery. Only Formula 1 has achieved this simple two-car team set-up in a world motorsport series."
He is delighted that the FIA approved GT1's world championship status, and is confident that World GT1 will soon be regarded with the same prestige as fellow FIA world series F1, the World Rally Championship and the World Touring Car Championship.
"We now have a clear and marketable product for the fans and media to understand," said Ratel. "SRO is supported in this venture by reputable commercial and technical partners including global TV partnerships and I have all the confidence the new GT1 championship will be a huge global success.
"The championship will be organically grown and its growth will rely on our own resources which we have developed over the past 15 years in going sportscar racing.
"A key factor for the long-term health of GT racing is not to become dependent on direct manufacturer involvement. We have seen the risks of this in the past in GT racing and more recently in Formula 1. We will learn from this.
"It takes time for any sports series to become well established but GT racing will take a major step forward in becoming one of the major world motorsport championships in 2010."
Lamborghini, Ford, Aston Martin, Maserati, Corvette and Nissan have all given permission for GT1 teams to run their cars in the 2010 series, with a pair of two-car teams representing each manufacturer.
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