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Call for GT/prototype parity at Le Mans

Europe's foremost sportscar racing administrator is pressing for parity rules allowing the new-generation 2004 GT racecars to compete overall at Le Mans, in the event that no new manufacturers come forward to contest the LMP900 category. Stephane Ratel, who is now involved in the new Le Mans Endurance Series as well as the FIA Sportscar and FIA GT championships, says that a new structure will be needed if interest in the sports-prototype divisions does not pick up next year

Ratel told AUTOSPORT: "The primary motivation of the Automobile Club de l'Ouest in creating the LMES is to provide a platform on which manufacturers want to compete. We will know in 2004 if we have succeeded in this attempt.

"If another major car maker, Porsche or Nissan for example, decides to race against Audi, then it is likely that the present format of open-cockpit sportscar racing will continue unchanged. But if no new manufacturers are coming, I see a different future for this kind of car.

"I will be personally pushing for the ACO and the FIA to sit around a table to come up with regulations to equalise the new GT 'supercars', such as next year's Maserati, and the open-top sportscars. This would give both kinds of car the opportunity to win overall at Le Mans and in the new 1000km races."

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