The high-power solution to counter a dying breed
SRO boss Stephane Ratel was worried about the disappearance of the amateur - or 'gentleman' - drivers who used to be the bedrock of GT3. So he invented a new category that brings back a familiar name from the past
If you're already confused by the myriad of categories - and different names for them - that make up the landscape of international GT racing, then be prepared for a new addition. The class is called GT2 and, no surprise, it's the brainchild of Stephane Ratel, the architect of GT3 and GT4, as well as the short-lived GT1 division of the early 2010s.
Ratel, the world's premier promoter of GT racing by some chalk, saw an opening - or rather a need - for a new class. His realisation was founded on the gradual disappearance of the amateur driver from many of the series he promotes around the world.
Share Or Save This Story
Gary Watkins has, for reasons best known to himself, devoted all his working life to covering sportscar racing. This season is his 33rd as a motorsport journalist, during which time he has reported on major long-distance events on four continents and approaching 80 24-hour races. He reckons a degree in political philosophy makes him well qualified for covering the sometimes Machiavellian world of international sportscars.
Gary, who also writes for Motor Sport, Autocourse, RACER and others, lives in Surbiton close to the former workshops of the Cooper Formula 1 team but spends more time on the road than at home for most of the year.
More from Gary Watkins
Drugovich joins Vector Sport for European Le Mans campaign
Penske rules out chance of Indianapolis hosting WEC in 2025
Lamborghini motorsport boss Sanna departs
Cadillac and Ganassi to split after 2024 WEC and IMSA seasons
Newgarden not set to race Penske Porsche at Le Mans
Cadillac has no plans for customer Hypercars in WEC or IMSA
WEC grid airfreighted back from Qatar to Europe to avoid Imola delay
How Porsche made the perfect start in WEC despite late drama in Qatar
Latest news
McLaren will “protect” Piastri from busy Melbourne F1 schedule
Alpine F1 driver Gasly becomes co-owner in French football club
The key MotoGP change that has gone under the radar in 2024
What the data tells us about Mercedes’ latest F1 problems
Autosport Plus
Why Rossi's serious approach to car racing in 2024 may create a dilemma
How a 128-day Mercedes miracle crushed its opposition
The F1 technology behind Mercedes’ Nordschleife record hypercar
How to get the best out of amateur racers
Subscribe and access Autosport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.