SRO Introduces Variable BoP System

SRO has tweaked its Balance of Performance system for the 2014 season, as the Stéphane Ratel-led organization is looking to eliminate any discontent with teams and drivers.

With different circuits suiting different cars, some GT3 models simply didn’t had a fighting chance at certain races in the past, something which led to high tensions when championships were at stake.

“For this season we have introduced what we call a variable BoP, that changes for different types of tracks,” Ratel told Sportscar365.com.

“There was quite some controversy with Audi at Spa last year. If you use only one BoP and for example compare Nogaro and Spa, they are two different worlds where the cars simply don’t behave in the same way.”

All the different venues on the Sprint and Endurance Series calendars have therefore been divided into three categories according to their contrasting characteristics: high speed, high downforce and high traction.

“We needed to adapt a little bit to have all the cars more together at the different tracks, that was the very concept of GT3,” continued Ratel.

It is understood that the changes made to the cars between the contrasting types of circuits may as well be very small.

For example, the Mercedes SLS AMG GT3 that won at Nogaro with HTP Motorsport last weekend, raced in the exact same configuration as it did in Monza, where it finished fifth.

The Audi R8 LMS ultra on the other hand got a better ride height and a bigger restrictor at Monza than at Nogaro, where it traditionally struggled with the high speed nature of the track in the past.

“I think that we now have enough knowledge and development in the concept to move to this next step to have three types of circuits. It should make the racing even more exciting,” Ratel added.