British GT Reveals 2017 Schedule

The British GT Championship will visit the same seven venues next year, albeit with a slightly-altered order, as the 2017 schedule was announced on Wednesday.

Between April and September, the series will visit the same six British circuits, in addition to a round at Spa-Francorchamps.

The season-opener returns to its traditional home at Cheshire’s Oulton Park, as Brands Hatch hosted the opening round this season.

This will take place on April 15 and 17, with the two one-hour races on UK Bank Holiday Monday.

Rockingham will remain as the second event on the calendar at the end of April with a single two-hour race, before the series heads to Snetterton earlier this year.

The track located in Norfolk hosted British GT in August this year, but for 2017 it has been moved to May 27-28, for two races at one-hour each.

The series’ main event, the Silverstone 500, is scheduled for June 10-11, for three hours around the Northamptonshire circuit.

The season finishes with three two-hour rounds. The Spa-Francorchamps date is set at July 7-8, before Brands Hatch on August 5-6.

Donington Park will continue to host the season finale, on September 23-24.

The calendar has been planned to avoid race clashes with the Blancpain GT Series and Blancpain GT Series Asia, in an attempt to attract European teams.

The GT4 European Series will not join the British GT grids next year, as it did at Silverstone and Spa, although individual entries will be welcomed.

Series support will still include the BRDC British Formula 3 Championship, while other series including the Mini Challenge JCW will also be on the schedules.

Further announcements involving the series in 2017 are expected in the coming weeks, after this weekend’s final round.

“British GT’s 2017 schedule builds on a tried and tested formula, starting with Oulton Park returning to its traditional Easter weekend,” said Stephane Ratel, SRO founder and CEO.

“The championship always receives interest from other venues but the combination of Britain’s six best circuits plus Spa – a driver favorite and one of the world’s most challenging – is always difficult to overlook.

“It will be interesting to see what impact, if any, loading the first half of the season with two one-hour races per weekend has on the championship.”

2017 British GT Championship Schedule:

April 15/17 – Oulton Park (2x one-hour)
April 29-30 – Rockingham (1x two-hour)
May 27-28 – Snetterton (2x one-hour)
June 10-11 – Silverstone (1x three-hour)
July 7-8 – Spa-Francorchamps (1x two-hour)
August 5-6 – Brands Hatch (1x two-hour)
September 23-24 – Donington Park (1x two-hour)