Ratel Rules Out Fifth Round for IGTC Next Year

SRO Motorsports Group founder and CEO Stephane Ratel has ruled out the likelihood of a fifth round on next year’s Intercontinental GT Challenge powered by Pirelli schedule as the series seeks to rebuild manufacturer numbers.

The recent unveiling of the 2024 IGTC calendar included the option for a fifth round to take place, but that idea has been dropped after consultation with competitors.

Ratel told Sportscar365 that the options for an extra race were all events that are known to the IGTC: the Kyalami 9 Hour, Suzuka 10 Hour and Gulf 12 Hours.

The decision not to pursue a fifth round brings Ratel’s global GT3 series back to the same number of events as in 2022. Kyalami returned this season but that and the Gulf 12 Hours have dropped off the 2024 schedule, while the Nürburgring 24 has joined.

Next year’s campaign will also include the Bathurst 12 Hour, the CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa and the Indianapolis 8 Hour.

The IGTC’s aim is to connect the major endurance races where a GT3 car can win overall, and for manufacturers to nominate locally-run cars to score points.

BMW, Mercedes-AMG and Porsche are the only brands currently signed up.

“With the feedback we got, I think it’s better to stay at four,” said Ratel.

“We walk before we can run. We will rebuild around four events, but the intention is definitely to come back to Suzuka one day and even to Kyalami.

“I hope we will have the five continents back. But we need more manufacturers involved and we need to grow the grid again.”

Formula 1’s recent confirmation of next year’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on December 6-8 clashes with the proposed date for the Gulf 12 Hours, which is also held at Yas Marina Circuit.

Sportscar365 understands that Gulf 12H organizer Driving Force Events has been working to secure an alternative date for next year, although Ratel suggested that the four-round approach remains in place.

“I’ve seen the calendar shortly after Spa, with Formula 1 which is on the date of the Gulf 12 Hours next year,” he said.

“So I don’t know where he [Andrea Ficarelli, Driving Force Events managing director] is going to put it.

“I think it’s a bit complicated. And anyway, if we want more manufacturers, we have to make it easier. Four rounds is good enough for that.

“The only one which would have been easy — if I could say easy — is Suzuka because there are many teams in Asia and Japan. So we can arrange it with our local teams.

“For Kyalami and Gulf, you have to take European teams there. Unfortunately, Suzuka is not ready to do it again next year. If it was easy, I would have put Suzuka on the calendar.”

Ratel also revealed that he considered bringing the IGTC to the end-of-year Macau Grand Prix, but settled on keeping the series at endurance races only.

“One that could have been was Macau, but they have the FIA GT World Cup, and making an FIA event as part of a non-FIA series is complicated,” he acknowledged.

“It’s a one-driver sprint event, when IGTC is an endurance series. It works because it’s in Asia and it’s a big GT3 race, but I think it’s better to keep it endurance.

“The Suzuka 10 Hours would be the perfect fit. And the Kyalami 9 Hours, we remember how good it was in 2019 and it could have been great again. There was really popular enthusiasm for it.

“I hope we can go back there one day, but let’s rebuild before we can dream.”