Brands Split on IGTC’s Potential Impact on N24 Outcome

Figures from the three nominated Intercontinental GT Challenge manufacturers are split on the notion that the prospect of scoring championship points at the Nürburgring 24 will have an impact on how the 52nd edition of the event will play out.

For the first time in its history, the N24 will serve as a round of the globe-trotting GT3 series, having joined the calendar alongside the Bathurst 12 Hour, CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa and Indianapolis 8 Hour.

Three brands in the SP9 field are nominated to score points, with Porsche leading the manufacturers’ standings ahead of Mercedes-AMG and BMW.

Laurens Vanthoor, Matt Campbell and Ayhancan Guven, meanwhile lead the drivers’ standings after their Bathurst win and are all part of the grid for the N24.

Vanthoor, who qualified second after losing out to BMW M Team RMG driver Max Hesse during Friday’s Top Qualifying, told Sportscar365 that the added factor of the IGTC “doesn’t really change anything” for him.

“I mean, with all respect, I would love to win the championship, because [with] Bathurst, Nürburgring and Spa, I think it’s a really cool championship,” the Belgian said.

“But if I personally had to choose between IGTC or 24 Hours of Nürburgring, I’d pick this race.

“Same goes for me in WEC versus Le Mans. I like the 24 hour races, so for me personally it doesn’t really change anything.”

Vanthoor’s comments were echoed by BMW M Motorsport director Andreas Roos, who while noting that the N24’s addition to the IGTC calendar is a “win-win” for both parties, believes the prestige of the race victory will be a bigger focus for competitors.

“I think at the end the Nürburgring 24 hour race is a unique event and at the end the victory is what is counting,” Roos said.

“I don’t expect that somebody is driving here for the championship points and to have in mind to position [themselves] good for the championship.

“If you can win the race, you want to win the race. This is where everybody will go.

“At the end I have to say I’m super happy, I was also a lot in discussion last year with Stephane Ratel about this because I always said to him we should include this in the IGTC calendar.

“I think it’s superb because at the end we have the greatest and biggest GT3 races which are combined in the championship.

“So at the end, for me it’s a win-win situation for the Nürburgring 24 hour race but also for the IGTC.

“It’s still the classic 24 hour race here at the Nürburgring but I think it’s just nice to see that it’s now part of the championship.”

In contrast, Mercedes-AMG driver Maro Engel believes that the prospect of scoring IGTC points will ‘for sure play a role’ in the race, as it makes it more important to get through the full 24 hours unscathed.

“Well for us, we definitely have to make sure we bring the car through the 24 hours and score as many points as possible,” Engel told Sportscar365.

“For some of our teams, it was a good start to the IGTC season in Bathurst. A little bit less for me and my crew but nonetheless it’s important to score those points and take the points which is new.

“I think in the past pretty much the main focus was trying to win this race and now there’s obviously an added element which for sure will play a role.”

Additionally, the German believes that there is now an even greater emphasis on winning the race, considering the points available.

“As so often with the big 24 hour races, everyone only remembers who wins the race. So that was really the focus in trying to put ourselves in the position to win the race.

“Obviously as a brand we’ve had a few podiums the last few years, several podiums.

“But the real focus was trying to win this race and in that sense now with it being part of the IGTC, I think it will play a role because obviously it’s key to take the points at the end of 24 hours.”

Porsche Handed Weight Increase on Race Day Morning

A pre-race Balance of Performance change has seen the Porsche 911 GT3 R received a 10 kg weight increase.

As shown on an updated BoP table issued on Saturday morning, the six Porsches in the SP9 category have seen their minimum weight increased from 1320 to 1330 kg.

It has also been given a smaller air restrictor diameter at 36 mm, which was set at 37.5 mm previously.

Additionally, the car’s rear wing angle has been changed from 8.1 to 7.1 degrees.