British GT Planning Split Grids, Releases 2018 Schedule

Photo: British GT

The British GT Championship is set to feature split grids for most rounds next season, with GT3 and GT4 cars expected to run separate races at most events, along with the addition of GT Cup entries.

The exact race formats are yet to be confirmed but it is expected that all rounds apart from Silverstone and Spa will have split races. GT4 cars will run on their own while GT Cup entries will join the GT3 field.

“We’re a national championship and British GT has been at capacity for six or seven years,” championship manager Benjamin Franassovici told Sportscar365.

“When you go to Snetterton or Donington, capacity is limited and you have interest. GT4 is growing and GT3 is still at a level that we want.

“We want to increase it and we also want to influence GT3 cars to come to the grid. You’ve got big numbers, put them together at Spa and Silverstone, and then when it’s not possible, you have separate grids.”

While the season-opener at Oulton Park is brought forward two weeks to the weekend of March 31 – April 2, British GT now has a headline event at Spa, no longer supporting the 25 Hours VW Fun Cup.

This will solve an issue this year that resulted in the series having fewer garages than necessary, forcing a format change to two 60-minute races instead of the planned two-hour event.

“This year, the promoter went back on his word and reduced the number of garages,” Franassovici explained. “When you join an existing event like the 25 hours, their main focus is the 25 hours.

“We also enjoy that part of it but you get the logistics and the painful bits – garages and access. Now we’re going to be part of our own event, we’ll have our own garages, we’ll have our own space.

“We’ll be running the show. It’s what we want and we’ll make it spot on.”

An increase in GT3 entries is expected for next season, up from the average of ten so far this year, although Sportscar365 understands additional GT3 entries are expected for the remaining races this season.

GT3 cars will run alongside GT Cup entries in 2018, with cars from Porsche and Lamborghini expected in a revival of the category.

“With the growth of GT4 and our intention to keep GT3, and some GTC cars that wish to be part of that category, we’re potentially looking at having separate grids at the same events for GT4 and GT3 plus GTC cars,” Franassovici added.

2018 British GT Championship Schedule:

March 31 – April 2 – Oulton Park
April 28-29 – Rockingham
May 26-27 – Snetterton
June 9-10 – Silverstone
July 21-22 – Spa
Aug. 4-5 – Brands Hatch
Sept. 22-23 – Donington Park

Jake Kilshaw

Jake Kilshaw is a UK-based journalist. He is a graduate of Politics and International Relations.