SRO America Adding ‘GT2+’ Cars into SRO3 Class for 2027

Photo: Andrew Miterko/SRO

SRO America is planning to add upstaged GT2-spec machinery into the top SR03 class of GT America powered by AWS next year following a trial run during the last weekend’s season-ending weekend at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

The Maserati MC20 GT2 made its series debut at Indianapolis, running in ‘GT2+’ configuration, which saw Peter Dempsey sweep the weekend in the Risi Competizione-prepared machine.

Technical changes to the car, including running at an unrestricted 700 horsepower along with additional aero allowances, were made to help balance the car to FIA GT3-spec machinery in the same class.

While GT2 cars had previously run in its own category in the series, most recently with Lawrence Tomlinson’s Ginetta G56 GT2 car at three events this season, combing the cars with current and out-of-homologation GT3 machinery is now the preferred route according to SRO Motorsports Group founder and CEO Stephane Ratel.

“We tried with GT2 and a couple of cars came but they never captured interest because they run as a second class,” Ratel told Sportscar365.

“SRO3 is not FIA GT3. It’s something else, in which we accept GT3 cars, we accept older, no longer FIA-homologated or slightly modified GT3 cars.

“The idea was to say, ‘OK, if a GT2 manufacturer, whether it’s Maserati or Ginetta, can boost a bit their car, and to make it put more downforce and to make it competitive in SRO3, do it.

“I welcome that, so that GT2 is not behind GT3 but they can race with it and we can have cars that are more affordable that can do well.”

Ratel said the option of having GT2s being able to fight for overall wins, and the SRO3 title, is appealing due to the fact that cars are typically more cost-effective to both purchase and race.

“If someone wants to race a [GT3-spec] Ferrari or Porsche, they can,” he said. “But if we can have a Ginetta and other people are more tempted by these cars because they’re less expensive, we should have it [in SRO3].

“We’re doing better in GT World Challenge America but the GT America [SRO3 class] is still 11, 12 cars. It’s not where we want to be.

“At the end of the day, if you’re not where you want to be, you need to change the recipe.”

In addition to the integration of GT2 machinery, the SRO3 class, as well as GT4, will be split up into two different categories net year, in an Overall class for SRO derogated Bronze* drivers, former series champions, plus “developing Silver-rated drivers seeking additional race experience and track time.”

The Bronze Cup class, meanwhile, will be reserved exclusively for traditional Bronze drivers, with no SRO derogations permitted.

When asked if there will definitely not be a dedicated GT2 class next year, Ratel said it’s unlikely unless a significant influx of cars arrive into the series.

“It’s good that they compete on the same level,” he added. “If at the end you have 12 GT3 and 12 GT2+ [cars] that balance, you make an overall podium and you make a GT3 underneath.

“But for the moment, let’s get these cars in. Let’s grow the grid.”

Growing Interest for “Small Constructors” Wanting to Build GT2 Cars

Ratel, meanwhile, revealed that SRO is currently in talks with three other low-volume car manufacturers that are looking to build and/or adapt existing GT machinery into GT2 cars.

In addition to the Ginetta, which doesn’t have a road-going counterpart, the Ligier JS2 RS is set to make its debut in this weekend’s GT2 European Series season finale in Portimao with High Class Racing.

“We’ve had a lot of requests from small constructors that don’t have the volume to go to GT3 and that are asking, ‘Where can we go?'” said Ratel.

“If you can’t go to GT3 and you have a car which is quite powerful, you can go to GT2, which is open to small constructors.

“That, I think is part of the growth. We’ve had Ginetta. We’re going to have Ligier, we have others. We have quite a few requests from small constructors. I think we should see some more.

“We’re not letting GT2 go because as I keep on repeating, with the price of GT3, there’s definitely room for a class which is more cost-effective.”

John Dagys

John Dagys is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Sportscar365. Dagys spent eight years as a motorsports correspondent for FOXSports.com and SPEED Channel and has contributed to numerous other motorsports publications worldwide. Contact John