First Entries Confirmed for New-Look European Sports Club

The first entries into SRO Motorsports Group’s new-look GT Sports Club championship structure have been confirmed including a quartet of new KTM X-Bow GT2s.

The KTMs will compete in the GT2 European Series against entries from Audi and Porsche customers, while seven entries have also been signed up for the GT Rebellion Series which consists of three-hour endurance races for amateur driver pairings.

Both amateur-focused championships were introduced in October as the new format for GT Sports Club competition in Europe.

Having previously operated as a standalone series, GT Sports Club was incorporated into GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS Sprint Cup this year but did not attract any full-season entries.

SRO is hoping that GT Sports Club can rebound in 2020 under its new dual-series setup and amid a growing GT2 market which includes the KTM X-Bow GT2 and Lamborghini’s plans to introduce a modification kit for its Huracan Super Trofeo EVO single-make racer.

Austrian team True Racing is entering a total of four KTM X-Bows into the GT2 European Series with support from the car’s developer Reiter Engineering.

This secures the race debut of the KTM GT2, which was physically presented at this year’s Total 24 Hours of Spa following its initial reveal back in February.

The latest X-Bow racer weighs 1045 kg and is powered by a five-cylinder Audi engine producing around 600 hp.

“We have received numerous inquiries from customers, which are extremely motivated to get involved in an attractive racing series as a vehicle owner and, of course, as a driver,” said Reiter Engineering team principal Hans Reiter.

“We are very satisfied with being able to announce that we will have no fewer than four vehicles under the name True Racing powered by Reiter Engineering.

“This is the proof that Stephane Ratel and the SRO have recognized the wishes of numerous gentleman drivers for an attractive field of activity and that they have implemented it perfectly in the form of the GT2 European Series.”

Two-driver and single-driver crews are both allowed in GT2 Europe, which is staging pairs of 50-minute races at Monza, Hockenheim, Silverstone, Spa-Francorchamps and Paul Ricard during its inaugural season next year.

PK Carsport plans to field an Audi R8 LMS GT2 for the Belgian driver pairing of Bert Longin and Peter Guelinckx.

A Porsche 911 GT2 RS Clubsport has also been confirmed for Speed Factory Racing Team, which is running the car for solo Lithuanian competitor Rosteca Aurelios.

Italian squad Villorba Corse, which previously supported the Cetilar Racing LMP2 program, has also registered its involvement but without naming a car or driver lineup.

The team also has intentions of competing in the GT Rebellion Series which is staging three-hour races at Monza, Hockenheim, Silverstone and Paul Ricard next year.

GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS stalwart Rinaldi Racing is set to run three Ferraris in GT Rebellion.

Manuel Lauck and Christian Hook, who drove for the team in November’s GTWC Europe Endurance Cup Paul Ricard 1000km, will team up in a Rinaldi-run Ferrari 488 GT3.

Experienced GT racing amateur Pierre Ehret is set to pilot the German squad’s other 488, while Rinaldi has also registered a Ferrari 458 Italia GT3 with drivers to be announced.

Another GTWC Europe regular committed to the GT Rebellion Series is AKKA-ASP, which is bringing a pair of Mercedes-AMG GT3s to the grid.

The team that ran this year’s GTWC Europe overall champion Timur Boguslavskiy has not yet confirmed its driving squad.

According to SRO, Barwell Motorsport has also shown interest in fielding a Lamborghini Huracan GT3 Evo, which would add a third brand to the Rebellion grid if announced.

“There is always a certain degree of uncertainty when you launch a new series, let alone two series at the same time,” said SRO founder and CEO Ratel.

“However, the level of interest generated by both the GT Rebellion Series and the GT2 European Series makes us very confident of reaching our objective of 18 cars on each grid for the first year.

“The announcement of the first 14 entries is very encouraging and will undoubtedly convince other teams and drivers to confirm their intention to join this new SRO platform specifically designed for non-professional drivers while offering the level of service of the most professional GT series, is the right place to be.”

The Sports Club structure in Europe also includes the GT1 Sports Club which is a non-competitive track experience for ultra-high-performance road cars.

GT1 Sports Club events are scheduled to take place at Monza, Paul Ricard and Barcelona.

2021 GT Sports Club Schedule
Apr. 15-20 – Monza – GT2 Europe, GT Rebellion, GT1 Sports Club
May. 14-15 – Hockenheim – GT2 Europe, GT Rebellion
May. 31-Jun. 1 – Paul Ricard – GT1 Sports Club
Jun. 25-27 – Silverstone – GT2 Europe, GT Rebellion
Jul. 23-25 – Spa-Francorchamps – GT2 Europe
Oct. 1-3 – Paul Ricard – GT2 Europe, GT Rebellion
Oct. 11-12 – Barcelona – GT1 Sports Club