PWC, Blancpain Announce Global Partnership

Pirelli World Challenge and the Blancpain GT Series have announced a partnership where there will be cross-collaboration and promotion at several races in 2015 and 2016.

As previously reported by Sportscar365, the top three in World Challenge from this year will go to the Baku World Challenge, the season finale for the Blancpain Sprint Series.

Meanwhile, the Blancpain GT Series will come stateside at next year’s race in Circuit of the Americas in March. WC Vision president and CEO Scott Bove announced both series will be in action on March 4-6, 2016.

This will mark the first time both championships will race at the same track on the same weekend.

“The Pirelli World Challenge and Blancpain GT Series share similar desires to expand their product outside their existing markets,” Bove said.

“Pirelli is the common denominator being the official tire for both series. PWC has developed a strong worldwide presence with international drivers, teams and manufacturers competing in our series.

“It’s now time to take our brand of racing to the global stage as a true World Challenge.”

Bove also announced during Friday’s press conference that the GT class will run either at Misano or Vallelunga in late 2016, while also noting that the series will invite several Blancpain teams to its St. Petersburg round next year.

Stephane Ratel, founder and CEO of SRO Motorsports Group, has targeted a U.S. round for several years.

“Getting an American circuit on the Blancpain GT Series’ calendar has always been one of my pet projects,” Ratel said. “The best way to do that is to work together with people who know the ins and outs of racing in the United States.

“The organizers of the Pirelli World Challenge and the people at SRO Motorsports Group share the same philosophy on GT racing: it should be competitive, spectacular and entertaining for the fans.

“It is no use for each of us to do our own thing in our own corner, when sharing our knowledge could produce far better results.”