RE: Pushing the Boundaries
Monday 14th April 2003
Pushing the Boundaries
Do the new rash of cars being prepared stretch the concept of a 'GT' car a little far?
Discussion
I seem to remember that this is what GT racing used to be about. None of those cars are slow - just more familiar (not to mention an awful lot cheaper in some cases). My own Dallara replica is based on a car that competed in the european GT series back in the late 70s and there is no way I would compare it to any of the top-end modern GTs. Doesn't stop it being a GT car though - even if was far from exclusive at the time.
Stop being such snobs and enjoy the racing instead!
Stop being such snobs and enjoy the racing instead!
It seems to me that the problem is one of perception, we have been used to seeing "Supercar" racing and have come to accept that this is what GT racing is all about.
As Hansgerd has pointed out, on another thread on the same subject, the Belcar championship in Belgium is full of the wierd and wonderful, along with the more exotic and commonplace. This has given full grids and some great racing.
While the Elise and Clio looked totally off the pace at Donington, maybe a grid with 10 or 20 similar cars would liven up an otherwise dull GT race.
Maybe we should give it a chance. The chances of a grid full of full-blown GT's this year looks remote.
As Hansgerd has pointed out, on another thread on the same subject, the Belcar championship in Belgium is full of the wierd and wonderful, along with the more exotic and commonplace. This has given full grids and some great racing.
While the Elise and Clio looked totally off the pace at Donington, maybe a grid with 10 or 20 similar cars would liven up an otherwise dull GT race.
Maybe we should give it a chance. The chances of a grid full of full-blown GT's this year looks remote.
Simply put it boils down to cost.
If they had not introduced GT Cup, the field would have been pittyful and lacked the means to increase the size of the field over the season - as in all the new prospective entrants will be GT Cup cars. For the purist this may seem lack sacrilage, but for GT's to survive the organisers need to play the long game and encourage these smaller teams to run + retain the live and TV audience.
With true commercial sponsorship interest at a low, I can only hope that as the economy improves the Cup teams can progress to running GT cars so long as they can attract the suitable sponsors to bridge the evergrowing cost of running GT teams.
If they had not introduced GT Cup, the field would have been pittyful and lacked the means to increase the size of the field over the season - as in all the new prospective entrants will be GT Cup cars. For the purist this may seem lack sacrilage, but for GT's to survive the organisers need to play the long game and encourage these smaller teams to run + retain the live and TV audience.
With true commercial sponsorship interest at a low, I can only hope that as the economy improves the Cup teams can progress to running GT cars so long as they can attract the suitable sponsors to bridge the evergrowing cost of running GT teams.
John said
I will not be spending good money to watch this now depleted, half hearted series that masquerades as GT.
The organisers should be ashamed.
John
last year the Saleens where long gone and the only race was GTO, and at Donington there was a 3 car race which was decided on the last lap after some frantic action for 75 minuts, and there was racing all through the field or did I watch some thing elese, this championship needs the support of the teams and spectators,all the media was good and I am sure the championship will grow as time moves on as the touring cars have.
Bert Taylor
I will not be spending good money to watch this now depleted, half hearted series that masquerades as GT.
The organisers should be ashamed.
John
last year the Saleens where long gone and the only race was GTO, and at Donington there was a 3 car race which was decided on the last lap after some frantic action for 75 minuts, and there was racing all through the field or did I watch some thing elese, this championship needs the support of the teams and spectators,all the media was good and I am sure the championship will grow as time moves on as the touring cars have.
Bert Taylor
!!!! 
Quite right BT.
We, the paying public, have to keep putting in appearances or the GT class races, as we know and love them, will die a death - not because our money makes the difference but because lack of interest from us translates into lack of interest from sponsors.
I don't know quite what's gone wrong with the field this year (I've previously (and possibly erroneously) put it down to organisational problems) but the racing at Donnington was still great to watch. I was disappointed to discover there was no Storm or Speed 12 but the new Tuscans and a fire-breathing Jag helped me over that
.
Yes the Clio and the Elise looked out of their depth ... that's because they were () but a few more in their class on the grid will soon spice things up.
We, the paying public, have to keep putting in appearances or the GT class races, as we know and love them, will die a death - not because our money makes the difference but because lack of interest from us translates into lack of interest from sponsors.
I don't know quite what's gone wrong with the field this year (I've previously (and possibly erroneously) put it down to organisational problems) but the racing at Donnington was still great to watch. I was disappointed to discover there was no Storm or Speed 12 but the new Tuscans and a fire-breathing Jag helped me over that
. Yes the Clio and the Elise looked out of their depth ... that's because they were (
) but a few more in their class on the grid will soon spice things up.You should just give the new look series chance to thrive. Yes i do miss the salees, storms and the awesome speed 12. But with no money and better prospects and TV coverage in the FIA series there not going to stay here. I think if the TV coverage went back to being 1hour 11am-12pm on a sat/sun more sponsors would be attracted to the series.
For an example look at the BTCC, 2000 was the last year of the expensive super tourers, and 2001 in with the cheaper tourers, 2001 had a pittyful grid, 4 Astras, 2 peugots, the occasionaly running147 alfa! and a lexus. Now its grown and grwon, bigger fan base, but now with 3 works MG's, 3 works astras, 3 works hondas, 2 works Protons, 3 indipendant astras, 1 indie honda, and 2 indie 307's, a much better grid and beter racing.
I think the end of this year in GT's will be good, but 2004 will be a classic year.
For an example look at the BTCC, 2000 was the last year of the expensive super tourers, and 2001 in with the cheaper tourers, 2001 had a pittyful grid, 4 Astras, 2 peugots, the occasionaly running147 alfa! and a lexus. Now its grown and grwon, bigger fan base, but now with 3 works MG's, 3 works astras, 3 works hondas, 2 works Protons, 3 indipendant astras, 1 indie honda, and 2 indie 307's, a much better grid and beter racing.
I think the end of this year in GT's will be good, but 2004 will be a classic year.
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