International GT Open 2008

[Subaru_WRX_STi]

what do you think about the new and booming International GT Open ?
isnt a real thread to both FIA GT and Le Mans Series ?

[AU N EGL]

"
Regulations

Each race consists of a field of grand touring-style cars broken into different classes based on power and weight. For 2006, two classes were used, known as GTA and GTB. GTA is equivalent to the GT2 class used in the FIA GT Championship, but it also allows non-homologated cars provide they obey the FIA GT2 technical regulations. Most of the field is made up of Ferrari F430 GTs and Porsche 911 GT3-RSRs. Non-homologated cars like the Mosler MT900R and the SEAT Cupra GT are also competitive.
The GTB class consists of cars usually from a manufacturer's one-make cup series, like the Ferrari F430 Challenge, the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup, and the Marcos Mantis. A GTS class was created to house the FIA GT3 class, consisting mainly of Dodge Viper Competition Coupes and Lamborghini Gallardo GT3s."
per Winki



Craftsman Turck series comes to mind for OLDER semi retired or Gentleman racers.




Threat? no Just more choices to race

[Marcel ten Caat]

So far it seems like teams that either have no budget or don't want to fight the factory teams go to GT Open.

For several teams/drivers it could be the best series to do before graduating to FIA GT/LMS.

So a threat? Not at the moment.

[Subaru_WRX_STi]

but the main problem, many FIA and LMS regulars moved there, the Scuderia Playtea Sarafree, will do GT Open this year so no more MC12 for them, GPC too is moving from LMS this series, little by little they are robbing teams from the main championships

[Speed-King]

LMS is oversubscribed and FIA GT isn't looking that bad either. So right now that's no problem.
Maybe when the European economies start going downhill as well, it might become a problem, as there might be too many series for not enough teams. But right now, European GT-racing looks great; with the exception of LMS-GT1.

[AU N EGL]

It can also come down to the series rules, which some teams may not like so they move to a differnt series. Or tech regs, which causes teams to move series. or saying you must race here or there ( Mid east or South America) could be a big turn off for smaller funded teams.

and of course Money. 1000KM enduro races take lots of money to run, vs the shorter 200 km races.

If there are lots of race series for the same car, that is a great. Choices that teams make were to race is good for the economy of race series.

If some one told me I HAVE to go race on a track I dont like and is a LONG ways away, I say "SHOW ME THE MONEY" ( start fees for travel expenses - which there is none)

[minimangler]

I don't see it as a threat at all- the only problem is it's Eurosport TV coverage, which is better (in theory) than LMS or GT.