2014 Blancpain Sprint Series

[FstrthnU]

The SRO has now extended their partnership with Blancpain to the FIA GT Series, renaming it to the Blancpain Sprint Series.

• April 18th – 21st : Coupes de Pâques, Nogaro, France
• May 17th – 18th : Brands Hatch, Great Britain
• July 4th – 6th : Zandvoort , the Netherlands
• August 22nd – 24th : Slovakia Ring, Slovakia*
• September 5th – 7th : Algarve, Portugal
• September 27th – 28th or October 4th – 5th : Navarra , Spain
• November 1st – 2nd : Baku World Challenge, Azerbaijan**

Same format, two 1-hour races.

100,000 Euro prize at each European race and 175,000 Euro prize for Baku World Challenge.

http://www.fiagtseries.com/news/deta...-sprint-series

Blancpain GT Series title awarded to teams and drivers who compete in both the Sprint and Endurance Series (though titles also awarded separately for those series). 100,000 Euro prize. Teams who enter both series have their entry fees greatly reduced.

[urdragon]

I miss some F1 venues at the Sprint series and Spa 24h invitations for the last year Sprint Series winners, but seems for the TV is better a full small venue than a legendary one empty, not so sure.

Good to see costs lowered for regaining the Portuguese Round again, even considering maybe a 2nd flyaway event would be cooler (Tough costier).

[Speed-King]

Spa 24h invitations

Huh? When did Spa become an invitational event?

[NaBUru38]

When over 70 entries attempt to enter?

[Speed-King]

Originally Posted by NaBUru38

When over 70 entries attempt to enter?

Wasn't that still on a come first, serve first basis? And even if it was an invitational, I doubt any team that was good enough to win the Sprint Series would have trouble getting in. I really don't see the attraction in putting up Spa 24 entries as some kind of reward for other series.

[Richard117]

No Zolder

[Marcel ten Caat]

Originally Posted by Richard117

No Zolder

No reason to complain. Zandvoort in NL and even Brands Hatch is easy to visit - prefer that circuit over Zolder ;-)

[Richard117]

Originally Posted by Marcel ten Caat

No reason to complain. Zandvoort in NL and even Brands Hatch is easy to visit - prefer that circuit over Zolder ;-)

Zandvoort is probably holiday season for me and as spectator I prefer the atmosphere at Zolder.
I've never been at Brands Hatch so can't compare that.

So yes, i've reasons to complain

[urdragon]

Originally Posted by Speed-King

I really don't see the attraction in putting up Spa 24 entries as some kind of reward for other series.

Just wait the GT unification (class) taking too long (+3years) and the GT3 market multiplying to 150% of worldwide GT3 sales and Spa will be smaller to enter requests than Le Mans to GTE requests. Just add the new manufacturers PRO entries (And gentleman for the Bentley maybe) coming in this two remaining years.

[Matt]

Baku is going to be a mess this year.

[urdragon]

Moved

[Beetle]

First time I've said it about any GT sprint series in a while, but it actually looks promising. I wish they would have switched Slovakiaring to a more interesting Eastern European circuit like Hungaroring or perhaps even Brno. I miss that place.

[Purist]

In eastern Europe, I'd take Brno, Most, or Rijeka; I've never been much of a fan of the Hungaroring.

I could take or leave Zolder, but I don't live over there, and Belgium has Spa.

I wish they would swap out Nogaro for Dijon.

[Speed-King]

Zolder seems to be in big trouble these days... their 24h race is a mess, no significant international events and even losing some local series as customers.
I am kind of worried about what's next. Only been once, but it really is a brilliant little circuit for the spectators, and I'd love to go back one day, but it has to be an event that makes it justifiable to do the 6hr drive...

As for the French race... the Nogaro Easter date has pretty much a guaranteed crowd, so it's quite reasonable that they'd stick to that.

[Beetle]

On the subject of tracks, I'm a bit surprised that there's not at least one flyaway race. Blancpain Endurance has been extremely successful and there's no reason Blancpain Sprint won't be the same. Additionally, they may, at this point, want to spread their name and their company to other regions. In a geopolitical sense, it's not a bad idea. Financially, it would be tough on teams.

I would really like to see a return to Interlagos.

[kober]

Originally Posted by Beetle

On the subject of tracks, I'm a bit surprised that there's not at least one flyaway race.

Baku is the flyaway race - I can guarantee that no team will try to drive there.

[Beetle]

Originally Posted by kober

Baku is the flyaway race - I can guarantee that no team will try to drive there.

You bring up a good point. I've always thought of it as a European country but I suppose it could be classified as an Asia or Middle Eastern country.

[Rodger Davies]

There's every reason it might not be the same; it's the same concept that's been tried, under various names, for the last two years. Last year was the first one where they reigned back ambition for a world championship and I think it sort of worked. Next year, the series loses it's main selling point for 2013, namely Sebastian Loeb, so it makes sense to try and keep what they had I think. There's no point in pretending it's more than it is, not just yet.

Also, as you say, BES has been successful, but also consistent, a few rounds in Europe. I agree with you that it would be nice to see it at some great circuits, but I like that the series visits some interesting locations that other series don't (pity to see Zolder go, for me, always enjoyed watching that one).

[Purist]

I know, I need to look at a map, but I do recall that the F1 teams did drive to the Istanbul races.

[kober]

Fortunately, the organizer provides air transportation for the Baku World Challenge - last year they flew from Frankfurt (Hahn).

[Marcel ten Caat]

All cars (FIA GT Series and Historic F1) flown to Azerbaijan on Silk Way Airlines flight to Baku.

The distance from London to Baku is roughly 4,000km, which is 1,000km more than London to Istanbul. It is right between Western Asia and Eastern Europe, bordering Iran, Armenia, Russia and Georgia. So much for useless facts ;-)

[Beetle]

Baku was a success last year and will probably be this year, just because it's a headliner event. But humor me --- how did event organizers come up with the idea to hold a street circuit race in the middle of an Eurasian city out in the middle of nowhere? Money?

[cmk]

Money. It's also a sort of nice (if rather odd) nouveau riche post-Soviet waterfront city, which is a sensible locale to hold a street race in so late in the season. But yes, basically money. Azerbaijan, and Baku in particular, is bathing in oil money these days. It's doing a fairly good job working up to being baby Dubai these days, though with its own unique blend of 'questionable' issues.

[Beetle]

Originally Posted by cmk

Money. It's also a sort of nice (if rather odd) nouveau riche post-Soviet waterfront city, which is a sensible locale to hold a street race in so late in the season. But yes, basically money. Azerbaijan, and Baku in particular, is bathing in oil money these days. It's doing a fairly good job working up to being baby Dubai these days, though with its own unique blend of 'questionable' issues.

The entire city of Sumgait, just a short drive north of Baku, is essentially one massive industrial zone mainly devoted to oil energy.

Baku... strange place indeed...

[FstrthnU]

https://www.dailysportscar.com/?p=18550

Bhai Tech Racing thinking of switching from International GT Open to BSS