Frequently Asked Questions - FIA GT Championship

What tyres are used ? Michelin and Pirelli tyres are used by the teams. The number of tyres which can be used during the event is limited.

What is the FIA GT Championship ?

The FIA GT Championship is an endurance motorsport championship, run by the Fédération International de l'Automobile (FIA) and promoted by the Stephane Ratel Organisation (SRO).  The series is reserved for Grand Touring sportscars, developed for the road and adapted for the circuit.  The cars take part in races between two and twenty-four hours in duration, with two or three drivers sharing the car.  The FIA GT Championship started in 1997, and is in its eleventh season in 2007.

What sort of cars can take part ? The cars are entered in two main categories, GT1 and GT2.  Two more categories can take part, G2 and G3, but do not score points.  GT1 cars are more powerful, between 600 and 650 bhp,  and can be more heavily developed.  GT2 cars, around 450 bhp, have to remain closer to the production models. The cars have to be homologated by the FIA before they can take part.  Cars from national GT Championships, which have not been homologated by the FIA, can take part in the G2 category, with permission from the GT Bureau.  Cars from the GT3 category can take part in the G3 class.

Which cars are likely to take part in 2006 ? The main cars running in 2007 are the:   Aston Martin DBR9, Corvette C5 and C6, Lamborghini Murciélago and Maserati MC 12 in GT1.  In GT2,  the new Porsche 997 GT3 RSR and the Ferrari 430 GT2 are the main contenders.  Performances are balanced in GT1 to ensure close competition.

What is performance balancing ?

This is a system by which cars of differing architecture and power can compete on an even playing field.  The GT Bureau examines the performance of each competing car closely, and makes adjustments through additional weight, restrictors or aerodynamics.

Who can take part in the FIA GT Championship ? The FIA GT Championship is reserved for private teams, independent of the manufacturers.  However, since 2005, there is a Manufacturers' Cup, with  the top four cars from each manufacturer scoring points. A team can enter a maximum of two cars, which both score Team points. Drivers must hold at least a 'B' license. Cars with non-professional drivers can additionally compete in the Citation Cup, a separate classification within GT1.

What tyres are used ?

Michelin and Pirelli tyres are used by the teams. The number of tyres which can be used during the event is limited.

How does the scoring work ? Teams, Drivers and Manufacturers score points, according to the standard scale of 10 - 8  - 6 - 5 - 4 - 3 - 2 -1.   Each driver in the car scores points.  A team can have up to two cars, both of which can score points towards the Teams title.

How do the handicap weights work ? Cars which finish in the top three in either the GT1 or GT2 classes are awarded penalty weight.  In GT1, they get 40kg for a first-place finish, 30 kg for second and 20 kg for third.  In GT2, these weights are halved, so they get 20 kg, 15 kg and 10 kg respectively.   Cars which finish from 4th and under progressively lose any penalty weight they might have accumulated.  A 4th place finish loses 20 kg in GT1, with a loss of 30 kg in fifth place, and 40 kg are removed for sixth place onwards.  The maximum weight that can be carried is 100 kg in GT1, or 50 kg in GT2.  If a car carrying the maximum wins a race, they are given a 'supermaximum' of 150 kg in GT1 or 75 kg in GT2.
Penalty weight is also awarded for cars which may miss a race, or for race-by race entries.

How is the race event organised ?

The standard events take place over two days. The cars take part in two eighty-minute free practice sessions on the first day. Qualifying takes the form of two 15-minute sessions, one for GT2 cars, one for GT1, which sets the grid.  The second day sees a 30-minute warm-up and then the two-hour race. There is a rolling start.  During the race, each car must make two pit-stops with driver change, while each driver must complete a stint of 35 minutes. The 24 Hours of Spa has a different schedule, with three qualifying sessions including night qualifying

What about longer races ?

The Total 24 Hours of Spa is one the highlights of the season. This legendary race has been part of the Championship since 2001. .

How can I get tickets ? What will I see ? The website for each circuit is included on our calendar page - details will be given by the circuit on ticket availability and prices. 
The FIA GT Championship has an open paddock policy, which means you can get close to teams, cars and drivers.  Driver autograph sessions are also organised, and pit walks are available with VIP packages.

Any other races ?

The FIA GT Championship has a full package of support events at each round, including the FIA GT3 European Championship at four events, the Lloyds TSB Insurance British F3 International Series at three rounds and many more national events, including the National GT3 series promoted by SRO : the ADAC GT Masters in Oschersleben, the FFSA GT Championship at Nogaro and the Belcar series in Zolder.

I can't get to the track - how can I follow the race ? As well as extensive live and highlights coverage around the world, there will be live timing available on the website, during the race weekends, as well as full results, reports and photo galleries.  Video clips will be available for download afterwards. 

How can I apply for accreditation ?

Media Accreditation for each event closes two weeks before the event.  Application forms and criteria can be found in the Downloads section.  Fill in the form, and return it with the stated documents to the Media Delegate.  In accordance with the general FIA regulations, we give accreditation to publications and agencies, not individuals.

A look back to ...1997 ... the FIA GT Championship is born ... Mercedes, BMW McLaren, Porsche, Panoz, Lotus in GT1 ... Porsche, Marcos and Chrysler Viper in GT2 ... Europe, Japan and USA...  Bernd Schneider (GER ) and AMG Mercedes ? Mercedes CLK win in GT1, Justin Bell (GBR ) and Viper Team Oreca ? Chrysler Viper GTS-R in GT2

A look back to ...1998 ... Mercedes vs Porsche in GT1, Porsche vs Chrysler Viper in GT2 ...  Europe, Japan and the USA ... Ricardo Zonta (BRA) and Klaus Ludwig GER)  win the GT1 crown for AMG Mercedes ? Mercedes LM ... Olivier Beretta (MON) and Pedro Lamy (POR) win in GT2 with Chrysler Viper Team Oreca and the Chrysler Viper GTS-R

A look back to ...1999 ... GT2 renamed GT ...  First race in Zhuhai, rounds at Homestead and Watkins Glen ... Chrysler Viper vs Porsche vs Lister vs Marcos ...Olivier Beretta wins his second title, this time alongside Karl Wendlinger (AUT), driving for Chrysler Viper Team Oreca in a Chrysler Viper GTS-R

A look back to ... 2000

... N-GT joins GT.... The Ferrari 550 Maranello makes its debut appearance ... Lister vs Chrysler Viper is the big fight in GT, with Porsche dominating N-GT ... Julian Bailey (GBR) and Jamie Campbell-Walter (GBR) win the title for Lister Storm Racing in a Lister Storm ...Christophe Bouchut (FRA) and Patrice Goueslard (FRA) win the inaugural N-GT title for Larbre Compétition Chéreau in a Porsche 996 GT3-R

A look back to ... 2001 ... the Eurosport Super Racing Weekend series is born, with the FIA GT Championship racing  alongside the FIA European Touring Car Championship ... the Proximus 24 Hours of Spa is run as a GT race ... Christophe Bouchut (FRA) and Jean-Philippe Belloc (FRA) win the GT title for Larbre Competition Chéreau in a Chrysler Viper GTS-R ... The team also wins at Spa ... David Terrien (FRA) and Christian Pescatori (ITA) win the N-GT title for JMB Racing, in a Ferrari 360 Modena, after a year-long battle with RWS Motorsport

A look back to ... 2002 ... renamed the LG Super Racing Weekend series ... The GT category sees strong competition between the Ferrari 550 Maranello, the Lister Storm and the Chrysler Viper.  But Christophe Bouchut (FRA) won through to take his third title, with the Larbre Competition Chéreau Chrysler Viper GTS-R.  Stéphane Ortelli was victorious in N-GT, in a Freisinger Motorsport Porsche 996 GT3-RS.  Freisinger and Larbre won their classes in the Proximus 24 Hours of Spa

A look back to ... 2003

... the season started with a record-breaking run of five consecutive wins for rookies Matteo Bobbi (ITA) and Thomas Biagi (ITA), in a BMS Scuderia Italia Ferrari 550 Maranello. They went on to take the title, with BMS winning the Teams crown.  In N-GT,  Stéphane Ortelli (FRA) and Marc Lieb (GER) won the title, partly thanks to a historic overall win in the Proximus 24 Hours of Spa....Freisinger Motorsport won their second consecutive N-GT title, with the Porsche 996 GT3-RS...the Saleen S7 joined the Championship ... the Ferrari 575 M Maranello made its debut, winning its first race in Estoril for JMB Racing

A look back to ... 2004

... the Lamborghini Murciélago and the Maserati MC 12 joined the Championship, while the Nissan 350Z made its first appearances in N-GT, bringing the total number of makes represented up to seven.... BMS Scuderia Italia continued to shine, with Fabrizio Gollin and Luca Cappellari taking the title in the Ferrari 550 Maranello... Vitaphone Racing gave the Saleen S7 its first win... and two more... JMB Racing won with the Ferrari 575 M...the Championship headed back overseas, with successful races in Zhuhai and Dubai ... Sascha Maassen and Lucas Luhr took the N-GT title in the final round, while Freisinger Yukos Motorsport won the Teams title....Lilian Bryner became the first woman to win a major international 24-hour race in the Proximus 24 Hours of Spa .....

A look back to ... 2005

...the Corvette C5 and Aston Martin DBR9 are the latest beauties to join the ranks, while the Spyker and Mosler make their GT2 and G2 debuts.  With four wins for the Maserati MC 12, three for the Ferrari 550 Maranello and two each for the Corvette and the Aston Martin, the Championship enjoys its closest season to date, with seven drivers fighting for the title at the final round in Bahrain.  Larbre?s Gabriele Gardel (SUI) is victorious, while Vitaphone Racing Team (GER) take the Teams title.  In GT3, British team GruppeM dominate proceedings, winning all eleven races, while their all-German duo Marc Lieb and Mike Rockenfeller claim the Drivers? title. Vitaphone?s trio of Bartels, Scheider and van de Poele give Maserati the win at Spa, as well as the inagural Manufacturers? Cup, won in GT2 by Porsche.