Fia gt1

[ioan]

Watched both races at Zolder this week end and have to say I was pleasantly surprised and impressed by the level of competition in this series. Watching the BMW Z4 fight tooth and nails to stay ahead of the charging SLS yesterday, as well as the Porsche fighting hard under extreme pressure from the Z4 today was seriously entertaining.

Anyone else following this series closely?

[F1boat]

Yes, I follow the series this year and I am pleasantly surprised by the results. After Nogaro, I expected that Audi will win again, but we had a highly entertaining and competitive races. I have to admit that it is very nice to see so many beautiful cars racing each other. For me it is difficult to choose which to support, but I agree with John Watson - to see Porsche, with their classic silhouette, winning against so many modern sports cars, is frankly awesome :)

[ioan]

:)

Audi made serious strategy mistakes with their tire choice.
Yesterday they stayed on wets when the track was drying, today they started on slicks when the rain was about to start falling. They were clueless.

I supported the BMW as they were the outside bet for this race and because I've been a long time supporter of Michael Bartels, however I was just as happy to see Mike Parisy take the win in the 911 Porsche, which has a classic silhouette but also impressive modern technology beneath it's skin.

[F1boat]

BMW did very well and I think that they will continue to do well, as the Vitaphone team is probably the best in GT racing, they won numerous championships with Maserati and Michael Bartels... I am also curious when Hexis will be able to unlock the potential of the McLarens.

[wedge]

Considering Ioan denigrated F1 I'm greatly surprised how he can rave about FIA GTs

I find FIA GTs far too contrived for my liking.

It's now basically glorified Touring Car racing just to make GT racing TV friendly.

Performance balancing and success ballast.

It started off with 4hr races, 3hrs, 2hrs and now twin 1hr races with mandatory pit window. Its not how GT/endurance racing should be IMO, even if Stephane Ratel has cornered the market in making GT racing appealing.

SRO has done a fantastic job with GT3s and GT4 but money in GTs is drying up. Watching some of the top drivers in the had its appeal but less so now. Saying that Portugal/Portimao will always be a must. A shame San Luis isn't on the calender this year as well. Another under rated circuit.

[ioan]

GT1 racing is not endurance racing.
Check the WEC and the Blancpain series for endurance racing, you'll be surprised to find the same cars though as in GT1.

[harvick#1]

these are not GT1 cars, they are GT3's. GT1's were the old Dodge Viper, Corvette C6R, and Aston Martin DBR9, Maserati MC-12, Saleen S7, etc... they were far faster than any GT2 car but the cost was unbearable and they killed the class.

GT2 is now the top GT class

[F1boat]

GT1 World is not endurance and thanks to God for that. I love the cars, but could not stand to watch 3 or 6 hours of racing. The new format is fun and entertaining, with iconic cars and lots of overtaking. About the ballast, as John Watson said, after all, these series are for fun and, as ioan pointed, there are some endurance racing with these cars :) So I am a huge fan of the current GT1 World series.
But I don't agree with ioan about F1.

[wedge]

GT1 racing is not endurance racing.
Check the WEC and the Blancpain series for endurance racing, you'll be surprised to find the same cars though as in GT1.

What you think of F1 today is what I think of FIA GTs today = gimmicks for people with a short attention span.


GT1 World is not endurance and thanks to God for that. I love the cars, but could not stand to watch 3 or 6 hours of racing. The new format is fun and entertaining, with iconic cars and lots of overtaking. About the ballast, as John Watson said, after all, these series are for fun and, as ioan pointed, there are some endurance racing with these cars :) So I am a huge fan of the current GT1 World series.
But I don't agree with ioan about F1.

If it's not endurance racing then what is it? Why the mandatory pit stops and driver changes for a 1hr race? Why on earth does it require a 'qualifying race'? After all it is supposed to be a top tier category, not a national series as is say SRO affilliated British GT championship which too has 1hr races.

IMHO it's glorified Touring Car racing. If you took away the pit stops its not that much different to WTCC.

[algarvissimo]

Hello from a new member,
living 26km from the race track of Portimao, I saw there will be FIA GT1 racing in June. I used to be F1 all the way till some years ago, but know not much about GT. Any recommendations on reading and understanding GT?
Thank you

[F1boat]

What you think of F1 today is what I think of FIA GTs today = gimmicks for people with a short attention span.
If it's not endurance racing then what is it? Why the mandatory pit stops and driver changes for a 1hr race? Why on earth does it require a 'qualifying race'? After all it is supposed to be a top tier category, not a national series as is say SRO affilliated British GT championship which too has 1hr races.
algarvissimo, I think that you'll have fun with this series. Try its site for more info:
FIA GT1 World Championship - Official Site (http://gt1world.com/)
IMHO it's glorified Touring Car racing. If you took away the pit stops its not that much different to WTCC.

Maybe endurance racing is fun live, but you know, people have to do many things and for me two short and action-packed races are better than one 6 hours race in which the winner laps the field (and you have a FIA championship for that - WEC). And BTW I love both F1, the current GT1 format and touring cars racing.

[wedge]

Maybe endurance racing is fun live, but you know, people have to do many things and for me two short and action-packed races are better than one 6 hours race in which the winner laps the field (and you have a FIA championship for that - WEC). And BTW I love both F1, the current GT1 format and touring cars racing.

IMSA - with GTP and ALMS they ran/run multi-distance races. It pleases the die hard fans and the general sports fan.

Wouldn't it be great if SRO could combine the FIA GTs with Blancpain? With the shorter races do away with the Qualifying Race and have two 1hr races on a Sunday though ideally back to 2hr race would be better.

[F1boat]

So you think that it'd be better if both 1hr races are in Sunday? I dunno, honestly. Now you have races in both days of the weekend...

[wedge]

Maybe endurance racing is fun live, but you know, people have to do many things and for me two short and action-packed races are better than one 6 hours race in which the winner laps the field (and you have a FIA championship for that - WEC).

I'm not hardcore. I don't think much of the LMPs post Peugeot's defect, I care more about GT class. I cannot see how you can tire of 6hrs, 12hrs and let alone 24hrs of GTs and consistant nail biting finishes in ALMS or LMS/WEC.


So you think that it'd be better if both 1hr races are in Sunday? I dunno, honestly. Now you have races in both days of the weekend...

Shows how ignorant I am!

[AndyRAC]

Ah, there is a saying of Charly Lamm's repeated ad nauseam by Hindy.." You either get Endurance racing, or you don't..."

[F1boat]

I'm not hardcore. I don't think much of the LMPs post Peugeot's defect, I care more about GT class. I cannot see how you can tire of 6hrs, 12hrs and let alone 24hrs of GTs and consistant nail biting finishes in ALMS or LMS/WEC.


Different people, different tastes... for me shorter, more action-packed races are better. And, again - there are many series with long races. What's the problem to have one with short ones?

[Vodka]

This series has been waining for many years now. .so dissapointed.

I have followed this series from it original format of both 3 and 6 hours races, then down to the 1 hour series.

I have no idea why ? but the death knell is tolling for the series I believe. Why. . ?

Simply, can someone point out to me where the UK Race is?

Silverstone? Donnington? In fact in hindsight Brands would of been a superb track over the last 10 year to run this series.

Where did Silverstones race go?

[Vodka]

and Media? is anyone trying to tell me that watching races on YOUTUBE at 360 resolution is bringing in the sponsors? where's the TV coverage?

[AndyRAC]

There is no FiA GT round in Britain this year - I would think it's the lack of crowds, media, etc
It doesn't help that the regs have changed, going from GT1 to GT's with a Balance of Performance.....so the entries have padded out.

I've hardly watched a round on TV, mostly on the series website and/or Dailymotion......not ideal I know - but that is how Ratel prefers it - he leaves it to the hosting track to promote their race.

[wedge]

What's the problem to have one with short ones?

That's what Touring Cars are for, IMO.


There is no FiA GT round in Britain this year - I would think it's the lack of crowds, media, etc
It doesn't help that the regs have changed, going from GT1 to GT's with a Balance of Performance.....so the entries have padded out.

I've hardly watched a round on TV, mostly on the series website and/or Dailymotion......not ideal I know - but that is how Ratel prefers it - he leaves it to the hosting track to promote their race.

It's a joke series now. They're running on Mickey Mouse circuits. I checked the calender the other and was absolutely gutted that San Luis nor Portimao feature - the only time I've ever taken FIA GTs seriously in recent years.

Perhaps it needs to merge with Blancpain series - 3hr Silverstone race this year. Factory cars raced at Bathurst 12hrs & N24, ACO adopting GT3 cars.

[F1boat]

That's what Touring Cars are for, IMO.


To be honest, I prefer touring cars to endurance racing... but GT1 is like touring cars with great looking cars... so maybe I am really uninformed and easily entertained, but I really like the series.
But to put it on dates which clash with F1 is beyond stupid, really. No way I will miss Monaco for FIA GT.

[ioan]

The McLarens blitzed the field today.

[ioan]

The number 1 McLaren walked it again, they looks set for winning it this season.

[F1boat]

From what I understand McLaren tested a lot on this track, so maybe it's a bit premature to say that they are guaranteed to win, but it was really an ominous performance. However, it seems that different tracks favor different cars and Mercedes look most consistent. Future races will give us more answers.

[ioan]

The McLaren has what others don't have, a CF tub that makes the chassis + engine combination very stiff, similar to an F1 car, and very light. Also they are running de-tuned engines, so they should have better reliability.
On tracks where cornering is important they will be above the rest.
Their weak point is top speed.

[F1boat]

I think that this weekend we will have more answers, if the McLaren win again, yes, they will be confirmed as the faster GT1 car now and their win wouldn't be down to testing experience. But I think that the Mercedes again will be very close, they are very reliable and consistent, and because they are wide, it is not easy to overtake them.
By the way, ioan, if you enjoyed FIA GT1, try FIA GT3 as well, it is almost as good.

[mclarenf1gtr]

There is GT3 coverage in Motorstv. Unfortunately, there is not coverage for GT1 :(

[mclarenf1gtr]

I was present as photographer (http://www.sportmotores.es) in Navarra, 2 weeks ago, as well as in the 2011 event and I think that maintaining a high level car championship in the current times is not easy and therefore we have to welcome and celebrate the efforts of SRO; however, when analysing the grids shown in the circuit of Navarra, one should rise some questions .

In previous years (2008-2010) the European GT3 championship was vibrant with stunning grids by both its diversity and number of participants. In Navarra only 11 GT3 and 17 "GT1" cars were present, giving a total of 38 participants (actually 37 if we discount the Audi # 32, which was involved in both).
Perhaps a mixed championship would generate more excitement . The "GT1", are yet faster than the GT3 and therefore, we would have much more intense situations due to traffic. Clearly, there is the problem of the outside Europe events, now so popular in the championships, but certainly with a little of imagination, one could find a solution.

I can also think that taking such a measure may overlap the Blancpain Endurance Series, where, effectively, there are several "GT1-GT3" cars, as well as, drivers from the "cousin" championships. In any case, even with the doubt about the wisdom of the decision about the structure of these championships, I can only congratulate the organizers and the people of Navarra circuit for the effort.

[F1boat]

The races in Slovakia were very interesting and the battle for the championship tightens. Not many cars, but great racing!

[wedge]

Ratel/SRO to step down at the end of the season.

Stephane Ratel's SRO group to step down as FIA GT1 World Championship - GT news - AUTOSPORT.com (http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/101270)

Good riddance. Never understood why Ratel was so keen on flogging a dead horse. GT3 is where its at, not GT1.

[F1boat]

I liked the series very much, I'd definetly miss it, but I guess that the Blancpain Endurance series will survive.

[MotorCrashed]

Can somebody help me? I dont understand something
I just now started watch these races, and I saw people switching in the middle of the race! is there 2 drivers on one car and is that mean that there is 2 champions? if its true there is another gt races with single driver for each car?
and does its necessary to start your career as a kart driver to get in those races? is this one of the conditions? because I saw that all the drivers started from karts since little age.
Thank you.