Time to shake up the rules in Blancpain GT

SRO saw not only the GT3 class but also the Blancpain GT Series grow unlike any other thing in the motorsport world, but the principles in what GT3 was created were fading away a little due to interest in the class, so the organization led by Stephane Ratel decided to take some measures against an exaggerated professionalism in terms of drivers.

GT3 was created with focus on amateur drivers and customer racing, but the reality is that Pro Cup entry numbers raised to an extent that they would be half of the numbers of grid, if not near two thirds of the grid, and with a pro grid that outnumbers full grid in many other GT3-based series around the globe, the parties involved in the Pro-Am Cup or in the Am Cup would be reluctant to join the competition, and with strong manufacturer presence, once they leave the class the sustainability is put at risk, leading to what happened to the GT1 class in the early 2010s.

The first measure is to limit the number of Pro Cup entries to 26 cars, which should mean around two cars for every manufacturer present in GT3, with the only exception in the calendar being the 24 Hours of Spa. Right below that, the Silver Cup, which consists of full Silver-rated lineups, will extend its presence from the Blancpain GT Sprint Cup to the whole Blancpain GT Series.

The Pro-Am Cup will be more geared towards Bronze-rated drivers, as two of them should be with a pro driver to form a lineup, with two driver lineups also accepted. The Am Cup is the only class without changes as three bronze-rated drivers are mandatory.

The Blancpain GT Sprint Cup will have a huge overhaul in its format, as both races will have the same weight in terms of points, with a qualifying session for each race, practically aligning it with the Blancpain GT Series Asia, which uses the same format but with a single qualifying session. For the Endurance Cup, the combinated time of the lineup will used, like what's done in the FIA WEC now, with the only exception being the 24 Hours of Spa.

PHOTO: Blancpain GT Series