• FIA GT1 - Rattel unfolds plans for 2011: BMW Alpine entry?

    Stephane Ratel, the mastermind of the FIA GT1 World Championship, today announced the latest target markets for the series and the prospect of a new brand joining the starting grid in 2011.
    Discussions are advanced with promoters in North America and China to host a round of the series. That would take GT1 racing to five continents around the globe – Asia/Middle East, Europe, North America, Africa and South America.

    “Our main objective is to continue the globalization of the championship,” Ratel, the CEO of SRO (Stephane Ratel Organisation), said. “As a world championship we want to visit the world.
    "We want to bring the championship in to the biggest markets, the fastest expanding markets and all of the main markets such as the US. Next year we have worked as a priority to take GT1 to the North America, we have ongoing contacts in the US and in Canada.

    “Our second market, the fastest growing market on the planet is China. We have had extremely good contact with China and we are working hard to take the championship there.

    “We believe that most of our existing events will continue, but in the future it is no secret that we will reduce the number of events in Europe in order to have more events overseas.”
    Ratel also confirmed that there was a strong possibility of BMW joining the six existing brands of Aston Martin, Corvette, Ford, Lamborghini, Maserati and Nissan for the 2011 season.

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    Comments 8 Comments
    1. David Wright's Avatar
      I bet Simbin are hoping Porsche and Ferrari don't join GT1. BMW should be fine in terms of licensing.
    1. Dave Stephenson's Avatar
      Maybe it would be the other way around. It would depends on what the stipulations for entry to the series are, they may be contractually obliged to provide licensing for cars that compete in the championship.

      On the news, its pretty cool news. Ill be very interested to see what they can do.
    1. David O Gorman's Avatar
      oh please let something like that be in the contract
    1. Rhys Gardiner's Avatar
      Tracks in America and China... here's hoping they add an Australian round too in the next few years... *prays*
    1. Bram Hengeveld's Avatar
      Quote Originally Posted by David Wright View Post
      I bet Simbin are hoping Porsche and Ferrari don't join GT1. BMW should be fine in terms of licensing.
      Did SimBin actually announce the presence of GT1 cars in GTR3 David?
    1. David Wright's Avatar
      Quote Originally Posted by Bram Hengeveld View Post
      Did SimBin actually announce the presence of GT1 cars in GTR3 David?
      Simbin have only said they are going back to their roots, which of course is a licensed FIA GT sim. Stephane Ratel has said there will be a video game of the GT1 series, and RTR have said they have the GT1 license.
    1. Bram Hengeveld's Avatar
      RTR did not say they have the license of GT1. The statement said it allowed them to test with GT1, WTCC and WRC.

      As far as I know SimBin had a 10 year deal with the FIA GT, starting in 2003. But that serie went belly up with new FIA GT1 World Championship.
    1. David Wright's Avatar
      Quote Originally Posted by Bram Hengeveld View Post
      RTR did not say they have the license of GT1. The statement said it allowed them to test with GT1, WTCC and WRC.
      Actually they did say it, but I now read that they've corrected that statement