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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