2014.11.16

GTA and SRO enhance partnership on BoP for FIA GT3 cars from next season

SRO Motor Sports Group (SRO), promoter of BLANCPAIN GT series, which boasts the highest popularity and recognition among the races where the FIA GT3 is used, and GTA Co., Ltd., which promotes SUPER GT series, have agreed to have SRO defining the values of balance of performance (BoP) that will be applied to the FIA GT3 vehicles competing in the GT300 class of SUPER GT series from 2015 season. Signing ceremony of the contract was held at Twin Ring Motegi where the final round of SUPER GT series was taking place.

In the GT300 class of SUPER GT series, there are JAF GT300 cars and FIA GT3 cars, and the battle between these different types of cars is one of the key elements of excitement in the series. BoP is adopted to balance the performance of both types of cars, and, from this season, tables defined for the BLANCPAIN ENDURANCE series promoted by SRO, which is a matrix consisted of the size of restrictor that limits the amount of intake air flow and the minimum weight of vehicle, are applied to the FIA GT3 cars. BoP for the JAF GT300 cars are defined by GTA in accordance with the table.

Through the agreement, the collaboration between both parties will be enhanced further in the direction where SRO will create a new BoP suitable to the characteristics of circuits where SUPER GT series are held from next season, against where the BoP for FIA GT3 cars applied this season had been consisted of three types of table that were created to suit the characteristics of the circuits where BLANCPAIN ENDURANCE series were held. Furthermore, GTA and SRO have agreed to deepen the collaboration between the two parties in other areas as well in addition to the enhancement of collaboration related to the BoP.

CEO Stephan Ratel and Technical Director (TD) Claude Surmont from SRO and Chairman Masaaki Bandoh and Senior Manager Naoki Hattori from GTA attended the signing ceremony. CEO Ratel, who had been to the Suzuka 1000km many times as a promoter and a driver when it was incorporated in the BPR Global GT series and FIA GT Championship in the past, made an opening address, “It is a pleasure to be back in Japan,” which created a friendly atmosphere for the ceremony to start. TD Surmont explained about the BoP process, in which tables are defined by having a driver actually driving a car at Paul Ricard Circuit in France with a number of participants from different manufacturers from various countries all get together at a test center built at the circuit by SRO. CEO Ratel emphasized in the press conference that a fair and accurate BoP will be supplied.

 

 

 

 

 

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