The SRO Group has announced that the Blancpain GT Series is to collaborate with the American-based Pirelli World Challenge (PWC) championship from 2016 onwards.
Planned changes include a move towards a universal balance of performance regulation, which will be enforced across both championships. Tire manufacturer Pirelli is already the supplier to both series, and a move towards a specification tire for both championships has also been mooted. The SRO Group states that this will make it easier for teams in both series to ‘compete in one or more races of the other championship’.
Other revisions include inviting the top three cars from the 2015 PWC to participate in the final round of the Blancpain GT Series. The three teams will be given the same logistical and financial support granted to the European teams racing in the event.
The following year will see the top three finishers in the Blancpain GT Series’ repeating this, and being invited to compete in a PWC round. The round in question will be announced in due course, but will carry the same logistical and financial benefits offered to other PWC teams.
Further plans for the two championships include holding a Blancpain GT Series round during a Pirelli World Challenge event in the United States, while the first European round of the Pirelli World Challenge would be held as part of a Blancpain GT Series meeting.
“The Pirelli World Challenge and the Blancpain GT Series share similar desires to expand their product outside their existing markets,” explained Scott Bove, PWC vision president and CEO. “Pirelli is the common denominator being the official tire supplier for both series. Both the Series have developed a strong world-wide presence with international drivers, teams and manufacturers competing. It’s now time to take our brand of racing to a global stage as a true World Challenge.”
“Getting an American circuit on the Blancpain GT Series’ calendar has always been one of my pet projects,” added Stephane Ratel, CEO and Founder SRO Motorsports Group. “The best way to do that is to work together with people who know the ins and outs of racing in the United States. The organisers of the Pirelli World Challenge and the people at SRO Motorsports Group share the same philosophy on GT racing: it should be competitive, spectacular and entertaining for the fans. It is no use for each of us to do our own thing in our own corner, when sharing our knowledge could produce far better results.”
