- New racing and non-competitive opportunities available for high-powered GT2 machinery
- KTM X-Bow set for autumn arrival
- 2021 GT2 Sports Club Europe set for 10 races over five weekends
Progress continues to be made towards the full realisation of SRO Motorsport Group's GT2 project, with increased racing opportunities for the new breed of machinery generating fresh interest in the category.
A pair of GT2 cars were on-track at Spa-Francorchamps circuit last week, giving customers the chance to sample high-powered machinery from Audi (R8 LMS GT2) and Porsche (911 GT2 RS Clubsport).
The German duo is soon to be joined by a third GT2 model. Austrian manufacturer KTM has confirmed that its new X-Bow GT2 will begin deliveries in autumn 2020, putting the 600bhp machine firmly on schedule to compete next season.
The concept made its first competitive appearance in July 2019 when the Porsche 911 GT2 RS Clubsport tackled a pair of support races at the Total 24 Hours of Spa. Audi's challenger also turned heads when it debuted in the GT Sports Club Europe finale at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya (28-29 September 2019).
With motorsport resuming across Europe, on-track opportunities for GT2 machinery continue to expand. The cars are already eligible to race in the Pro-Am and GT Sports Club classes of GT World Challenge Europe Powered by AWS Sprint Cup, placing the new breed of equipment alongside the continent's premier GT sprint championship. Four events will run over the next three months, beginning at Misano (7-9 August) before travelling to Magny-Cours (11-13 September), Zandvoort (25-27 September) and Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya (9-11 October).
For those wishing to experience the sensations of GT2 machinery without tackling a race event, the Clubsport Curbstone Challenge provides a non-competitive track day series at elite European circuits. Four meetings are scheduled for autumn 2020 at Spa-Francorchamps (14 September), Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya (12-13 October), Nurburgring GP (27-28 October), and Circuit Paul Ricard (16-17 November).
The high-spec French venue will also act as host when Porsche Motorsport organises a GT2 Supersportscar Weekend on 2-4 October. Running as a support event to Championnat de France FFSA GT, the contest will be restricted to Porsche 911 GT2 RS Clubsport and 935 machines. Competitors will enjoy more than three hours of track time, as well as access to Porsche technical support and hospitality at the circuit.
While several options are already available for GT2 machinery, there is more to come during the years ahead. In 2021, GT2 Sports Club Europe will run as a standalone series, with its calendar consisting of five events. Drivers can elect to compete in pairs of Pro-Am or Am-Am, while it will also be possible for an Am driver to run solo. Two one-hour races will be staged at each event, with podiums for the best Overall, Titanium (over 50) and Iron (over 60) finishers.
The Audi R8 LMS GT2, Porsche 911 GT2 RS Clubsport and KTM X-Bow GT2 will all be eligible to compete in the re-launched championship, providing the best opportunity yet to test GT2 machinery in a competitive environment. Further information on the expanding GT2 project will be revealed during the coming months.
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Contact
GT2 Sports Club: Valérie Guillon, valerie@sro-motorsports.com
Clubsport Curbstone Challenge : Ludovic Colman, lcolman@curbstone.net
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