Super GT/DTM talks progress
Last week the governing body of Super GT and the promotor of DTM met together for the fifth time in Tokyo to discuss integration of regulations. Among those who joined them were representatives from six manufacturers. It turned out to be a productive session.
“GTA, ITR, and participating automakers actively exchanged opinions,” said GTA chairman Masaaki Bandoh said at the post meeting presser. “And we agreed and signed the agreements to deploy the Class One regulation to both series from 2019 season and to crate and issue the Class One regulation by September, 2017.
“We also confirmed to integrate the technical regulations of both series as much as possible while respecting the difference of the race formats in the course of deploying the Class One regulation and that one of the objectives of commonly using the Class One regulation is to realize the World Final, an opportunity for the automakers/teams of Japan and Germany to run together.
“Also, in addition to the common parts counting over sixty items currently, we will consider standardizing uprights as well as aerodynamics parts that are only standardized in terms of drawings to increase the number of common parts.”
“I am confident that by having this meeting ending in success the collaboration between SUPER GT and DTM will accelerate as we proceed.”
2016 GT China Championship Launched
A new GT series in Asia has been launched, the GT China Championship. The two-class series will see GT3 and GTC cars compete together in a four round calendar.
The season schedule includes visits to China’s major circuits; Beijing Shanghai, Chengdu and Zhuhai with the opening round to be held next month at Goldenport Motor Park.
Pirelli has been announced as the official tyre supplier for the series, providing P Zero DH and DHC compounds.
While there is no official entry list available yet, the championship is slated to include customer entries from Ferrari, Audi, Lamborghini, Porsche and Nissan Nismo.
New-look Audi R8 LMS Cup set for debut
The new Audi R8 LMS will celebrate its Cup debut next weekend at Shanghai, where the fifth season of the Audi R8 LMS Cup kicks off on May 21 and 22.
“The Audi R8 LMS Cup provides our customers with the opportunity to compete in one of the most prestigious and competitive GT championships in Asia, to race wheel-to-wheel with fellow privateers as well as high-profile professional drivers,” said Rene Koneberg, Director of Audi Sport customer racing Asia. “Our championship is the ideal showcase in Asia for the Audi R8 LMS, and the calendar includes a fascinating variety of race tracks and destinations.”
Back to defend his 2015 title is Malaysia’s Alex Yoong of Audi TEDA Racing Team. Having missed out on last year’s championship by just a single point, leading Chinese driver Cheng Congfu of FAW-VW Audi Racing Team will be looking to clinch the title this time around.
For the first time teams Phoenix Racing and KCMG are joining Absolute Racing as service teams for the Cup’s race cars this year. This season, the series will feature twelve races on six weekends in China, Malaysia, Korea, Taiwan and, for the first time, in Thailand. The finale of the Audi R8 LMS Cup will be held jointly with the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) at Shanghai.
