Back to the roots …
the Blancpain Endurance Series is Unveiled

Three-hour races, with all the excitement of pit stops, driver changes, multiple classes and non-stop overtaking. The magical formula that made the FIA GT Championship such a success with teams, drivers and the media alike is coming back… 2011 will see the rebirth of the endurance format for GT cars with the brand-new Blancpain Endurance Series.

The SRO-promoted FIA GT1 World Championship has proved to be a great success in its inaugural season. With growing audiences, and a round in China in 2011, its focus will be increasingly global in future years. As for the FIA GT3 European Championship, it will be entering its sixth season in 2011. With new cars from major manufacturers such as Ferrari and Mercedes, the Championship is growing in professionalism year after year, and will make an extra step in its European reach with an event in Russia in 2011.

“Although we are convinced that the one-hour sprint format is ideal for the growing mediatisation of our professional series, we are aware that we have left some of our most staunch supporters behind,” Stephane Ratel commented. “Some of the gentlemen drivers, and a number of smaller teams, are looking for a new challenge. We believe that the Blancpain Endurance Series will provide them with exactly the right environment.”

Reserved for GT3 and GT4 cars, which have already made their mark in long-distance races, without having a specific arena to test their skills, the new series will be centred around GT racing’s showcase event, the Total 24 Hours of Spa. The remaining three-hour events will take place at high-powered Monza, in Italy, Spain’s newest circuit of Navarra, France’s popular and classic Magny Cours, and the home of British racing, Silverstone.

With the three-driver line-up so popular with teams and gentlemen drivers, no driver classification in the top class, and a three-step qualifying system inspired from Formula One, the new series aims to give teams drivers everything they want in a friendly yet professional atmosphere. With live TV production and the excitement guaranteed from large grids in long races on beautiful circuits, the public and media should also be spoiled !

Promoted by SRO Motorsports Group, the company which was behind the rebirth of GT racing and without whom the GT3 and GT4 categories would not exist, the Blancpain Endurance Series will be an international GT series run under the aegis of the Royal Automobile Club of Belgium, and recognised by the FIA. It takes its name from a much-valued partnership with the prestigious Swiss watch manufacturer Blancpain.

Stephane Ratel said: “After just a year away from the long-distance format, we are returning to our roots. This three-hour format was the backbone of our racing for a decade, and has proved its popularity and worth. With some of the most beautiful, powerful and challenging circuits in Europe on the calendar, no clashes with national or European GT3 Championships, and categories to suit all drivers and teams, I am certain that this new series has a real chance of success. We are aiming at grids of thirty or so cars, and are certain that many teams competing with us in either the FIA GT3 European Championship or the GT4 European Cup will appreciate the opportunity to stretch their legs on longer races, amortising their costs and pleasing their drivers.”

2011 Blancpain Endurance Series

17th April: Monza - Italy

22nd May: Navarra - Spain

30th July: Total 24 Hours of Spa - Belgium

27th August: Magny Cours - France

9th October: Silverstone - Great Britain

The Blancpain Endurance Series

Weekend format for the three-hour races:

Two free practice sessions of one hour each

Three qualifying sessions of 15 minutes each, one for each of the three drivers. The grid will be determined by the fastest time set by each car but there is freedom of choice for the starting driver

A three-hour race

For the 24 Hours of Spa, the format similar to that in 2010 will remain in place

The three hour events will include two mandatory pit stops with tyre and driver change in order to avoid issues of fuel consumption.

Mandatory participation of three drivers per car in all categories for the three-hour races, except for the Pro-Am and Citation Cup, in which the organiser will be allowed to accept two driver teams on condition that the professional driver (in Pro-Am) or Silver (in Citation Cup) does not run more than 80 minutes.

The changing of the four tyres is mandatory at each of the two pit stops so as not to disadvantage heavier or front-engined cars which generally wear out more rubber.

The technical regulations will be those from the FIA GT3 European Championship and from the GT4 European Cup. For the older models with national homologations, the files will be studied on a case by case basis.

FIA-style points scale 25 – 18 – 15 – 12 – 10 - 8 – 6 – 4 – 2 – 1 will be used for all categories. Points will be doubled for the 24 Hours of Spa, with one quarter at six hours, one quarter at 12 hours and half after 24 hours.

The series is open to teams of one, two or three cars. Only the points scored by the team’s best placed car will count in the team’s points standings.

The choice of manufacturer will be free, but development tyres will not be permitted. Only customer tyres, regularly sold and registered by the RACB/SRO before the first race of the season will be accepted.

Three categories in GT3 will be accepted, each of them with their own podium:

1)- GT3 Pro Cup

Drivers: Three drivers (3) at all races, including the 24 Hours of Spa. No driver categorisation.

Cars: GT3 cars in the latest FIA Homologation Specs and FIA Balance of Performance.

2)- GT3 Pro-Am Cup

Drivers: Three drivers (3) at the three-hour races (3H), and four (4) at the 24 Hours of Spa.
The driver categorisation will be applied as follows:
*Platinum or Gold / Bronze / Bronze, for Spa + Gold or Platinum
*Silver / Silver / Bronze, for Spa + Silver

Cars: GT3 cars in the latest FIA Homologation Specs and FIA Balance of Performance.

3)- GT3 Citation Cup

Drivers: Three drivers (3) for the three-hour races (3), and up to four (4) at the 24 Hours of Spa.
The driver categorisation will be applied as follows:
*Silver / Bronze / Bronze, for Spa + Silver

Cars: GT3 cars with older specifications and Models in conformity with the latest FIA or National homologation files. Balance of performance RACB/SRO

Two categories will be accepted in GT4, each with their own podium:

1)- GT4 Cup
Drivers: Three drivers (3) for the three-hours race (3H), and four (4) at the 24 Hours of Spa.
The driver categorisation will be applied as follows
*Platinum or Gold / Bronze / Bronze, for Spa + Gold or Platinum
*Silver / Silver / Bronze, for Spa + Silver

Cars: GT4 cars in the latest RACB/SRO Homologation Specs and RACB/SRO Balance of Performance.

2)- Supersport Cup (not eligible at the 24hrs of Spa)

Drivers: Three drivers (3) for the three hours races (3H).
The driver categorisation will be applied as follows:
*Silver / Bronze / Bronze

Cars: Supersport cars in the latest RACB/SRO Homologation Specs and RACB/SRO Balance of Performance.

ENDS