Strong interest in 2016 Competition102 GT4 European Series

The countdown to the first round of the Competition102 GT4 European Series has started. As part of the SRO Motorsports Group, the European championship for GT4 vehicles confirms new competitors joining the series and strengthening the already great variety of registered field of cars. At least 23 entries should take part in the opening round at Monza during the weekend of 22-24 April.

The proved format of PRO / AM, AM and AM / AM drivers is confirmed for the 2016 season, providing an accessible entry level for competitors. The series already confirmed its title sponsor Competition102, official tyre supplier Pirelli, lubricant sponsor Ravenol and the six-round calendar including four Formula 1 race tracks and two historic circuits. For the first time teams and drivers will challenge the street course in Pau and compete in two endurance races at Silverstone and Spa-Francorchamps.

The Competition102 GT4 European Series joins the British GT Championship during the three-hour race in the UK and the two-hour race in Belgium. As the grids for the endurance races are expected to be full, early entrants are secured of a spot during all rounds.

Last year’s champion and Dutch-based V8-Racing will again enter two Chevrolets Camaro GT4 to defend their titles, but will also face tough competition from their home country as Racing Team Holland by Ekris Motorsport enters two thoroughly developed Ekris M4 GT4 vehicles.

Reiter Engineering has launched a unique programme called ‘Reiter Young Stars’ providing talented drivers and engineers a playground to develop themselves. Both the female and male champion of this programme receive a GT3 seat in the 2017 Blancpain GT Series Sprint Cup.

“They should be introduced to GT racing and have more opportunities to use their skills than merely optimizing tyre pressures,” emphasised Hans Reiter, team principal of Reiter Engineering.

The renowned firm has chosen to field eight KTMs X-BOW GT4 in the series, a successful vehicle that has been developed in cooperation with KTM Sportcar GmbH. It took the honours of securing the AM drivers’ title in 2015 and was runner-up in the teams’ classification. All drivers will challenge competitors in the overall standings this season.

Scuderia Villorba Corse has momentarily registered multiple GT4-spec Maseratis GranTurismo MC. “We have followed the development of the GT4 category very closely and we believe that our decision will prove right in achieving good results in the future,” said team principal Raimondo Amadio.

In addition to that, the grid should see as many as ten different vehicles like Sofia Car Motorsport with Sin Cars’ Sin R1 GT4, Porsche Cayman 981 SP run by PROsport Performance, a further developed Chevron GT4, a BMW M3 GT4 by Allied Racing and newcomers Swiss Team with a Maserati GranTurismo MC GT4 and Street Art Racing participates with the Aston Martin Vantage GT4. There is also a great possibility to see the brand new Porsche Cayman Clubsport GT4 appearing too.

Max Braams, Competition102 GT4 European Series Coordinator said: “We’re excited to see a strong commitment from existing teams as well as new participants. As promised, being part of the SRO Motorsports Group will ensure the growth of the championship with a great variety of cars and an excellent six-round calendar in Europe. I’m also very pleased that Reiter Engineering has chosen our series to test their up and coming talented drivers and engineers. It’s a testament to our strong commitment and competitiveness in motorsports. We hardly can’t wait for the start of the season.”

SRO Motorsports Group, architect of modern GT Racing

SRO Motorsports Group was founded by Stephane Ratel and has specialised in the promotion, support and organisation of many national and international motorsport series since 1995.

In 2016, SRO Motorsports Group will promote several championships and series, such as the Blancpain GT Series, including the iconic Total 24 hours of Spa, the British GT Championship, the Blancpain Sports Club with the GT Sports Club and the Ultracar Sports Club, the GT4 European Series and the Intercontinental GT Challenge.

SRO Motorsports Group runs also the SRO Race Centre by MMC, a high-level technical centre at the Paul Ricard Circuit in the south of France.

SRO has offices in London, Paris and Liège.

Pirelli, official tyre supplier

Pirelli is a tyre manufacturer and world leader in the automotive industry. It has an exclusive relationship with over 50 racing series worldwide, including Formula One.

Pirelli has a long and illustrious history in endurance racing, and has also claimed a huge variety of class wins in GT racing all over the world. The design of the new Pirelli GT tyres meets the needs of GT racing while maintaining the performance characteristics that endurance drivers have appreciated in the past. The slick tyres used for GT racing are branded Zero: just like the slicks that have become a central feature of Formula One. The name P Zero is used in the highest categories of motorsport such as GT racing.

Competition102, unique fuel for maximum performance

Competition102 is premium petrol with an octane number of 102. The unique high octane number of 102 (RON 102) and MON number of at least 90 ensures optimal performances. Competition102 is suitable for all petrol-powered vehicles: from classic (Formula 1) cars and normal passenger vehicles to cross motorcycles and high performance racing cars. Competition102 fuel is exclusively produced, stored and distributed by Salland Olie Maatschappij B.V. in the Netherlands. It’s available at over 60 petrol stations nationwide and is sold in 60-litre barrels.