CERTINA joins GT4 European Series

Effective immediately, the Swiss watch brand CERTINA is now Official Partner of the GT4 European Series, comprising its Northern Cup and Southern Cup branches.
CERTINA has a long-standing commitment to motorsport, with ties to the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC), the Sauber F1 Team and MotoGP riders, at different times throughout company history. The exciting world of motor racing has forever been a match for the high quality, innovation and precision that also drives exceptional watchmaking.
Starting at the Grand Prix de Pau, and for the entire 2017 season, a CERTINA banner will appear on the windscreen of each racing car competing in the GT4 European Series (both Northern and Southern Cups). As part of the new agreement, four CERTINA watches will be awarded to the pole sitters in the two categories each weekend, on the podiums after both races. Watches will also be presented to the GT4 European Series champions at the end of the season.
Adrian Bosshard, President of CERTINA, is very pleased with the new partnership. “Our brand has been closely associated with motor racing for decades now. In much the same way as great watchmaking, motorsport is the perfect blend of innovation, precision, with a healthy dose of excitement and glamour. The public for the GT4 European Series is right on the mark for us – an energetic, sport-loving crowd that is fascinated by technology, progress and outstanding watches. The GT4 European Series will mean added visibility for our brand, in a racing environment which is truly a second home for CERTINA.”
Today’s announcement of the new partnership with the GT4 European Series and CERTINA, shows a positive involvement with the SRO-sanctioned series.
Stephane Ratel, Founder and CEO of SRO Motorsports Group, added: “We are delighted to be welcoming CERTINA amongst our official partners on the GT4 European Series. SRO Motorsports Group and CERTINA share a common DNA and the same passion we have for motor racing, engineering excellence, as well as advanced technology and development.”

_____
CERTINA – Official Partner
Reliability, precision and innovation have underlined the Certina philosophy since 1888, year of the foundation of the company by the Kurth Brothers. In 1959, Certina developed its famous Double Security DS Concept, to bring to its watches exceptional sturdiness and outstanding water resistance. Certina has a long-standing commitment to sport, and motor racing in particular. It has stood next to a long list of great sport stars such as Mike Doohan, Sete Gibernau, Thomas Lüthi and Robert Kubica, and was for more than ten years Official Partner of the Sauber F1 Team. Since 2013, the brand has been Official Timekeeper of the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) and, since 2015, Partner of the Citroën Total Abu Dhabi World Rally Team. A subsidiary of the world’s largest international watchmaking organisation The Swatch Group, Certina is currently world leader in the sport-watch segment priced between CHF 300.- and CHF 2,000. , and is represented in more than 60 countries.
_____
SRO Motorsports Group – The architect of modern GT Racing
Since 1995 SRO has specialised in the promotion and organisation of motorsport series. Inextricably linked with GT racing’s revival, SRO predominantly promotes categories that adhere to its successful GT3 and GT4 regulations. Indeed, these rules – a common framework allowing manufacturers, teams and drivers to compete equally with one another – has helped establish SRO as the global leader in customer GT racing.
Today, SRO’s influence and organisation can be seen around the world. SRO’s flagship is the European-based Blancpain GT Series, which combines the Sprint and Endurance Cups, of which the iconic Total 24 Hours is the highlight.
The same regulations and Balance of Performance parameters governing the Blancpain GT Series have been adopted in the United States by the Pirelli World Challenge (in which SRO is also a major shareholder), while the inaugural Blancpain GT Series Asia begins in 2017. In addition, the world’s best GT races from all four corners of the globe are brought together under the umbrella of the Intercontinental GT Challenge, and amateur drivers are also fully catered for via the Blancpain GT Sports Club.
Likewise, select European race weekends feature the GT1 Ultracar Sports Club where the world’s fastest and most technologically advanced limited-production road and track-only cars gather to demonstrate their awesome capabilities.
SRO is also strong domestically. The multi-class British GT Championship, which it has presided over since 2005, pairs GT3 with GT4 machinery, while France’s national series – now known as the GT4 European Series Southern Cup / FFSA French GT championship – was recently added to its existing Northern Cup counterpart.
SRO also operates the SRO Race Centre by MMC – a high-level technical centre at Paul Ricard Circuit in southern France – and Curbstone Track Events, which provides ultimate track driving opportunities on world renowned circuits.
SRO Motorsports Group is chaired by company founder and CEO Stephane Ratel and has offices in London, Paris and Liège.
Photos : © Chris Schotanus/SRO Motorsports Group and CERTINA