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| International GT Open | |
|---|---|
| Name | International GT Open |
| Category | Grand tourer sports car racing |
| Inaugural | 2006 |
| Constructors | Ferrari, Porsche, Mercedes-Benz, Aston Martin, Lamborghini, McLaren |
| Tyres | Michelin, Pirelli |
| Country/region | International |
| Champion driver | See Champions and Records |
| Champion team | See Champions and Records |
International GT Open The International GT Open is an international grand touring sports car racing series founded by GT Sport Organización and promoted across Europe, Asia, and the Americas. It attracts professional and amateur drivers from championships such as Blancpain GT Series, FIA GT Championship, European Le Mans Series, British GT Championship and the IMSA SportsCar Championship, and features entries from major manufacturers including Ferrari, Porsche, Mercedes-Benz, Aston Martin, Lamborghini, and McLaren. The series often supports rounds of the Formula One World Championship and shares circuits with events like the 24 Hours of Le Mans, 24 Hours of Spa, and Monaco Grand Prix support races.
The series was created to provide a cost-controlled international platform for GT2 and GT3-spec machinery, appealing to teams from the FIA GT3 European Championship, GT4 European Series, and national series such as Italian GT Championship and Spanish GT Championship. Events are typically double-header weekends featuring practice, qualifying, and two races, drawing entrants from teams like Scuderia Villorba Corse, Kessel Racing, Tech 1 Racing, SMP Racing, and AF Corse. The championship awards driver, team, and pro-am titles and integrates with driver development pathways connected to Ferrari Driver Academy, Mercedes-AMG Junior Program, and manufacturer customer programmes.
Launched in 2006 by GT Sport Organización following trends established by the FIA GT Championship and GT World Challenge Europe, the championship initially featured GT2 and GT3 cars homologated by FIA. Early seasons saw participation from teams such as Rinaldi Racing and Scuderia Ecosse, with circuits including Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, Autódromo do Estoril, and Autodromo Nazionale Monza. Over the 2010s the series evolved alongside the FIA GT3 regulations, with increased manufacturer customer support from Porsche AG, Mercedes-AMG, Lamborghini Squadra Corse, and Aston Martin Racing. The championship adapted following regulatory shifts influenced by FIA World Endurance Championship technical dialogues and harmonization efforts with the SRO Motorsports Group framework.
Race weekends usually consist of free practice sessions, a timed qualifying session using formats similar to FIA GT World Cup practice, and two sprint-to-mid-distance races ranging from 50 to 70 minutes. The series applies Balance of Performance measures coordinated with FIA guidelines and often references technical parity models used in the Blancpain Endurance Series and GT World Challenge. Driver pairings must comply with FIA driver categorisation (Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze) similar to systems adopted by IMSA GTD and the European Le Mans Series, which determine Pro, Pro-Am, and Am classifications. Penalties, parc fermé rules, and homologation follow protocols comparable to the FIA GT1 World Championship and FIA GT2 European Championship standards.
The championship calendar traditionally includes historic European circuits such as Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, Silverstone Circuit, Imola, Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, Circuit Paul Ricard, Autodromo Nazionale Monza, Circuito de Jerez, and Circuit Ricardo Tormo. The series has also visited international venues like Circuito de Navarra, Portimão, Circuito de Estoril, and excursion rounds linked to Interlagos-style events or intercontinental meetings with Porsche Carrera Cup weekends. Calendars are announced by GT Sport Organización and coordinated with national federations such as Real Federación Española de Automovilismo and Automobile Club de l'Ouest event timetables.
Competitors include a mix of factory-supported customer teams and privateer entrants such as AF Corse, Scuderia Villorba Corse, Kessel Racing, Teo Martín Motorsport, Teo Martín Racing, Team Lazarus, Barwell Motorsport, FACH Auto Tech, and Tech 1 Racing. Drivers have included notable names who also race in FIA World Endurance Championship, DTM, WEC, and Blancpain GT Series events—examples include alumni from Felipe Massa’s era-end career moves, graduates linked to Charles Leclerc’s junior ladder, and endurance specialists active in 24 Hours of Le Mans campaigns. Pairings often combine professional drivers with gentlemen drivers enrolled under FIA bronze status, reflecting a structure similar to GT4 European Series pro-am mixes.
Cars are based on GT3 and GT2 homologations originally supervised by FIA and manufacturers such as Ferrari, Porsche, Mercedes-AMG, Aston Martin, Lamborghini, McLaren Automotive and customer constructors like Riley Technologies-style tuners. Models commonly entered include the Ferrari 458 Italia GT3, Porsche 911 GT3 R, Mercedes-AMG GT3, Aston Martin Vantage GT3, Lamborghini Huracán GT3, and McLaren 650S GT3. Technical regulations manage aerodynamics, engine performance, weight, and gearbox specifications with reference to homologation papers used in FIA GT3 European Championship and GT World Challenge Asia competitions.
Championship winners have included drivers and teams who later progressed to or simultaneously contested titles in Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup, European Le Mans Series, and FIA World Endurance Championship. Records track most wins, pole positions, and fastest laps across circuits like Spa-Francorchamps and Silverstone Circuit, with teams such as AF Corse, Kessel Racing, and Teo Martín Motorsport among frequent title contenders. Driver champions often move into roles with manufacturers or endurance programmes at 24 Hours of Le Mans, IMSA, and global GT competitions, reinforcing links between this championship and the broader GT racing ecosystem.
Category:Sports car racing series