FIA GT3 European Championship

FIA GT3 European Championship was a Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile-sanctioned auto racing series that featured GT3-spec cars from manufacturers like Audi, BMW, Mercedes-AMG, and Ford. The championship was closely related to the FIA GT Championship and the Le Mans Series, with many teams and drivers competing in all three series, including Olivier Panis, Stéphane Ortelli, and Uwe Alzen. The series was also supported by the SRO Motorsports Group, which organized the British GT Championship and the Belgian GT Championship, with notable teams like Marc VDS Racing Team and W Racing Team participating.

● Introduction

The FIA GT3 European Championship was created to provide a platform for GT3 cars to compete at a high level, with the aim of promoting the FIA GT Championship and the Le Mans Series, which featured cars from Aston Martin, Corvette Racing, and Maserati. The series was designed to be a feeder series for the FIA GT Championship, with many teams and drivers using it as a stepping stone to the higher-level series, including Phoenix Racing, Reiter Engineering, and JMB Racing. The championship featured a mix of professional and amateur drivers, including Andrea Piccini, Gilles Vannelet, and Chris Niarchos, competing in cars from Jaguar, Porsche, and Ferrari.

● History

The FIA GT3 European Championship was first held in 2006, with the inaugural season featuring six rounds at circuits like Silverstone Circuit, Monza Circuit, and Spa-Francorchamps, with teams like BMS Scuderia Italia and Kessel Racing participating. The series was an instant success, with a strong grid of cars from manufacturers like Lamborghini, Dodge, and Ascari Cars, and drivers like Fabrizio Gollin, Luca Cappellari, and Enrico Toccacelo. Over the years, the series continued to grow in popularity, with more teams and drivers joining the championship, including Prospeed Competition, Matech Concepts, and Hexis Racing, which competed against teams like AF Corse and Vitaphone Racing Team. The series also attracted the attention of top drivers like Tomas Enge, Richard Westbrook, and Alexandre Prémat, who competed alongside drivers like Stéphane Lémeret and Maxime Martin.

● Format

The FIA GT3 European Championship featured a traditional endurance racing format, with two 60-minute races held at each round, similar to the American Le Mans Series and the Le Mans Series. The series used a points system similar to the FIA GT Championship, with points awarded to the top 10 finishers in each race, and teams like Marc VDS Racing Team and W Racing Team competing for the championship title. The championship also featured a number of high-profile events, including the 24 Hours of Spa, which was also part of the FIA GT Championship and the Blancpain Endurance Series, with teams like Phoenix Racing and Reiter Engineering participating.

● Cars

The FIA GT3 European Championship featured a wide range of GT3-spec cars from manufacturers like Ferrari, Lamborghini, Porsche, and Audi, with cars like the Ferrari 458 Italia GT3, the Lamborghini Gallardo LP600+ GT3, and the Porsche 911 GT3 R competing. The series also featured cars from smaller manufacturers like Ascari Cars and Dodge, with teams like BMS Scuderia Italia and Kessel Racing running cars like the Ascari KZ1R GT3 and the Dodge Viper Competition Coupe. The cars were all built to the FIA GT3 regulations, which were designed to provide a level playing field for all competitors, with drivers like Andrea Piccini, Gilles Vannelet, and Chris Niarchos competing in cars from Jaguar, Porsche, and Ferrari.

● Seasons

The FIA GT3 European Championship ran for six seasons, from 2006 to 2012, with the championship title being won by teams like Matech Concepts, Hexis Racing, and Prospeed Competition, which competed against teams like AF Corse and Vitaphone Racing Team. The series featured a number of notable drivers, including Tomas Enge, Richard Westbrook, and Alexandre Prémat, who competed alongside drivers like Stéphane Lémeret and Maxime Martin. The championship also featured a number of high-profile events, including the 24 Hours of Spa, which was also part of the FIA GT Championship and the Blancpain Endurance Series, with teams like Phoenix Racing and Reiter Engineering participating.

● Circuits

The FIA GT3 European Championship visited a number of high-profile circuits, including Silverstone Circuit, Monza Circuit, and Spa-Francorchamps, which also hosted rounds of the FIA GT Championship and the Le Mans Series. The series also visited circuits like Paul Ricard Circuit, Oschersleben Circuit, and Zolder Circuit, with teams like Marc VDS Racing Team and W Racing Team competing at these events. The championship featured a mix of fast and slow circuits, with a focus on providing a challenging and exciting racing experience for drivers and teams, including drivers like Olivier Panis, Stéphane Ortelli, and Uwe Alzen, who competed in cars from Aston Martin, Corvette Racing, and Maserati.

Category:Auto racing series