The Blancpain GT Series and Pirelli World Challenge, arguably among the best GT Series in the world, have established an extensive cooperation which will see the best teams of the two Series in action on both sides of the Atlantic.
With the Blancpain GT Series being organised mainly in Europe and the Pirelli World Challenge in America, collaboration between the two series makes sense in more than one way.
First of all, a common technical base will be advantageous for both series, which share Pirelli as an official tyre supplier. Already, the technical staffs exchange information on the Balance of Performance, the basis of success in GT3 Racing.
With closer BOP and identical tires, it will be easy for teams in both series to compete in one or more races of the other championship. That is why the three best placed cars in the final standings of the 2015 Pirelli World Challenge will be invited to participate in this year’s Baku World Challenge, the final round of the Blancpain GT Series. The three teams will benefit from the same logistical and financial support granted to the European teams racing in the event.
In 2016 it will be the Blancpain GT Series’ best who will cross the ocean. The top three finishers of this year’s series will be granted financial and logistical support to compete in a Pirelli World Challenge round. The round in question will be announced in due course.
Furthermore, the organisers of both series are working hard on a future project which would include holding a Blancpain GT Series round during a Pirelli World Challenge event in the United States, while the first European round of the Pirelli World Challenge would be held as part of a Blancpain GT Series meeting.
Scott Bove (WC Vision President and CEO) : "The Pirelli World Challenge and the Blancpain GT Series share similar desires to expand their product outside their existing markets. Pirelli is the common denominator being the official tire supplier for both series. Both the Series have developed a strong world-wide presence with international drivers, teams and manufacturers competing. It's now time to take our brand of racing to a global stage as a true World Challenge."
Stephane Ratel (CEO and Founder SRO Motorsports Group): “Getting an American circuit on the Blancpain GT Series’ calendar has always been one of my pet projects. The best way to do that is to work together with people who know the ins and outs of racing in the United States. The organisers of the Pirelli World Challenge and the people at SRO Motorsports Group share the same philosophy on GT racing: it should be competitive, spectacular and entertaining for the fans. It is no use for each of us to do our own thing in our own corner, when sharing our knowledge could produce far better results.”
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About the Pirelli World Challenge
The Pirelli World Challenge is one of North America's top production car-based racing championships. Divided into GT (GT, GTA and GT Cup), GTS and Touring Car (Touring Car, Touring Car A and Touring Car B-Spec) categories, each race features thrilling standing starts, adrenaline filled door-to- door action and world-class drivers. The Pirelli World Challenge features cars from the world's most popular manufacturers — race-prepped versions of the cars driven on the streets. Sanctioned by SCCA Pro Racing, the series races at North America's premier road and temporary street courses.
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Blancpain - Innovation is our Tradition
Founded in 1735 by Jehan-Jacques Blancpain, the watch brand bearing his name is the oldest in the world. Blancpain is currently engaged to the renewal of mechanical watchmaking and to passing on exceptional expertise from one generation to the next through constant investment in human resources, production facilities and research. This approach is its strength and the expression of our long-term vision, even though it goes against the tide of a certain tendency to seek immediate profit. From the creation of components through to watch design, Blancpain is distinguished by its ability to develop exceptional movements. Over the past ten years, the Manufacture has indeed developed no less than 35 new calibres.
Through its various models, Blancpain preserves its heritage of precision and elegance, while also displaying an innovative and occasionally provocative spirit. Its range encompasses the sportive L-evolution line, the legendary Fifty Fathoms diver’s watch, as well as the classic Villeret collection, the high complication from Le Brassus collection and the Women models.
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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.
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SRO Motorsports Group - The 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 2015, SRO promotes several championships and series, such as the Blancpain GT Series (with the Blancpain Sprint Series and the Blancpain Endurance Series, including the iconic Total 24 hours of Spa), the Avon Tyres British GT Championship and the newly-created GT Sports Club and Ultracar Sports Club. SRO Motorsports Group has various franchise agreements, including the GT4 European Series.
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.
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