BRITISH GT

In 2004 the Stephane Ratel Organization came with a new, twin-race format, professional drivers and a new venue in Mondello Park in Eire. The year 2004 was the strongest line-up of drivers and teams in British GT History.

The Championship was run under the auspices of Stephane Ratel for the first time, the experienced promoter responsible for the FIA GT and French GT Championships and the new Le Mans Endurance Series.

Stephane Ratel said: "We have experience in France of building the strongest national GT championship in Europe and we will apply the same regulations in British GT racing in order to help the category enjoy a strong revival. We have ensured that the calendar avoids any clashes between FIA and British rounds so that prestigious teams may compete in both series."

GT teams were afforded more track time in 2004, with 90 minutes of free practice, 30 minutes of qualifying and two 60-minute races on the programme per race weekend.

The GT machines were split into 2 categories, N-GT and C-GT, with N-GT being purpose built racing machines, and C-GT being more road derivatives, for 2005 these classes will be renamed GT2 and GT3 respectively. For the championship it is compulsory that 2 drivers share one car, and they will make a pit-stop to change drivers and tires between 23 and 37 minutes during each race, for 2005 there is further improvements in the racing strategies. The top 3 finishers in each race will receive a weight handicap; the winner will have to carry 30kg, second place 20kg and third place 10kg for the next race, the maximum one car can carry in weight ballast at any one time is 60kg.

Scheduled for 2005 is an exciting new race format that will see the GT2 cars compete against the FIA GT machines at Magny Cours in France, and the GT3 cars enjoy their own race venue this time at Croft in Yorkshire, for more information on the British GT Championships visit www.britishgt.com

As well as the British GT Championships Adam competed in the final 2 races of the Brticar series at Snetterton and Brand Hatch in November, for more information on the Britcar series please visit www.eerc.co.uk