British GT Championship will feature nine races at six UK-based events this year as part of a new provisional 2020 calendar.
Four events postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic have been rescheduled, while all six will take place in Britain to reduce travel and costs. Nine races – five sprint and four endurance – are also confirmed, the same total number as 2020’s calendar originally featured. Likewise, the cumulative 15 hours of racing time also remains unchanged.
Oulton Park retains its traditional season-opening slot but now hosts two sprint races on August 1/2 – almost four months later than originally planned. The leafy parkland venue, which is sure to look its best in mid-summer, last welcomed British GT in August in 2002.
The championship then makes the first of its two trips to Donington Park on August 15/16 when a 60-minute sprint race and two-hour enduro bookend Sunday’s track action. That’s followed a fortnight later by Brands Hatch, which retains its original August 29/30 weekend and two-hour race format.
It’s then back to Donington on September 19/20 for what would have been British GT’s season finale. This time a single three-hour race – 60 minutes more than originally planned – will add another layer of strategy to proceedings. Regrettably, and despite the best efforts of championship organisers, a lack of viable alternative dates has resulted in an unavoidable clash with the recently rescheduled Le Mans 24 Hours.
Two more postponed events complete this year’s revised calendar: Snetterton (two sprint races on October 3/4) and the Silverstone 500, which doubles up as the championship’s showpiece event and season finale for the first time on November 7/8.
Critically, race time originally allocated to Spa-Francorchamps will be recouped across Donington’s two events. There are also no clashes with GT World Challenge Europe Powered by AWS or the GT4 European Series, allowing customer teams and drivers to contest both.
Equally, a strong support series package featuring co-headliners BRDC British F3 and regular partners Porsche Sprint Challenge GB, Clio Cup UK and Ginetta G40/GT5 has also been retained.
All dates remain subject to government and Motorsport UK measures covering the resumption of sporting events. The revised calendar will be amended accordingly if British GT is unable to begin its 2020 campaign in August.
Government-led Motorsport UK guidelines, which are expected to be published soon, will also determine under what scenarios races are held, and the extent to which public and team personnel might be limited. SRO will work closely with circuits and organising clubs to implement Motorsport UK’s scenarios, which could necessitate changes to some current regulations and procedures. These changes cover, but are not limited to, driver sign-on and briefings, scrutineering, parc fermé, driver changes and pitstops, podiums, media and hospitality.
Lauren Granville, championship manager: “Hosting six events within three months hasn’t been easy to organise – there’s a lot to consider and a finite number of dates available at suitable UK circuits that avoid clashes with SRO’s European championships, which has remained a priority throughout. We’re delighted to present a revised calendar that includes trips to all of our previously scheduled UK circuits and retains 15 hours of racing across nine races.
“We feel that starting the season in Britain in August is the most pragmatic approach to a very complicated situation, hence our decision not to visit Spa this year.
“It’s sure to be a very busy three months for everyone but after being locked down for so long our teams and drivers are even more eager to go racing than ever before. Equally, British GT’s staff and I cannot wait to make up for lost time: we have a fabulous entry list and, now, a revised calendar that’s able to do it justice.”
REVISED 2020 BRITISH GT CALENDAR – PROVISIONAL
Aug 1/2 – Oulton Park – 2x 1hr
Aug 15/16 – Donington Park 1x 1hr & 1x 2hr
Aug 29/30 – Brands Hatch – 1x 2hr
Sep 19/20 – Donington Park – 1x 3hr
Oct 3/4 – Snetterton – 2x 1hr
Nov 7/8 – Silverstone 500 – 1x 3hr