NEWS

12 teams apply for 2010 FIA GT1 season

Entries for the 2010 FIA GT1 World Championship closed on Friday December 15th, at midnight and, after some last minute dramas, the list shows that 6 brands will be represented, with 2 teams for each marque, each fielding two cars, making a total of 24 cars on the grid.

SRO today confirmed that "To the best of our knowledge, the following teams have confirmed their intention to take part in the new Championship, sending in their candidature to the FIA."

For Corvette Motorsport, the two teams are "Madcroc Racing" and "Phoenix Racing Carsport." Team Madcroc is formed from a collaboration between FIA GT regulars Selleslagh Racing Team and DKR Engineering. Phoenix Racing Carsport will be a joint venture between two well-known teams, Phoenix Racing and Toine Hezemans’s Carsport Holland. (Driver announcements will be made soon)

Aston Martin are set to be represented by French team Hexis AMR, winners of the 2009 FIA GT3 European Teams Championship, and by German team Young Drivers AMR, this team an offshoot of FIA GT3 team Fischer Racing.

The Ford teams would be Matech Competition, from Switzerland, and Belgian team Marc VDS Racing, both of whom already competed in the FIA GT Championship in 2009. Lamborghini's representatives look set to be Münnich Motorsport, run by Mr René Münnich, of All Inkl.com, and Reiter Engineering, both of whom have entered Lamborghinis in the FIA GT Championship previously.

The Maserati teams are to be the five-time FIA GT Champions Vitaphone Racing Team, and new team Triple H Team Hegersport, led by former race winner Altfrid Heger. For Nissan, the teams are set to be Swiss Racing Team, in the hands of Oltmar Welti, and new British team Sumo Power GT, led by Mr James Rumsey.

The applications will now be examined by the FIA, before a final entry list is released by the end of the month.

Stephane Ratel:

“With two car teams only and two teams per brand, this will be the most professionally presented grid outside of Formula One, the only one to display such clear visibility for the Media and the fans. It is a long held dream becoming reality and even if a lot remains to be developed in terms of promotion, media and television, there is no doubt that we are at the beginning of something big.”

“We are convinced of the unlimited potential of a series that brings together all the ingredients for success: an official World Championship title, a fair balance between the teams’ budget without direct manufacturer involvement, a truly global calendar visiting four and possibly five continents, a collection of great circuits, a format appealing to spectators and TV audiences, and most importantly the best, looking, best sounding and most prestigious cars around.”

"It is a dream come true and the beginning of something big.  We are now going to concentrate on making the FIA GT2 European Championship a similar success”