Breaking news
GT World Challenge Europe Sprint
SRO to launch 2019 World Challenge to link three series
The Stephane Ratel Organisation will link its three continental sprint series into an 18-round global championship for manufacturers in 2019 under the Blancpain GT World Challenge banner.
Gary Watkins
Edited: Oct 6, 2018, 10:10 PM
Copy link
Share on Viber
The series will be made up of the rounds of what are currently called the Blancpain GT Series Sprint Cup in Europe, the Blancpain GT Series Asia and the Pirelli World Challenge in North America.
They will all be known as the Blancpain GT World Challenge, but with Europe, Asia and America suffixes.
Manufacturers will be able to compete for an overall World Challenge title covering the five events in Europe, the six in Asia and seven in North America.
They will have to nominate four-driver teams on each continent, with one each from the platinum, gold, silver and bronze categories.
SRO boss Stephane Ratel described the World Challenge as the customer equivalent of the Intercontinental GT Challenge, which links the major GT3 enduros around the globe.
“The IGTC is about manufacturer entries, but the World Challenge is a trophy for the manufacturers that's about customer racing around the world,” he said. “I have spoken to our manufacturers and they like the idea.
“We are not dreaming about having 10 manufacturers initially, but if we have three manufacturers signing up for the World Challenge next year we will be happy.”
Points will be scored by each of the nominated drivers in the class of the series in which they are competing, multiplied by the number of starters.
“It is logical if a driver wins a three-car class in Asia that they score fewer points than someone winning the pro category in front of 15 cars in Europe,” he explained.
The World Challenge Europe will continue to be linked to what will remain known as the Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup, and overall titles will be awarded at the end of the season.
The entry requirement for manufacturers competing in the pro class of the BGTS Endurance Cup, which includes the Spa 24 Hours, will be tightened up: they will either have to additionally enter the World Challenge Europe or the full IGTC.
The World Challenge America will have a new 90-minute two-driver format in 2019.
#24 Alegra Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3 R: Michael Christensen
Photo by: Richard Dole / LAT Images
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Brad Keselowski goes fastest in final Roval practice, then wrecks
Next article Chase Briscoe earns first Xfinity win in inaugural Roval race
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Gary Watkins
WEC Monza: Antonio Fuoco takes pole for Ferrari
WEC
WEC
Monza
WEC Monza: Antonio Fuoco takes pole for Ferrari
Latest news
Fermin Aldeguer defends himself after Francesco Bagnaia crash: “It wasn’t a crazy move”
MotoGP
MGP MotoGP
Qatar GP
21 min
Fermin Aldeguer defends himself after Francesco Bagnaia crash: “It wasn’t a crazy move”
George Russell has lost 90 points to Max Verstappen in F1 2026 runner-up battle
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Sao Paulo GP
1 h
George Russell has lost 90 points to Max Verstappen in F1 2026 runner-up battle
Aprilia: “Marco Bezzecchi couldn’t avoid the collision; Marc Marquez moved in on him"
MotoGP
MGP MotoGP
Qatar GP
2 h
Aprilia: “Marco Bezzecchi couldn’t avoid the collision; Marc Marquez moved in on him"
How the Racing Bulls pendulum is swinging back towards undeniable Liam Lawson
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Sao Paulo GP
2 h
How the Racing Bulls pendulum is swinging back towards undeniable Liam Lawson
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe