Dubai is getting ready to organize the penultimate round of the FIA GT Championship. In fact, this is the second time Dubai has hosted such an internationally recognized race which is due to take place on the 16, 17, 18 November 2005. Dubai Autodrome’s preparations for this big event are well under way for receiving many eminent figures together with their sport cars. The Autodrome racetrack will be abounding with the most speedy, distinguished and famous sport cars which will be competing for the FIA GT1 and FIA GT2 Championship, in addition to a group of pros in sport cars races.
Hereunder is an overall view about FIA GT Championship.
The FIA GT Championship
Dream sports cars competing in three-hour endurance races, with all the drama of pit-stops, driver changes and strategy. Excitement, overtaking and all the drama of a hard-fought championship; now entering its ninth season. The 2005 season will include eleven rounds, seven of which will be run alongside the new FIA World Touring Car Championship. The season highlight of the proximus 24 hours of Spa, with guaranteed packed grandstands and thrilling racing, will be the major summer event. A first visit to Istanbul, in Turkey, will also see experimental two-hour format. After the successful overseas races in 2004, this season will end with three events outside Europe, with races in Zuhai (China), Dubai (Unites Arab Emirates) and a season finale at the Bahrain International Circuit.
The cars
Corvette, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Lister, Jaguar, Maserati, Porsche, Saleen…Legendary names, incredible cars, entered by private highly-professional teams. Road-going cars, adapted for the circuit, between 400 and 650 bhp, they are divided into two categories, known now as GT1 (Corbette C5R, Ferrari 550 and 575 Maranello, Lister Storm, Saleen S7, LamborghiniMurcielago, Maserati MC 12) and GT2 )Porsche 996 GT3-RS, Ferrari 360 Modena). They should be joined during the season by the Aston Martin DB9R and the Nissan 350Z. Also, for the first time in 2005, cars from Group 2 and Group 3, as seen at Spa, may also take part on a non-Championship basis. This includes cars such as the impressive Mosler 900 and the Vertigo Streiff.
The Drivers
An eclectic mix of drivers – stars from Formula One and Formula 3000, endurance and Sportscar specialists, young, upcoming drivers and talented gentlemen drivers – take part in the FIA GT Championship. Two or three drivers share each car, up to four for the 24-hour race.
The events
Friday: two 90-minute free practice sessions.
Saturday: two 45-minute qualifying sessions, the combined time makes up the grid.
Sunday: 15-minute warm-up: 500 km race (max 3 hours).
Cumulative handicap weights allotted to the top three in each category.
Last year
Four different teams were victorious overall in 2004, with saleen S7, Ferrari 575M and Maserati MC 12 represented on the top of the podium. But BMS Scuderia Italia, with its Ferrari 550 Maranello cars, was victorious for the second year in a row, Fabrizio Gollin and Luca Cappellari taking the crown. In N-GT, Freisinger Yukos Motorsport was victorious, while Sascha Maassen and Lucas Luhr won the title in the final race.
The History
1997: The FIA GT Championship is born… Mercedes, BMW McLaren, Porsche, Panoz, Lotus in GT1… Porsche, Marcos and Chrysler Viper in GT2… Europe, Japan and USA… Bernd Schneider of Germany and AMG-Mercedes CLK win in GT1, Justin Bell of Great Britain and Viper Team Oreca-Chrysler Viper GTS-R in GT2
1998: Mercedes vs Porsche in GT1, Porsche vs Chrysler Viper in GT2… Europe, Japan and the USA... Ricardo Zonta of Brazil and Klaus Ludwig of Germany win the GT1 crown for AMG Mercedes LM... Olivier Beretta of Monaco and Pedro Lamy of Portugal win in GT2 with Chrysler Viper Team Oreca and the Chrysler Viper GTS-R.
1999: GT2 renamed GT… First race in Zhuhai, rounds at Homestead and Watkins Glen… Chrysler Viper vs Porsche vs Lister vs Marcos… Olivier Beretta wins second title, this time alongside Karl Wendlinger of Austria, driving for Chrysler Viper Team Oreca in a Chrysler Viper GTS-R.
2000: N-GT joins GT… The Ferrari 550 Maranello makes its debut appearance… Lister vs Chrysler is the big fight in GT, with Porsche dominating N-GT… Julian Bailey and Jamie Campbell-Walter of Great Britain win the title for Lister Storm Racing in a Lister Storm… Christophe Bouchut and Patrice Goueslard of France win the inaugural N-GT title for Larbre Competition Chereau in a Porsche 996 GT3-R.
2001: The Eurosport Super Racing Weekend series is born, with the FIA GT Championship racing alongside the FIA European Touring Car Championship… the Proximus 24 hours of Spa is run as a GT race… Christophe Bouchut and Jean-Phillipe Belloc of France win the GT title for Larbre title for Larbre Competition Chereau in a Chrysler Viper GTS-R… the team also wins at Spa… David Terrien of france and Christian pescatori of Italy win the N-GT title for JMB Racing in a Ferrari 360 Modena, after a year-long battle with RWS Motorsport.
2002: Renamed the LG Super Racing Weekend series… the GT category sees strong competition between the Ferrari 550 Maranello, the Lister Storm and the Chrysler Viper. But Christophe Bouchut of France won through to take his third title, with the Larbre Competition Chereau Chrysler Viper GTS-R. Stephane Ortelli was victorious in N-GT, in a freisinger Motorsport Porsche 996 GT3-RS. Freisinger and Larbre won their classes in the Proximus 24 Hours of Spa.
2003: The season started with a record-breaking run of five consecutive wins for rookies Matteo Bobbi and Thomas Biagi of Italy, in a BMS Scuderia Italia Ferrari 550 Maranello. They went on to take the title, with BMS winning the Teams crown. In N-GT title, with the Porsche 996 GT3-RS… the Saleen S7 joined the Championship… the Ferrari 575 M Maranello made its debut, winning its first race in Estoril for JMB Racing.
2004: The Lamborghini Murcielago and the Maserati MC 12 joined the Championship, while the Nissan 350Z made its first appearances in N-GT, bringing the total number of makes represented up to seven… BMS Scuderia Italia continued to shine, with Fabrizio Gollin and Luca Cappellari taking the title in the Ferrari 550 Maranello… Vitaphone Racing gave the Saleen S7 its first win… followed by two more… JMB Racing won with the Ferrari 575M… the Championship headed back overseas, with successful race in Zhuhai and Dubai… Sascha Maassen and Lucas Luhr took the N-GT title in the final round, while Freisinger Yukos Motorsport won the Teams title… Lilian Bryner became the first woman to win a major international 24-hour race in the Proximus 24 Hours of Spa.
2005: Is full of excitement and the close racing which has become synonymous with the FIA GT Championship. 1st round took place in Italy at Monza, Lamy/Gardel win in GT1, Lieb/Rockenfeller win in GT2. Magny-cours hosted the 2nd round and Bertolini/Wendlinger win in GT1 while Collard/Sugden win in GT2. The Championship moves to Silverstone which hosted the 3rd round, Kox/Lamy win in GT1 while Lieb/Rockenfeller wins in GT2. Round 4 took place in Imola and Longin/Kumpen/Hezemans win in GT1 and Collard/Sugden win in GT2. The championship moved to Brno and Pedro Lamy and Gabriele Gardel win in GT1 while In GT2, Marc Lieb and Mike Rockenfeller were victorious.
