GT4 European Series

Last updated
GT4 European Series
Category Grand Tourer (SRO GT4)
Country Europe
Inaugural season2007
GT ClassesGT4
Drivers49
Teams27
Tyre suppliers Pirelli
Official website GT4 European Series
Motorsport current event.svg Current season

The GT4 European Series is a sports car championship created and organised by SRO Motorsports Group. It is a pro/am championship which utilizes SRO GT4 class cars, and runs alongside the GT World Challenge Europe as a support series.

Contents

History

Following the successful introduction of the FIA GT3 European Championship in 2006, the formula was expanded to include usage by other nationally based professional championships such as the British GT Championship, Belcar, Australian GT Championship and German ADAC GT Masters. While the FIA GT3 European Championship continues, the SRO felt that a true amateur championship was needed in order to complement GT3 which allowed a certain level of professional driver to compete. Many national series also adopted the GT4 regulations as a lower class, and the European Cup eventually lacked the competitors needed to continue. During the 2016 24 Hours of Spa, the Stéphane Ratel Organisation (SRO) announced that the European Cup would be divided in 2 different series for 2017. [1] They are called the GT4 European Series Northern Cup and the GT4 European Series Southern Cup. The Northern Cup will be the same as the European Cup, while the Southern Cup will collect forces with the FFSA GT Championship. Since Stéphane Ratel spoke out about his firm belief in this class, many championships and constructors have followed. In 2018 the Southern Cup was renamed FFSA GT - GT4 France, while the Northern Cup became the sole GT4 European Series again.

Drivers

Like GT3, GT4 drivers have a set of criteria which would automatically eliminate them from competition based on their level of experience. Since GT4 class drivers are meant to be true amateurs, these criteria are tighter than that seen in GT3.

Drivers under the age of 30 are not allowed to have had a top-ten finish in any national or international single-seater championship, nor to have had a distinguishable career in a national or international GT championship. These drivers are known as Silver drivers. Drivers over the age of 30 who did not receive their racing licenses until after turning 30 and having no single-seater experience at all are also allowed in the series, under the term Bronze drivers.

Races

Just as in GT3, each event would consist of two races of equal distance, usually held on different days. Teams were not required to have two drivers and could use the same driver for each race.

Championship

The championship used the standard FIA point scheme for the top ten finishers: 25-18-15-12-10-8-6-4-2-1. If a team used different drivers for each race in a single event, both drivers would receive points. A driver and team championship were both held.

If at least five cars of the same make participate in a race, then a manufacturer cup would also be awarded, similar to the style used in GT3.

Champions

Drivers

YearGT4LightSupersport
2007 Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Eric De Doncker Not awardedNot awarded
2008 Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Eric De Doncker Flag of Germany.svg Christopher Haase
2009 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Joe Osborne Not awarded Flag of Austria.svg Augustin Eder
2010 Flag of the Netherlands.svg Paul Meijer Flag of Italy.svg Gianni Giudici
2011 Flag of the Netherlands.svg Ricardo van der Ende Flag of Italy.svg Gianni Giudici
YearSilver CupPro (2013–2016)
Pro-Am Cup (2017–present)
Am (2013–2016)
Am Cup (2017–present)
2013 Not awarded Flag of the Netherlands.svg Ricardo van der Ende Flag of Germany.svg Jörg Viehbahn
2014 Flag of the Netherlands.svg Bernhard van Oranje
Flag of the Netherlands.svg Ricardo van der Ende
Flag of France.svg André Grammatico
2015 Flag of the Netherlands.svg Jelle Beelen
Flag of the Netherlands.svg Marcel Nooren
Flag of Austria.svg Daniel Uckermann
2016 Flag of Germany.svg Peter Terting
Flag of Germany.svg Jörg Viebahn
Flag of France.svg Jérôme Demay
2017 Flag of the Netherlands.svg Ricardo van der Ende
Flag of the Netherlands.svg Max Koebolt
Flag of the Netherlands.svg Luc Braams
Flag of the Netherlands.svg Duncan Huisman
Flag of Italy.svg Giuseppe Ghezzi
2018 Flag of the Netherlands.svg Milan Dontje
Flag of Denmark.svg Nicolaj Møller Madsen
Flag of Germany.svg Markus Lungstrass Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Niki Leutwiler
2019 Flag of the Netherlands.svg Simon Knap
Flag of the United States.svg Alec Udell
Flag of Norway.svg Marcus Påverud
Flag of Germany.svg Luca Trefz
Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Pascal Bachmann
Flag of Luxembourg.svg Clément Seyler
2020 Flag of France.svg Valentin Hasse-Clot
Flag of France.svg Théo Nouet
Flag of Denmark.svg Bastian Buus
Flag of Germany.svg Jan Kasperlik
Flag of France.svg Nicolas Gomar
Flag of France.svg Gilles Vannelet
2021 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Charlie Fagg
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Bailey Voisin
Flag of France.svg Grégory Guilvert
Flag of France.svg Fabien Michal
Flag of France.svg Michael Blanchemain
Flag of France.svg Christophe Hamon
2022 Flag of Israel.svg Roee Meyuhas
Flag of France.svg Erwan Bastard
Flag of France.svg Jean-Luc Beaubelique
Flag of France.svg Jim Pla
Federation Internationale de l'Automobile flag.svg  Mikhail Loboda
Federation Internationale de l'Automobile flag.svg  Andrey Solukvtsev
2023 Flag of Germany.svg Michael Schrey
Flag of Italy.svg Gabriele Piana
Flag of France.svg Grégory Guilvert
Flag of France.svg Christophe Hamon
Flag of France.svg Alban Varutti
2024 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Tom Lebbon
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Josh Rattican
Flag of Germany.svg Max Kronberg
Flag of Germany.svg Finn Zulauf
Flag of France.svg Pascal Huteau
Flag of France.svg Laurent Hurgon

Teams

YearOverall
2007 Not awarded
2008 Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Motorsport98
2009 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg RJN Motorsport
2010 Flag of the Netherlands.svg Rhesus Racing
2011 Flag of the Netherlands.svg Ekris BMW/Racing Team Holland by Ekris Motorsport
2013 Flag of the Netherlands.svg Ekris Motorsport
2014 Flag of the Netherlands.svg Racing Team Holland by Ekris Motorsport
2015 Flag of the Netherlands.svg V8 Racing
2016 Flag of Germany.svg PROsport Performance
YearSilver CupPro-Am CupAm Cup
2017 Flag of the Netherlands.svg Ekris Motorsport Flag of the Netherlands.svg Las Moras Racing Flag of Italy.svg Autorlando Sport
2018 Flag of Germany.svg Phoenix Racing Flag of Germany.svg Racing One Flag of France.svg TFT Racing
2019 Flag of the Netherlands.svg MDM Motorsport Flag of Germany.svg Leipert Motorsport  [ de ] Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Street Art Racing
YearOverall
2018 Flag of Germany.svg Racing One
2019 Flag of Germany.svg Leipert Motorsport  [ de ]
2020 Flag of France.svg AGS Events
YearSilver CupPro-Am CupAm Cup
2021 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Autosports Flag of France.svg Saintéloc Racing Flag of France.svg Team Fullmotorsport
2022 Flag of France.svg Saintéloc Racing Flag of France.svg AKKodis ASP Team Flag of France.svg AKKodis ASP Team
2023 Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Hofor Racing by Bonk Motorsport Flag of France.svg Saintéloc Junior Team Flag of France.svg AVR-Avvatar
2024 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Elite Motorsport with Entire RE Flag of Germany.svg W&S Motorsport Flag of France.svg Schumacher CLRT

Similar series

Since the introduction of the GT4 European Cup, the GT4 class of cars have been expanded to various national series. The British GT Championship and Belgian GT Championship allow GT4 and Super Sport class cars to compete alongside the GT3 class, while the stand-alone Dutch GT4 Championship ran its first season of competition 2009. [2] The Spanish GT Cup Open Europe series also allows GT4 cars to compete with one-make cars. A GT4 championship plans to be run in Brazil in 2010. [3] Norway introduced a national championship called GTF in 2014 featuring GT4 regulated cars. The Super Taikyu Series in Japan also includes a GT4 class called ST-Z. The United States–based ACCUS offers the GT4 America Series promoted by SRO and sanctioned by the United States Auto Club for one-hour sprint races, and the Michelin Pilot Challenge sanctioned by the International Motor Sports Association for longer races (2-4 hours).

Circuits

Bold denotes a circuit will be used in the 2025 season. Italic denotes a future circuit will be used in the 2026 season.

References

  1. "GT4 European Series Splits; Extended Schedule for 2017". sportscar365.com. Jake Kilshaw. December 29, 2016. Retrieved July 29, 2016.
  2. "GT4 European Cup - News". Gt4cup.com. 2008-06-25. Archived from the original on 2011-08-07. Retrieved 2011-08-08.
  3. "FIA GT Championship - News". Fiagt.com. Archived from the original on 2013-01-23. Retrieved 2011-08-08.