GT4 European Cup

The GT4 European Cup is a sports car championship created and organized by the Stéphane Ratel Organisation (SRO) and sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA). It is an amateur championship which follows formula similar to the FIA GT3 European Championship, which is itself derived from the FIA GT Championship which uses the GT1 and GT2 classes. The GT4 class cars are the least powerful of the four classes, yet are equalized in order to allow amateur driving skill to become key.

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, 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 compliment GT3 which allowed a certain level of professional driver to compete.

Regulations

For the most part, the GT4 regulations are similar to those seen in GT3, although there are some exceptions.

Vehicles

GT4 class cars are mostly what can be referred to as track day cars, which are factory-built race cars available to the public. However, custom-built cars based on production models can also be built by teams. All cars are test driven by the FIA and then modified so that they all have near identical performance levels. Once a car has been approved by the FIA, it cannot be modified by the teams, eliminating continual development costs for constructors. All cars run on regulated Pirelli tires to further equalize performance.

The following cars are currently approved for GT4:
* Aston Martin V8 Vantage N24
* BMW Z4 Coupe
* Chevrolet Corvette C6
* Ford Mustang FR500C
* Lotus Sport Exige
* Maserati Trofeo Light
* Nissan 350Z
* Opel GT
* Porsche Cayman

In 2008, a Sports Light category was introduced for smaller, lighter cars:
* Donkervoort D8GT
* Gillet Vertigo
* KTM X-Bow
* Lotus 2-Eleven

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 will consist of two races of equal distance, usually held on different days. Teams are not required to have two drivers and can use the same driver for each race.

Championship

The championship will use the standard FIA point scheme for the top eight finishers: 10-8-6-5-4-3-2-1. If a team uses different drivers for each race in a single event, both drivers will receive points. A driver and team championship will both be held.

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

imilar 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 Belcar series use the GT4 class alongside the GT3 class, while the Dutch GT4 Championship was announced in 2008 with plans for first competitions in 2009. [http://www.gt4cup.com/newsitem.php?key=68]

External links

* [http://www.gt4cup.com/ GT4 European Cup]