2018 MEDIA REVIEW VERSION 1.0
BLANCPAIN GT SERIES ASIA BLANCPAIN GT SERIES ASIA – 2018 MEDIA REVIEW BLANCPAIN GT SERIES ASIA – SEASON REVIEW 2017 CONTENTS 02
2018 MEDIA REVIEW
03 INTRODUCTION - BLANCPAIN GT SERIES ASIA
04 TV OVERVIEW
05 LIVE TV AND STREAMING STATISTICS
06 SPECTATORS
07 SOCIAL MEDIA STATS - FACEBOOK
08 SOCIAL MEDIA STATS - INSTAGRAM
09 SOCIAL MEDIA STATS - TWITTER
10 2019 CALENDAR
11 2019 CHAMPIONSHIP FORMATS
12 CONTACTS BLANCPAIN GT SERIES ASIA – 2018 MEDIA REVIEW 03 INTRODUCTION - BLANCPAIN GT SERIES ASIA
Welcome to Blancpain GT Series Asia: the continent’s biggest multi-class GT championship.
Following an inaugural campaign that surpassed all expectations, the SRO Motorsports Group-run series consolidated its status as Asia’s most popular GT category by featuring even more cars, manufacturers, drivers and nationalities amongst its 30+ entries per round in 2018.
The series brings together a mix of GT3 and GT4 machinery, while GTC cars are also eligible to compete. 2018’s calendar again featured twelve 60- minute races spread across six events in four countries, while a new venue and nation - Yeongam in South Korea - ensures six FIA Grade 1 circuits will comprise 2019’s schedule.
Cars feature a maximum of two drivers, each of whom qualifies for and then starts one of the weekend’s two races. They must then swap places with their co-driver during the mandatory pitstop window, which lasts 10- minutes.
Two types of driver pairings compete for outright victories: the mix of a professional and amateur (Pro/Am) and two professionals graded no higher than Silver by the FIA (Silver Cup). The latter is subject to performance adjustments and approval by SRO to ensure that both Pro/Am and Silver/Silver crews are capable of winning races outright.
Two amateurs can also fight for GT3 Am Cup honours, while the GT4 class is reserved for fully amateur pairings.
In 2019 the championship will be renamed Blancpain GT World Challenge Asia and become part of SRO Motorsports Group’s worldwide sprint racing platform where the performances of manufacturers and drivers contribute towards a global championship as well as domestic titles.
The championship is jointly administered by SRO Motorsports Group and the Hong Kong Supercar Club. BLANCPAIN GT SERIES ASIA – 2018 MEDIA REVIEW 04 TV OVERVIEW EUROPE
ASIA PACIFIC NORTH AMERICA 17M HOUSEHOLDS
36 COUNTRIES
GLOBAL STREAMING • Live TV and online streaming coverage YOUTUBE from all events. 116K SUBSCRIBERS MIDDLE EAST • AND AFRICA Same trusted production team and YOUTUBE facilities, with extensive Asian 160K SUBSCRIBERS motorsport experience, used throughout
the season, thus ensuring a broadcast FACEBOOK 23 COUNTRIES product that retains quality and 46K FOLLOWERS consistency.
• 1080i HD pitlane and global feed. Millions of homes worldwide have access country’s myriad live online TV platforms • Full circuit camera coverage. TV DISTRIBUTION to the live TV broadcasts, while anyone during 2018’s Shanghai and Ningbo with an internet connection can tune in rounds, both of which featured dedicated • Experienced English speaking Every Blancpain GT Series Asia race is online. Geo-blocked countries, such as Chinese commentary (details on page 5). commentators and presenters. broadcast and streamed live across the America, can still watch races courtesy of continent and around the world, while Motor Trend On Demand’s popular Hong Kong’s most popular news outlet, • VNRs, short social media highlights and qualifying sessions are also streamed live subscription service, and the series has On.cc, also streamed Shanghai and long-form broadcast highlights created on the championship’s Facebook page also taken steps to engage with its Ningbo’s races live. at every event. and website. Chinese audience by targeting the BLANCPAIN GT SERIES ASIA – 2018 MEDIA REVIEW THE CHAMPIONSHIP’S ROUNDS AT SHANGHAI AND NINGBO WERE ALSO STREAMED LIVE 05 LIVE TV & STREAMING STATISTICS WITH NATIVE COMMENTARY ON SEVERAL HIGH PROFILE CHINESE SOCIAL MEDIA OUTLETS. SOME EXAMPLES INCLUDE: SHANGHAI LIVE VIEWS NINGBO LIVE VIEWS 205K 212K 2.15 MILLION 170K 121K TOTAL COMBINED LIVE
TOTAL CHINESE LIVE STREAMING VIEWS STREAMING VIEWS 169K 283K (INCLUDES ADDITIONAL FROM ACROSS ALL LIVE PLATFORMS) PLATFORMS IN 2018. 83K 127K 1.49M
ESTIMATED LIVE TV VIEWERS PER CHAMPIONSHIP’S BASED ON SIX RACE WEEKEND 266K OFFICIAL PAGE 665K WEEKENDS ASIAN AUDIENCE BASED ON EACH SRO’S ‘GT WORLD’ ESTIMATED LIVE TV VIEWERS
93% PROGRAMMING. 236K (116K SUBS) FEATURING ASIAN AUDIENCE BASED ON ESTIMATED LIVE TV VIEWERS THREE LIVE DATA TV LEADING COMPILED BY RATINGS NISSAN’S ‘NISMO 4M BASED ON COMPANY, NIELSEN. 2017 RESEARCH BROADCASTS 154K TV’ (160K SUBS) BLANCPAIN GT SERIES ASIA – 2018 MEDIA REVIEW 06 SPECTATORS
Blancpain GT Series Asia’s 30000 events at Buriram, Suzuka +117% and Shanghai were once again the best attended in 25000 26,000 2018. And all three witnessed significant growth +23%
compared with the 21,600 +27% championship’s inaugural 20000 season. 19,000
This year’s other three 15000 rounds staged at Sepang, Fuji and Ningbo attracted an average of 6500 spectators per event. 10000
5000
TOP 3 WEEKEND ATTENDANCES: 0 2017 vs 2018 BURIRAM SUZUKA SHANGHAI BLANCPAIN GT SERIES ASIA – 2018 MEDIA REVIEW 07 SOCIAL MEDIA STATS
2018 OVERVIEW ALL CONTENT
FOLLOWERS IMPRESSIONS POST REACH ENGAGEMENTS 46,236 350% INCREASE 4.9M 11% INCREASE 3.2M 8800 AVE. PER POST 260K 711 AVE. PER POST
LIVE VIDEOS MAY – SEP 2018
TOTAL REACH AVERAGE REACH TOTAL VIEWS ENGAGEMENTS 1.2M IN 2018 195,000 PER WEEKEND 274,000 14,700 AVE. PER LIVE 153K 25,600 AVE. PER W/E
ALL VIDEOS NOV 2017 – OCT 2018
TOTAL REACH AVERAGE REACH TOTAL VIEWS 1.9M IN 2018 26,000 PER VIDEO 474,532 ALL VIDEOS
AUDIENCE COMPARISON
6% 13% 5% 9% AGE 13-17 ASIAN AGE 18-24 FEMALE 42% AGE 25-34 MALE 58% 28% AGE 35-44 44% OTHER AGE 45+ 95% BLANCPAIN GT SERIES ASIA – 2018 MEDIA REVIEW 08 SOCIAL MEDIA STATS
AVE. REACH AVE. IMPRESSIONS PER POST PER POST 1,200 FIGURES ONLY AVAILABLE JUL – OCT 2018 5,574 FIGURES ONLY AVAILABLE JUL – OCT 2018
TOTAL FOLLOWERS AVE. LIKES PER POST 3,123 247% INCREASE 172 66% INCREASE
TOTAL LIKES AVE. ENGAGEMENT RATE 35,900 263% INCREASE 714.8,200 AUDIENCE COMPARISON
6% 14% 13% 13% AGE 13-17 MALAYSIA 24% 10% UK AGE 18-24 FEMALE 21% JAPAN AGE 25-34 50% MALE 10% USA AGE 35-44 THAILAND AGE 45+ 9% OTHER 36% 87% 7% BLANCPAIN GT SERIES ASIA – 2018 MEDIA REVIEW 09 SOCIAL MEDIA STATS
TOTAL IMPRESSIONS TOTAL PROFILE VIEWS 1,875,200 192% INCREASE 30,978 87% INCREASE
TOTAL FOLLOWERS TOTAL MENTIONS TOTAL RETWEETS TOTAL LIKES EST. MAR 2017 1075 5371 13000 1600 135% INCREASE 19% INCREASE 173% INCREASE 332% INCREASE
AUDIENCE COMPARISON
JAPAN 92% 6% 91% 13% UK AGE 13-24 32% USA 86% 16% AGE 25-34 FEMALE 41% 40% ITALY 82% AGE 35-44 MALE GERMANY AGE 45+ FRANCE 31% 3% 94% 3% 7% 11% 3% OTHER LIKE PERFORMANCE VEHICLES LIKE MOTOR RACING LIKE SPORT LIKE LUXURY BLANCPAIN GT SERIES ASIA – 2018 MEDIA REVIEW 10 2019 BLANCPAIN GT WORLD CHALLENGE ASIA CALENDAR
SEPANG APR 06/07 2x 1HR RACES BURIRAM MAY 11/12 2x 1HR RACES SUZUKA JUN 22/23 2x 1HR RACES FUJI JUL 06/07 2x 1HR RACES
YEONGAM AUG 03/04 2x 1HR RACES FUJI YEONGAM SUZUKA SHANGHAI SEP 21/22 2x 1HR RACES
SUZUKA 10 HOURS* AUG 24/25 SHANGHAI
CHAMPIONSHIP FORMATS (SEE PAGE 11 FOR FULL DETAILS) • GT3 and GT4 qualifying separated at each event (2x GT3 & 2x GT4) while the classes will race independently at selected meetings. • GT3 championship renamed Blancpain GT World Challenge Asia in
line with SRO’s European and US sprint series. BURIRAM • Standalone GT4 Asia championship launched. • At least one Asian driver per GT3 car; GT4 remains solely amateur.
CALENDAR • GT3 once again comprises 12x 60-minute races spread across six events. • Korea becomes fifth country to stage a round courtesy of its former F1 venue: Yeongam. • All six circuits feature FIA Grade 1 status – the best Asia has to SEPANG offer.
SUZUKA 10 HOURS • Legendary Japanese venue again hosts Asia’s sole leg of the Intercontinental GT Challenge. • *Results do not count towards Blancpain GT World Challenge Asia’s championship but teams are encouraged to compete. BLANCPAIN GT SERIES ASIA – 2018 MEDIA REVIEW 11 2019 CHAMPIONSHIP FORMATS
x2 Practice – Friday (GT3 & GT4 together when races are combined) THREE-DAY FORMAT x1 Official Practice – Saturday (GT3 & GT4 together when race is combined) (TYPICALLY) x4 10/15’ Qualifying – Saturday (separate sessions at all meetings: x2 GT3 and x2 GT4) x2 60’ Races (R1 Saturday/R2 Sunday). GT3 and GT4 grids/races are combined at specific events. QUALIFYING All drivers must contest either Q1 or Q2. Each crew’s highest graded driver will always contest the second Qualifying session and start Race 2. PITSTOPS 60-minute race: a mandatory driver change must occur between the 25th and 35th minutes (minimum pitstop time and success penalties to be applied). Top-three finishers in GT3 and GT4 will incur a ‘success’ time penalty to be served during the following race’s pitstop. 1st = 15s, 2nd = 10s, 3rd = 5s. SUCCESS PENALTIES New race-by-race entries/cars/pairings are subject to a mandatory pitstop time adjustment. ELIGIBLE CARS Open to FIA-homologated GT3 and GT4 cars. GTC cars may be accepted by the championship organisers. All entries are subject to SRO’s BoP adjustments. DRIVERS Two drivers per car. A solo driver is possible subject to SRO’s approval/adjustment. GT3 Pro-Am and Silver Cup: One of the two drivers must be an approved Asian driver. Nationality is based on a Asian passport. Australia and New Zealand are not considered Asian in these two classes. Pro-Am pairings must comprise a Bronze-graded driver plus Silver, Gold or Platinum, while only Silver drivers can contest the Silver Cup.
GT3 Am Cup: Reserved for Bronze-graded amateur drivers. Both drivers must have been born or currently reside in Asia, Australia or New Zealand, or possess a suitable passport. DRIVER PAIRINGS (BASED ON X2 DRIVERS PER CAR) GT4 Am: Reserved for Bronze-graded amateur drivers. Both drivers must have been born or currently reside in Asia, Australia or New Zealand, or possess a suitable passport. Specific individual cases are subject to SRO’s discretion.
Points: Count towards the Overall GT3/4 classifications as well as GT3’s Pro-Am, Silver Cup and Am Cup classes. GT3: Overall, Pro-Am, Silver Cup and Am Cup (Silver cars balanced against Pro-Am using weight/time) CLASSES GT4: Am only GTC: Pro-Am and Am. Subject to approval and BoP. CATEGORISATION FIA Driver Categorisation system POINTS 25 - 18 - 15 - 12 - 10 - 8 - 6 - 4 - 2 - 1 LICENCE International Grade C licence minimum PRIZE FUND & FREIGHT In 2019 Early bird entries will benefit from SRO’s Team support totalling $500,000 shared between Prize Money and Freight allowance (subject to completing each round) For the first meeting entered: in GT3 a maximum of five sets, in GT4 a maximum of four sets. For subsequent meetings: in GT3 a maximum of four sets of new tyres plus one additional set nominated at a previous Blancpain GT World Challenge round may be registered for use in PIRELLI TYRES free practice only. In GT4 a maximum of three sets of new tyres plus one additional set nominated at a previous Blancpain GT World Challenge round may be registered for use in free practice only. Wets are unlimited. Testing is subject to control. Registered and recurring race-by-race entries are permitted to enter in other race events at circuits that are part of the 2019 calendar but are prohibited from taking part in private or general test days during the season at circuits that are part of the 2019 calendar, unless it is an Official Test as announced by Bulletin. One-off race-by-race TESTING entries are subject to testing limitations/adjustment. Testing restrictions start from after Round 1. No private testing to take place in Sepang the week prior to the race weekend unless official. Official Suzuka test scheduled for week of event Thursday. BLANCPAIN GT SERIES ASIA – 2018 MEDIA REVIEW 12 CONTACTS
BENJAMIN FRANASSOVICI PAUL YAO TOM HORNSBY
SERIES DIRECTOR & GENERAL MANAGER SERIES CO-DIRECTOR PRESS OFFICER
[email protected] [email protected] [email protected] +44 7771 516 515 +852 9489 9641 +44 7935 820 827
WWW.BLANCPAIN-GT-SERIES-ASIA.COM @BLANCPAINGTA BLANCPAINGTSERIESASIA @BLANCPAINGTSERIESASIA