Dear Friends, 2019 is just around the corner and already looks exciting. You might have heard about some of the planned changes, which are now confirmed below. Firstly, Blancpain GT Series Asia will become Blancpain GT World Challenge Asia, thus aligning the championship with SRO’s other European and American GT3 sprint series. GT4 has also been rebranded – GT4 Asia – and has separate races at most events, although there will be no standalone weekends. DOCUMENT DOWNLOADS • 2019 Calendar • 2018 Media Report • 2019 Blancpain GT World Challenge Asia Entry Form • 2019 GT4 Asia Entry Form • 2019 Blancpain GT World Challenge & GT4 Asia Overview ENTRY FORMS We are officially kicking off the 2019 Blancpain GT World Challenge Asia and GT4 Asia seasons by releasing the entry forms. Also look out for the early bird tariffs and 2019 packages. Entries open on December 1. FORMAT • GT3 and GT4 races will be split at most events while qualifying will be separate at all meetings. • Once again our calendar features six rounds comprising 12x 60-minute races. Korea’s Yeongam circuit joins the schedule, meaning we have six FIA Grade 1 venues for the first time. Together, these represent the best circuits in Asia. • As per 2018, teams will be given opportunities to test at the start of the season at Sepang and mid-season at Suzuka (one-day test). The Suzuka 10 Hours*, Asia’s only round of the expanding Intercontinental GT Challenge, also takes place at the end of August. Further details and entry forms for this event will follow shortly (*the Suzuka 10 Hours is not part of Blancpain GT World Challenge Asia). DRIVER PAIRINGS We have fine-tuned the criteria to help promote and develop Asian drivers. • GT3 Pro-Am and Silver Cup: One of the two drivers must be an approved Asian driver. Nationality is based on passport. Australians and New Zealanders 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. • GT4 Am: Reserved for Bronze-graded amateur drivers. Both drivers must have been born or currently reside in Asia, Australia or New Zealand, or hold an Asian passport. • Points: Count towards the Overall GT3/4 classifications as well as GT3’s Pro-Am, Silver Cup and Am Cup classes. BLANCPAIN GT WORLD CHALLENGE In addition to Asia’s classification, drivers may have the opportunity to join their manufacturer’s team competing across the ‘Global’ World Challenge, joining together 12 drivers as one team. Four of these compete in Asia, four more in Europe and the remaining four in America. Together, they all score points for the manufacturer. 2018 MEDIA REPORT & PRIZE MONEY/FREIGHT ALLOWANCE Thanks to being part of the ‘Global’ GT World Challenge, Asia’s events will benefit from upgraded TV production and global broadcasting. 2018’s media report can be downloaded above. After the successful launch of Blancpain GT Series Asia and two exciting race seasons, we are shifting our priority investment to live TV production, including upgraded TV graphics and further distribution on social media applications, some of which was seen at the last two rounds this year. Despite our investment in visibility, we will maintain the team support program by offering a combined $500,000 between prize money distribution and freight support. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any further questions regarding 2019. And here’s a reminder of our exciting 2018 season finale at Ningbo. Kind Regards, SRO Motorsports Group 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 DRIVER PAIRINGS possess a suitable passport. (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 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 PRIZE FUND & FREIGHT 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 PIRELLI TYRES may be registered for use in 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 TESTING Official Test as announced by Bulletin. One-off race-by-race 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..