Group GT2

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In the past , different Gran Turismo classes in motorsport were referred to as Group GT2 . The currently highest GT class, the GTE class from FIA and ACO , was called GT2 between 2005 and 2010 . The IMSA has also adopted these regulations and designates this class as GTLM (short for GT Le Mans ). Between 1994 and 1998, the designation GT2 was chosen for the first time for what was then a higher-class set of regulations that later became part of the GT1 group . The SRO introduced in 2019 a new class that also the name GT2 carries. In terms of performance, this class is classified between GT3 and GT4 and is aimed primarily at amateur racing drivers.

Classes

In the course of history, the designation GT2 was chosen for different classes in different periods .

GT2 (1990s) / GTS, GT1

Chrysler Viper GTS-R
Ferrari 550 (GTS)

In the BPR Global GT Series and at the 24 Hours of Le Mans , the GT2 class was introduced for the first time in 1994, below the GT1 class at the time. After the end of the GT1 class in 1998, the GT2 class was continued at the FIA ​​and the SRO under the name GT and at the ACO under the name GTS . After the adjustment of the GT rules between FIA and ACO in 2005, the class was uniformly renamed GT1 class. New technical regulations were introduced for the 2010 season. The FIA GT championship , which until then had held long-distance races with GT1 and GT2 vehicles, was discontinued and instead the FIA GT1 world championship was announced for the new GT1 vehicles , in which one-hour sprint races were held. Due to the high operating costs of the vehicles, the class was no longer advertised from 2012 due to a lack of participants and the FIA ​​GT1 World Championship was held with Group GT3 vehicles in the last season of the series . The ACO has not advertised the GT1 class since 2011.

GT2 (2000s) / N-GT, GTE

Ford GT (GTE)
Ferrari 360 Modena (N-GT)
Ferrari 430 GT (GT2)
Ferrari 488 GTE

The current GTE regulations lead back to the concept of a GT3 class below the then group GT1 and group GT2 from 1998. After the GT1 class was discontinued, the planned GT3 class was from 1999 at the ACO as a GT class below the GTS, as well as advertised by the FIA ​​from 2000 as the N-GT class. However, these regulations were not exactly the same. The biggest difference was in the aerodynamics. While the ACO allowed smooth sub-floors, the FIA ​​banned them. This resulted in separate aerodynamic packages for the vehicles for both versions of the regulations in order to do justice to the massive influence of the underbody on driving behavior. In the 2005 season, the GT rules between FIA and ACO were harmonized, as a result of which this GT class was uniformly renamed Group GT2 . Due to the realignment of the FIA GT Championship 2010, in which the GT1 and GT2 vehicles competed joint long-distance races until then , the races for GT1 and GT2 should be separated and the GT2 class should be reserved for amateur racers. However, the plans for the GT2 European Championship failed due to insufficient participant interest. 2010 took the last time at the extra for the Spa 24 Hours advertised FIA GT2 European Cup eight GT2 cars in part. After that, the FIA ​​and SRO no longer held a championship for GT2 vehicles.

At the ALMS , the LMS and the ACO's Le Mans 24-hour race , the GT2 class had a large field of participants. On the other hand, the GT1 class only had a small number of participants in the ACO endurance racing series. Since the new GT1 vehicles were tailored to the regulations of the FIA ​​GT1 World Championship for one-hour sprint races, they had to be converted for the ACO endurance races. Due to the additional costs, the number of participants dwindled. The ACO reacted to this by restructuring the GT classes. The GT2 class was renamed GTE (short for GT Endurance ) by the ACO in 2011 , which clearly emphasized the focus on long-distance races and divided them into GTE-Pro for professionals and GTE-AM for amateurs. The GT1 class was no longer advertised. With the upgrading of the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup to the FIA World Endurance Championship , the GTE rules were adopted again by the FIA ​​2012. Initially, only the LMP1 class had FIA World Championship status in the endurance world championship, while the GTE class was classified as a World Cup . Since the 2017 season, the world championship title has also been awarded to GTE pilots and GTE manufacturers.

The technical regulations received a major change in the 2016 season: after the GT3 group was introduced in 2006 and its performance was quite similar to that of the GT2 / GTE vehicles, there were discussions in the following years about aligning these two classes. The convergence talks last failed in 2014, because there was no agreement between the thoroughbred racing engines with air flow limiters from the GTE class and the near-series GT3 engines, in which the performance should be measured via an acceleration sensor. Due to the failed class alignment, new GTE regulations came into force in 2016 , which should improve the safety of the drivers and increase the performance of the vehicles. This should set the GTE vehicles apart from the group GT3 vehicles, which with less downforce but higher top speed were sometimes faster than the more complex GTE vehicles. This occurred especially in the United SportsCar Championship , in which both GTE vehicles in the GTLM class and GT3 vehicles in the GTD class were eligible to compete. The performance of the GTE vehicles was increased by increasing the engine power by around 20 hp while reducing the weight by 15 kg. The manufacturers were also given greater freedom in the area of ​​aerodynamics by relaxing compliance with the series vehicle dimensions. This made it possible to integrate a significantly larger rear diffuser. This meant that the vehicle-specific special permits (waivers) could be abolished. The vehicles could still be adjusted to a similar level via the Balance of Performance .

In the past, in addition to the GT2 class, non-homologated vehicles were also grouped together in the so-called G2 category in individual GT championship races . Here, vehicles were taken into account that either had an expired homologation, had not yet been homologated by the FIA ​​or vehicles from small series manufacturers that did not meet the production requirements. Apart from the last criterion, the racing cars technically corresponded to the GT2 category. Both the International GT Open and several national championships used these special regulations.

GT2 (2020s) / GT Sports Club

Porsche 911 GT2 RS Clubsport

As part of the Spa-Francorchamps 24-hour race in 2018, SRO founder Stéphane Ratel announced plans for a new GT class, which will also be called GT2 again . These should have less downforce but more engine power (between 640 hp and 700 hp) than the current GT3. The performance of the vehicles should be between the GT3 and GT4 vehicles. In terms of costs, too, the GT2 class should be below the GT3 class. The GT2 class is being set up by the SRO as reinsurance in order to offer a fast but inexpensive GT class for amateur racing drivers should the FIA ​​come to a convergence of the GTE and GT3 class. This GT2 class is to be rolled out widely internationally from 2020.

As the first vehicle in this class, Porsche presented the 911 GT2 RS Clubsport, which has the same technical basis as the new version of the Porsche 935. The first race of the new GT2 class took place in 2019 as part of the 24-hour race at Spa-Francorchamps as Porsche Motorsport GT2 Supersportscar Weekend and was held exclusively with these two Porsche models. From 2020 the GT2 participants will start in the so-called GT Sports Club , which will be held simultaneously in Europe, America and Asia.

Timeline

International GT classes 1990s 2000s 2010s 2020s
4th 5 6th 7th 8th 9 0 1 2 3 4th 5 6th 7th 8th 9 0 1 2 3 4th 5 6th 7th 8th 9 0
GTP GT1
GT1 GTP
GT1
GT1 GT2 GT GT1
GT2 GTS GT1
GT2 GT GT1
GT2 N-GT GT2 GTE
GT GT2 GTE
N-GT GT2
GT3 GT3
GTC GT3
GT3
GT4 GT4
  • FIA
  • ACO
  • SRO

    • Homologated models

    GT2 (1990s) / GTS, GT1

    No. Valid from Manufacturer model
    GT2 2 08/01/1995 Porsche 964 Carrera RS 3.8
    GT2 3 01/01/1996 Porsche 911 GT2
    GT2 4 04/01/1996 Porsche 993 Carrera RS 3.8
    GT2 5 04/01/1996 Chrysler Viper GTS
    GT2 6 04/01/1997 Saleen Mustang SR
    GT2 7 05/01/1997 Renault Spider Type EFOH
    GT2 8 04/01/1999 Lister Storm GT
    GT2 10 06/01/1999 Marcos Mantara LM 600
    GT2 11 08/01/1999 Ferrari F50

    GT2 (2000s) / N-GT, GTE

    No. Valid from Manufacturer model
    NGT 1 03/01/2000 Ferrari 360 Modena
    NGT 2 03/01/2000 Porsche 996 GT3
    NGT 3 08/01/2002 Mazda MX-5
    NGT 4 03/01/2003 Maserati Coupe
    NGT 5 03/01/2003 Nissan Fairlady Z (Z33)
    NGT 6 07/01/2003 Morgan Aero 8
    NGT 7 03/01/2004 Ferrari 360 Stradale Challenge
    NGT 8 03/01/2004 Porsche 996 GT3 RS
    GT2 001 04/01/2005 Maserati GranSport
    GT2 002 09/01/2005 lotus Exige
    GT2 003 02/01/2007 Porsche 997 GT3 RS
    GT2 004 03/01/2007 Ferrari F430
    GT2 005 04/01/2009 Aston Martin V8 Vantage
    GT2 006 05/01/2009 Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4

    List of LM GTE vehicles

    GT2 (2020s) / GT Sports Club

    Web links

    Commons : Group GT2  - collection of pictures, videos and audio files

    Individual evidence

    1. ^ A b Maximilian Graf: SRO: Stéphane Ratel revives the GT2 class. sportscar-info.de, July 27, 2018, accessed January 30, 2020 .
    2. ↑ Maximilian Graf: Classification: GT1, GT2, GT3, GT4 - or is it GT5? sportscar-info.de, August 9, 2016, accessed on January 17, 2020 .
    3. ↑ FIA GT championship in transition. racing1.de, February 7, 2005, archived from the original on January 18, 2006 ; accessed on February 9, 2020 .
    4. ↑ Oliver Runschke: GT2 EM failed. speedweek.com, March 4, 2010, accessed January 30, 2020 .
    5. ↑ Oliver Runschke: Full hut in Spa. speedweek.com, March 4, 2010, accessed July 21, 2020 .
    6. ↑ Oliver Runschke: The dead live longer. speedweek.com, October 19, 2010, accessed February 11, 2020 .
    7. ↑ Stefan Ziegler: Le Mans: Some new features for 2011. Motorsport-Total.com, June 10, 2010, accessed on February 9, 2020 .
    8. ^ Roman Wittemeier: GT class in Le Mans: Hopes and dangers. Motorsport-Total.com, June 17, 2010, accessed February 9, 2020 .
    9. ↑ Oliver Müller: The GTE class of the FIA ​​WEC also receives World Championship status. speedweek.com, December 1, 2016, accessed February 11, 2020 .
    10. ↑ Markus Lüttgens: Two-class society with GTE and GT3 remains. Motorsport-Total.com, May 21, 2014, accessed February 9, 2020 .
    11. ↑ Oliver Runschke: Ratel: GT convergence was a single disaster. speedweek.com, July 3, 2014, accessed January 30, 2020 .
    12. ↑ Oliver Müller: The GTE-Class for 2016: A technical insight. speedweek.com, September 4, 2015, accessed January 30, 2020 .
    13. ^ Roman Wittemeier: GTE rules 2016: More power, less weight. Motorsport-Total.com, June 11, 2015, accessed December 30, 2019 .
    14. ↑ Oliver Müller: For the new GT2 class: Porsche shows the 911 GT2 RS CS. speedweek.com, November 28, 2018, accessed February 11, 2020 .
    15. ↑ Oliver Müller: The first race of the spectacular Porsche 935 is coming up. speedweek.com, July 24, 2019, accessed February 11, 2020 .
    16. ↑ Oliver Müller: From 2020: Blancpain GT Series becomes GT World Challenge. speedweek.com, July 26, 2019, accessed February 11, 2020 .
    17. ↑ Maximilian Graf: Classification: GT1, GT2, GT3, GT4 - or is it GT5? sportscar-info.de, August 9, 2016, accessed on January 17, 2020 .