As the Australian GT category continues to make changes to the schedule and structure of the category moving towards the 2020 season, the latest raft of changes are designed to bring the category into line with the worlds most successful GT competitions.
Category Management for the CAMS Australian GT Championship have revealed a change in the driver categorisation process for the 2020 Australian GT and Australian Endurance Championship seasons with a move to adopt the system that is used so successfully in both Asia and the USA.
From the opening round of the 2020 season, Australian GT will utilise both an FIA driver ranking system, as well as the SRO [Stephane Ratel Organisation] driver grading classifications of Pro-Am, Silver-Cup and Am-Cup, moving away from the multi-tiered driver grading system that Australian GT has utilised over recent years.
“In order to more closely align ourselves with the success of GT3 championships in both Asia and the USA we felt we’d make a change to the driver grading structure to bring it inline with the rest of the world and make it clearer for teams and fans,” Australian GT Category Manager David Vervaart explained.
“From the start of the 2020 season, we will adopt the proven SRO system and follow exactly the FIA driver ranking system of categorisation – Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum.”
From the opening round of the 2020 season, Australian GT will adopt the following structure;
GT3 Championship (FIA driver grading)
PRO/AM (1x driver Bronze + 1x driver Silver or Gold or Platinum)
SILVER/SILVER (1x driver Silver + 1x driver Silver)
AM/AM (1x driver Bronze + 1x driver Bronze)
Single drivers (Bronze only)
GT4 Championship (FIA driver grading)
PRO/AM (1x driver Bronze + 1x driver Silver)
AM/AM (1x driver Bronze + 1x driver Bronze)
Single drivers (Bronze only)
AGT Trophy Series (FIA driver grading)
PRO/AM (1x driver Bronze + 1x driver Silver)
AM/AM (1x driver Bronze + 1x driver Bronze)
Single drivers (Bronze only)
Trofeo Challenge (FIA driver grading)
PRO/AM (1x driver Bronze + 1x driver Silver)
AM/AM (1x driver Bronze + 1x driver Bronze)
Single drivers (Bronze only)
Link to FIA driver categorisation; https://www.fia.com/fia-driver-categorisation
“Adopting the Silver/Silver combinations allows us to start working towards a junior development program, as any driver under 30 automatically becomes Silver, and by uniting them with a Bronze driver in categories outside of GT3, they have the opportunity to develop in a partnership with a car owner that is looking to improve their experience alongside an upcoming star, someone the likes of a Ryan How who has been very impressive so far this year.”
Vervaart also revealed that for 2020, the current pit-stop compensation times would be eliminated in order to just let the teams race.
“Next year the CTPS (controlled timed pit stop) for every car will see them stop for 98-seconds plus the drive-through time (pit entry to pit exit, something which will alter based on circuit length).
“Again, in order to just let teams sort the result out on track, we will make an adjustment to the multi-faceted pit stop compensation time system that is currently employed.
“There’s no question that the existing system has enjoyed good success in past seasons, but the championship landscape has changed over recent years, so it’s time to make an adjustment to suit, and we believe that this is the right direction for the forthcoming season.”
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