MOTORSPORT: Supercars grabs GT

Supercars has further cemented its position as Australia’s most powerful motorsport promoter and organiser by taking over management of Australian GT racing.

Subject to approval from the Confederation of Australian Motor Sports (CAMS), the category controlled locally by millionaire businessman Tony Quinn since 2011 will be rebranded SuperGT from 2018.

The acquisition of local rights to the racing category for GT3 and GT4 sports cars follows on from the take-over of the Bathurst 12 Hour two years ago by Supercars.

A transfer of control of Australian GT racing had been rumoured for months as Quinn’s personal and business priorities changed and the category, after years of growth, had suffered a downturn in entries in 2017. It is reported that Quinn instigated the process, with serious talks taking place last month at the Sydney Motor Sport Park Supercars event.

The revival plan was presented to Australian GT competitors by Quinn and Supercars boss James Warburton in Brisbane and Melbourne meetings yesterday.

The new agreement would see Supercars run the Australian GT Championship, Australian Endurance Championship (AEC) and the Australian GT Trophy Series for older specification cars.

“There is an agreement in place with Tony, but it’s still subject to a number of CPs [contract provisions],” Warburton told the official Supercars website

“Today was very important to ensure that the competitors are onboard and understand what our vision is. Part of that is about forming a SuperGT Commission with elected members that give the competitors a say in the relevant issues.

“We have a strong culture of team involvement in Supercars and would continue that with GT.”

Supercars.com reported the SuperGT Commission is expected to include three competitors alongside Warburton, Supercars’ sporting and technical David Stuart and consultant John Casey, who runs the 12 Hour. The plan presented to teams included the continued involvement of current category manager, Ken Collier.

The SuperGT rebranding is consistent with other categories promoted by Supercars, including its headline touring car category, the Super2 development series and the forthcoming SuperUtes series for one-tonne dual-cabs.

GT racing already features regularly on Supercars racing bills, with the final round of the GT championship scheduled for the Sandown 500 on September 15-17.

“GT is at that point where it has become popular enough for it to become one of Australia’s premier events.

“The only way it can get there is with a team of people that Supercars can bring,” high-profile GT entrant Maranello Motorsport’s Mark Coffey told motorsport website speedcafe.com.

Image: www.australiangt.com.au