F1 Fanatic

The GT1 World Championship will conclude at the Buddh International Circuit in India, the organisers have announced.

Here’s the calendar:

2012 FIA GT1 World Championship Calendar

8th April – France – Nogaro
22nd April – Belgium – Zolder***
27th May – Spain – Navarra
8th July – Portugal – Algarve
26th August – China – Beijing**
2nd September – China – Ordos**
16th September – Russia – Moscow*
7th October – The Netherlands – Zandvoort
4th November – Argentina – San Luis*
2nd December – India – New Delhi

2012 FIA GT3 European Championship Calendar

8th April – France – Nogaro
22nd April – Belgium – Zolder***
27th May – Spain – Navarra
8th July – Portugal – Algarve
16th September – Russia – Moscow*
7th October – The Netherlands – Zandvoort

* Subject to the ASN’s confirmation and the FIA homologation of the circuit
** Subject to the confirmation from the ASN and to the contract with the promoter
*** Subject to the homologation of the circuit

I have to say I prefer the British GT series although I do get why people might find it boring. What I find a bit boring about it is that GT racing consists of cars that are already fast…going fast. It’s not quite the same thrill as exotic single seaters or family road car based touring cars.

It will be freezing to the bone in New Delhi at that time of the year!

Anyway, I loved the GT1 championship in its first year thanks to those exotic models such as Lamborghini Murcielago, Ford GT, Nissan GT-R, Maserati MC12, etc. I haven’t been following it after that. I read somewhere that the series will now only be open to GT2 cars? I hope the series succeeds but I like to see more Lambos, Fords, Nissans and even some American muscle cars such as the Camaro and Mustang in a championship together. I’m tired of seeing the Porsche 911 GT3 RS silhouette every other time.

In fact the Italian Superstars championship really caught my attention because of the wide range of machinery being raced including a big Chrysler. Don’t know how the series is now.

Ohhh… whoop-de-sodding do.

Britain doesn’t get a look in this year, which is a real shame because I attended the Silverstone round for the past 2 years and it’s a great series to see at the track as well as on TV. There’s a great support package too and the events were really well attended.

But this year round they’ve lost a lot of big names, as they’ve diluted the rules to bring GT1 and GT3 into line with each other… seriously, I wish they’d decide on some sportscar rules and regulations and stick with them. There have been more classes of LMP and GT cars over the past 20 years than you can count on your own fingers and toes.

But thankfully they’ve also gained a few big names, and I hope the series can stay afloat, but some of the 2012 calendar is really disappointing.

They certainly don’t need 2 races in China.

I’ve just tweeted Silverstone and they’ve replied that it was because they’ve swapped it for the British WEC round, which is fair enough I guess, plenty of GT action there too.