Following the publication of other key international racing calendars, SRO Motorsports Group has adapted its own schedules to better suit the needs of drivers and teams.
he draft calendar for the 2019 Blancpain GT Series campaign was first revealed in late July, during the 70th edition Total 24 Hours of Spa, allowing significant opportunity for further consideration.
After consulting with the paddock, SRO Motorsports Group can now confirm a handful of alterations to this schedule.
Firstly, the event at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya (28-29 September) will remain part of the Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup in 2019. The Spanish round had initially reverted to its previous status as a Sprint contest, with the Nürburgring event (30 August-1 September) returning to the Endurance schedule.
However, after discussing this potential change with teams and drivers, the decision has been taken to retain the successful programme used in 2017 and 2018. This will see Nürburgring remain on the Sprint calendar, avoiding a clash between the Endurance finale and the FIA World Endurance Championship, where a number of drivers also compete.
The dates for both remain unchanged from the calendar revealed at Spa.
Further to this, the planned Sprint Cup event at Red Bull Ring – originally scheduled for 24-26 May – has been replaced with a trip to Dutch circuit Zandvoort on 12-14 July. The venue on the North Sea coast therefore returns to the calendar for the first time since 2015.
This will ease the logistical pressure ahead of the Endurance Cup round at Circuit Paul Ricard – a crucial preparatory event for the Total 24 Hours of Spa – while ensuring a resumption of the popular July contest at Zandvoort.
These alterations have led to small changes for other SRO championships. Firstly, the GT4 European Series will compete at Zandvoort in 2019 instead of Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, ensuring a home event for the category’s significant Dutch contingent.
To avoid a clash with this, the Championnat de France FFSA GT – GT4 France will now race at Lédenon one week earlier than originally stated, moving to a 5-7 July date.
Finally, Blancpain GT Sports Club will once again compete at Misano in 2019, which returns to the calendar in place of the previously planned trip to the Hungaroring.
A number of official test days for the Blancpain GT Series can also be confirmed. This follows the announcement that in-season testing will not be permitted in 2019.
In addition to the traditional two-day pre-season test at Circuit Paul Ricard and the traditional Spa test, there will be an opportunity for extra running ahead of the Monza and Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya Endurance Cup rounds. Test days to run ahead of Sprint weekends will be announced in due course.
The next major SRO Motorsports Group event takes place at Laguna Seca, where the concluding round of the 2018 Intercontinental GT Challenge will play out on 26-28 October.
BLANCPAIN GT SERIES / 2019 CALENDAR
13 & 14 March : Paul Ricard Tests
13 & 14 Apris : Monza – Endurance Cup
4 & 5 May : Brands Hatch – Sprint Cup
11 & 12 May : Silverstone – Endurance Cup
31 May – 1 june : Circuit Paul Ricard – Endurance Cup
28 & 29 June : Misano – Sprint Cup
3 July : Spa Test Day
12 & 13 July : Zandvoort -Sprint Cup
25 – 28 July : TOTAL 24 Hours of Spa – Endurance Cup
30 August – 1 September : Nürburgring – Sprint Cup
6 – 8 September : Budapest – Sprint Cup
28 & 29 September : Barcelona – Endurance Cup
BLANCPAIN GT SPORTS CLUB / 2019 CALENDAR
13 & 14 April : Monza
1 & 2 June : Circuit Paul Ricard
29 & 30 June : Misano
20 & 21 July : Spa-Francorchamps
28 & 29 September : Barcelona
GT4 EUROPEAN SERIES / 2019 CALENDAR
13 & 14 April : Monza
4 & 5 May : Brands Hatch
1 & 2 June : Paul Ricard
29 & 30 June : Misano
12 – 14 July : Zandvoort
31 August & 1 September : Nürburgring
20 & 21 July : Spa GT4 Endurance Cup
GT4 FRANCE / 2019 CALENDAR
19 & 22 April : Nogaro
17 – 19 May : Pau
5 – 7 July : Lédenon
25 – 27 July : Spa – Francorchamps
14 & 15 September : Magny-Cours
11 & 13 October : Circuit Paul Ricard
Adelheid Terryn,