SRO GT4 is a class of grand tourer racing cars maintained by the SRO Motorsports Group that race in various auto racing series across the globe. It is an entry-level class aimed at amateur drivers. GT4 cars are production-based vehicles with a few modifications for racing. The cars are closer to their road legal counterparts than most other GT racing classes; they are also one of the least powerful GT categories. The class uses a balance of performance system to provide close competition between different race cars.
18-462: The Ginetta G50 is a specialist GT4 class -developed racing car , designed by Ginetta Cars . A road version of the car was planned, but did not enter wide-scale production; instead, the smaller Ginetta G40 was launched. In late 2007, in what he later described as his Victor Kiam moment , Leeds -based businessman Lawrence Tomlinson bought Ginetta Cars from the group of enthusiasts, who themselves had bought it out of administration. The G50
36-454: A distinct class in each of the following series: Bold indicates an active series that currently uses SRO GT4 cars. Additionally, the following series allow SRO GT4 cars to participate alongside other competitors: GT4 European Series Northern Cup The GT4 European Series is a sports car championship created and organised by SRO Motorsports Group . It is a pro/am championship which utilizes SRO GT4 class cars, and runs alongside
54-530: A distinguishable career in a national or international GT championship. These drivers are known as Silver drivers. Drivers over the age of 30 who did not receive their racing licenses until after turning 30 and having no single-seater experience at all are also allowed in the series, under the term Bronze drivers. Just as in GT3, each event would consist of two races of equal distance, usually held on different days. Teams were not required to have two drivers and could use
72-620: A true amateur championship was needed in order to complement GT3 which allowed a certain level of professional driver to compete. Many national series also adopted the GT4 regulations as a lower class, and the European Cup eventually lacked the competitors needed to continue. During the 2016 24 Hours of Spa , the Stéphane Ratel Organisation (SRO) announced that the European Cup would be divided in 2 different series for 2017. They are called
90-763: The British GT Championship (5), and won the GT4 European Cup in 2009, beating Aston Martin , BMW and Porsche . As a result, Ginetta Cars won "Small Business of the Year" from the Motorsport Industry Association in 2008, and in 2009 Tomlinson was nominated by the MIA for the "Outstanding Contribution to Motorsport" award. The first Ginetta G50 road-registered car was shown in April 2008, and then took part in
108-668: The GT World Challenge Europe as a support series. Following the successful introduction of the FIA GT3 European Championship in 2006, the formula was expanded to include usage by other nationally based professional championships such as the British GT Championship , Belcar , Australian GT Championship and German ADAC GT Masters . While the FIA GT3 European Championship continues, the SRO felt that
126-741: The GT4 European Series Northern Cup and the GT4 European Series Southern Cup . The Northern Cup will be the same as the European Cup, while the Southern Cup will collect forces with the FFSA GT Championship . Since Stéphane Ratel spoke out about his firm belief in this class, many championships and constructors have followed. In 2018 the Southern Cup was renamed FFSA GT - GT4 France, while the Northern Cup became
144-529: The GT4 European Series Southern Cup . The Northern Cup would turn back into the GT4 European series, while the Southern Cup would turn into the FFSA GT Championship . As of October 2024, over 40 vehicles have gone through the homologation project with the RACB. GT4 cars can either directly be built by the automotive manufacturer, or by race teams and tuning companies. SRO GT4 cars have been either exclusive to or in
162-616: The Silverstone Supercar Tour. It features the same base set-up as the race car, with a proposed development of a V8 model with 520 brake horsepower (390 kW). Retail prices were estimated at starting from £45,000 ($ 72,549) for the V6, and £100,000 ($ 161,220) for the V8. However, due to the economic recession, Ginetta indefinitely shelved plans for general production of the G50, instead opting to produce
180-509: The GT4. SRO GT4 The GT4 category was founded by the SRO at the end of 2006, and first introduced in 2007, racing in the GT4 European Cup as a cheaper alternative for GT3 racing. The category was also added to the British GT Championship in 2008. The SRO also founded the Dutch GT Championship in 2009. The GT4 class was also adapted by several other small national championships. After an unsuccessful attempt to expand
198-452: The car was sold to privateer teams due to the mechanical problems. The engine produced 365 kW (496 PS; 489 hp) in the highest trim. The car focused on improved handling and stability, a front splitter and a large rear diffuser aided in that purpose along with a large rear wing. The engine was coupled to a 6-speed Hewland sequential manual gearbox operated by paddles on the steering column which resulted in faster gear changes than
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#1732876471836216-610: The category in 2012, the SRO introduced the GT4 European Trophy , consisting of five rounds from existing European Championships. This replaced the GT4 European Cup. In 2014, this series merged with the Dutch GT4 Championship to form the GT4 European series. Due to a low number of entries, the SRO announced that the GT4 European series would be split into two championships, the GT4 European Series Northern Cup and
234-529: The prototype through the Channel Tunnel , with the car becoming the first production-specification car to be driven through the tunnel. However, production was cancelled following the company's failure to secure a government grant for the project. In 2008, the Ginetta G50Z was announced. Intended for GT3 class racing, the car featured a 4.0-litre Zytek V8 engine which was then down graded to 3.8-litres before
252-409: The same driver for each race. The championship used the standard FIA point scheme for the top ten finishers: 25-18-15-12-10-8-6-4-2-1. If a team used different drivers for each race in a single event, both drivers would receive points. A driver and team championship were both held. If at least five cars of the same make participate in a race, then a manufacturer cup would also be awarded, similar to
270-498: The smaller, cheaper Ginetta G40 . In 2009, Ginetta, in conjunction with Zytek , built an electric version of the G50 named the Ginetta G50 EV Prototype . The car was fitted with a rear-mounted 90 kW (122 PS; 121 hp) electric motor , with the regular petrol engine being removed. Ginetta gave an estimated range of between 150 and 250 miles. In November, former Formula 1 World Champion John Surtees drove
288-434: The sole GT4 European Series again. Like GT3, GT4 drivers have a set of criteria which would automatically eliminate them from competition based on their level of experience. Since GT4 class drivers are meant to be true amateurs, these criteria are tighter than that seen in GT3. Drivers under the age of 30 are not allowed to have had a top-ten finish in any national or international single-seater championship, nor to have had
306-579: The style used in GT3. Since the introduction of the GT4 European Cup, the GT4 class of cars have been expanded to various national series. The British GT Championship and Belgian GT Championship allow GT4 and Super Sport class cars to compete alongside the GT3 class, while the stand-alone Dutch GT4 Championship ran its first season of competition 2009. The Spanish GT Cup Open Europe series also allows GT4 cars to compete with one-make cars. A GT4 championship plans to be run in Brazil in 2010. Norway introduced
324-399: Was developed to celebrate 50 year of production of Ginetta Cars. With base specifications penned by trained engineer Tomlinson, the car was developed in under six months. Launched in 2008, the G50 was awarded Autosport National Car of the Year in its first year. With its own Ginetta GT Supercup one-make series, the G50 has also been undefeated GT4 class championship winner record holder in
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