[Bcarr6]

Originally Posted by JorritVD

I don't get it why SRO launched the Blancpain GT Asia.

It is SRO vs. MA (Motorsport Asia), and that is not good. two almost same championships.

SRO ofcourse has the Blancpain GT Series, Sepang 12 hours, Fia GT World Cup (Macau) and the Intercontinental GT3 challenge.

On the other side, GT Asia has now a big alliance with the Asian LeMans Series (SRO vs. ACO also here than).

It was better to have one GT3 asian championship, GT Asia, and that SRO partnered up with them on the same way he do with PWC. Than you got the local GT Asia knowdlegde, backed up with the knowledge of SRO. That would have make more sense.

I hope not, but I have the feeling this could be the last year GT Asia, might the championship be dissapointing in 2017, and BGT Asia a succes.

So far, GT Asia has:
- 1x or 2x CMRT Eurasia GT3 Vantages
- 3x Absolute Bentley
- 2x AAI? Mercedes (according to their fb page)
- ...

Maybe return:
- Clearwater (i won't be suprised they still show up a couple event in their Ferrari, I think Hamaguchi choose the McLaren and the SRO series, because of the choose for Suzuka. Mok Weng still can go with his Ferrari to GT Asia)
- Craft-bamboo. Said they decide based on which series offers the best
- Singha. Although confirmed a Blancpain Sprint campaing, i don't rule them out for a return. But already entering an SRO series doesn't seem a good sign.
- BBT, not heard anything from the, might return in their F488
- AAI, not heard anything from them, might return with their Mercs (as mentioned above, or maybe with their M6 or McLarens

Possible entries:
- Asian LeMans Series teams: DH Racing (F488), VS Racing (Huracan), OD Racing (650S), ???

Not return:
- Phoenix Racing Asia, choose for SRO
- FFF, choose for SRO
- GruppeM, choose for SRO

My expectation: They now have almost 7 confirmed. I would be suprised if they can get 15 GT3 entries or more. But i expect it be more around 10 GT3 cars. Maybe with GTM (older spec GT3), GT4 and GTC it still could be a nice 20+ grid.

Crucial point: Which series can offer the best BOP, Racing and value for money. The two series are so similar, that it is crucial that there will be fair fights and good racing. BOP will therefore be important aspect, if someone feel like there car has got an disadvantage and might therefore switch the next season to the other championship. Just watch IMSA/PWC with Porsche this season. Sometimes i have the feeling that SRO given a few brands a little advantage or disadvantage. Last things is the value for money (social media, tv, press, etc.)

GT Asia struggled for grid size last few years so I see why SRO wanted to have a go, but I'd rather see a joint effort

Some other points in response to your very interesting comments:

-Haven't seen anything on AAI but they run BMW's mostly now right? Although I know they had two AMGs in GT Asia for a single race last year thought they were loan cars

They seemed to have ditched their McLaren since the start of this ASLMs season? Love to see it run though

I'd be unsurprised if we saw some form of AAI presence in both GT Asia and SRO Asia.

-Clearwater are doing SRO with their McLaren, and WEC with a Ferrari so I don't see a GT Asia return as likely. The article on the McLaren entry for SRO seemed to suggest a choice of one or the other had been made

-Craft Bamboo, still in the air I guess so that'll be interesting to watch

-Singha, I don't know about them, but if any I'd think they'd go SRO Asia, having entered Blancpain in Europe

-BBT I think would take the Gt Asia side

-I think your right, DH Racing, OD Racing, VS etc will be interesting to watch. I'd have thought they would want to run their new cars having just shelled out a big sum for them

Going to be an interesting season to see what happens and if they can coexist. I'm currently neutral between the two until we can see how the SRO races operate



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