Where is the promotion?

[Muttley]

I’ve had a look through MN and Autosport, and there is no British GT Preview for Mondello, especially considering this is the first time the series is going there. I was of the opinion (along with others) that with the SRO in charge of the promotional side of things this would be better. Are they? Doesn’t seem to be yet.

The only people that seem to be “promoting” the British GT’s are DSC (doing a bang up job too), but if you’re not “in the know” about a series how are you supposed to make a last minute decision to attend?

So I went to the official BGT website, some useful information there, an entry list, a couple of news items, but the timetable was still for the opening round!!!! Surely in the month since round 1 this could have been sorted out?

Is it down to the individual tracks to publicise events? Talking of which, I found a thread asking about the LMES at Silverstone, OK so it’s not a BRDC event, but surely an idea on ticket prices on the circuit website? Forget about the LMES website, next best thing to useless for any form of information. The event is 3 months away and people need to organise their budgets for going to meetings. (I certainly do. Do I do one day or all three days etc..).

Back to promoting a meeting. In Autosport there is a large glossy centre piece for the SEATs on the Toca bill this weekend, now there is a company that can promote, as we saw last year on the F3/GT package. But the amount of tickets given out, they must have made a loss overall. Rockingham also have worked out how to promote, put a concert on at the end of the day and get families in. (44000 at the F3/GT/Sugarbabes meeting last year). Some who went only for the concert must have decided to go to another GT race, but how do we keep these converts by keeping them in the dark?

F3 and GT can be perceived as “specialist” racing, the BTCC is aimed at the man in the street - “this is the car you drive”, but it seems to pull the punters in, Powertour was managing this as well, before BMP pulled the plug. The aim has to be to attract the family for the whole day.

To paraphrase a movie: “If you promote it, they will come”


Rant over!

[Graham Goodwin]

Here's hoping the promotion keeps pace with the rapid increase in entries this season - The racing at Donington was fantastic - Fingers crossed it will be more of the same at Mondello this weekend

[Truckosaurus]

Well said sir.

If the BGT had similar tv coverage to the BTCC (British Tedious Car Championship) ie. Saturday/Sunday lunchtimes rather than early doors before TransWorldSport, then the man on the street might be more aware of the series and the variety and entertainment therein. The moment one of my colleagues mentions in passing "did you see the overtaking move by the TVR the other day?" then I shall be a happy chappy.

[JAG]

Isn't it a bit pointless advertising Mondello in Autosport and MN. Much better to advertise in the local press if you ask me.

As for promotion of the LMES Silverstone meeting, I think that will get into full flow after Le Mans, and for Silverstone themselves after the British GP.

The LMES website seems to be coming to life a little in recent weeks. Lets hope it improves siginificantly in the coming weeks.