PowerTour is dead - how long will F3/GTs live?

[Paul Rayner]

The concept of PowerTour, a decent package of racing backed by the promotion it deserves including adverts and radio coverage, is now dead and buried. While some circuits, like Knockhill, are keeping up the status of the event, at others it's just reverted to the bunch of races it was in '99.

With Superweekenders now, will F3 and GTs eventually become just support races to Touring Cars, or will there be a future with the two championships on their own package?

Personally I think that there is a demand for two top line race series in Britain (TOCATour and "PowerTour"), to be promoted to a similar level.

[jase]

F3 will survive, it is regarded as the single seat feeder series for F1, but maybe not for much longer if the standards don't improve.

My comments as to what should happen to the GT series, and also the reasons behind the apparent rapid decline, have been written elsewhere, so I wont go into them at this time.

[AndyF]

I think the F3/GT programme is much better than a couple of years ago, with a proper structure with support races etc. I think it always be considered a 'second' package behind the Toca Tour, but although the Powertour was unltimately deemed a failure, I think there have been some advantages.

[Paul Rayner]

The question I'm trying to ask is not whether F3 itself will continue, but whether it and the British GT Championship will continue to race as the headline acts of a package of races.

I agree that PowerTour was, and always would be, a second package behind Touring Cars. If Touring Cars is the premier league then PowerTour is Division 1. But compared to last year, when it seemed more glamourous and attractive (with VIP passes for all competitors, a proper radio station keeping the crowds entertained, pit lane walkabouts at every venue), it just seems to be a lot less entertaining. Surely Britain's second motorsport package deserves a bit of promotion, including its own radio station?

[AndyF]

I agree that it deserves it, but it depends if it makes financial sense.