Algarve and Paul Ricard to host GT and F3 events in February and March

GT Sport is introducing a key novelty in 2012: a Winter Series of two events, to take place inPortimão and Le Castellet next February and March, involving both GT cars and F3. TheWinter Series will take place in conjunction with the first two of the three collective testingsessions of the International GT Open and the European F3 Open scheduled for the winterseason (the third one being in Barcelona), whose calendar is as follows:

• Thu 16 (test) and Fri 17 February (test + WS 1) at the Autódromo do Algarve, Portimão(PT)• Fri 2 (test) and Sat 3 March (test + WS 2) at Circuit HTTT Paul Ricard, Le Castellet (FR)• Thu 15 and Fri 16 March (test) at Circuit de Catalunya, Barcelona (ES)

These events will obviously be non-championship races, completely independent from theInternational GT Open, The Spanish / Iber GT and the European F3 Open . They will have theirown sporting rules and timetable, which will be communicated separately. The number ofparticipants will be limited.

The principle is based on the following format:• Day 1: Private tests (around 3.5 hrs each for GTs and F3)• Day 2: Private tests (1.5 hrs for F3 and 45 min for GTs)Qualifying (2 sessions of 20 min for GTs, 1 session of 20 min for F3)Race (2 of 50 min each for GTs, 1 of 35 min for F3)

With regard to GTs, will be allowed to compete in this Winter Series GT2 and GT3 cars, aswell as cars from the GT Light category of the Spanish GT Championship and cars coming fromGT mono-brand trophies such as Ferrari Challenges and Porsche Cups. Regarding F3, chassisF312, F308 and F306 will be eligible.