150 guests were present Saturday evening at Burg Wegberg in  Germany for the presentation of the revamped Euro GT Series.

The Euro GT Series will provide a home for really powerful race cars. Hein Hartman,  Race Organizer “There will be a start grid of only genuine GT cars.  We are looking  forward to see brands like Porsche and Ferrari of course, but also Marcos, Maserati, Saleen, Viper, Corvette, and possibly BMW and more.”

The Series will consist of 3 Classes: EGT1, EGT2 and EGT3. The Technical Regulations are similar to the FIA Standards, but with some significant exceptions. There will be no air restrictors in the EGT1 Class for example. Race cars with around 700 BHP, like the V8SuperStar of the Swissracing Team, will start in the EGT1 Class. Pierre von Mentlen, Team Manager and driver of the yellow silhouette car: “The EGT1 Class is a real treat. The cars are fast, faster and fastest.”

Gottfried Grasser, one of the first drivers who committed to the Euro GT Series 2006 and will participate with his Ultima confirms: “Our Ultima was built according to the GT1 Regulations but it has no homologation. Unfortunately we were not able to let this car compete in the proper way so far. We are therefore very happy with the new platform.

The relaunch of the Euro GT Series will also result in a revival of the standard V8STAR cars, which will compete in the EGT2 Class. The EGT3 Regulations are technically identical to the FIA GT3 Regulations.

“The race format, the event program presented, plus the international character which we find in the Euro GT Series is very important for our marketing partners and team sponsors. That is why we have opted for the Euro GT Series” continued the Austrian Gottfried Grasser. Evening anchor man Thorsten Stucke added, that for 2006 the Euro GT Series will participate in existing events, for the future however the aim is to set up exclusive Euro GT Series events.

This means that in 2006 the Euro GT Series will participate among others in seven weekends of the GTP, Le Mans Endurance Series, Super Prix and the Belcar. Series Organizer Anja Hartman is also in discussion with the organizers of the Truck GP. Two races of 40 minutes each will be the thrilling highlight of weekends.

The show will not be a huge financial burden for the teams: the entry fee will be 7.000 Euros and manufacturer teams will be prohibited.

 The Series’ organization is also working on TV broadcasting. The races will bepresented live on the internet and for 2007 a complete media package is planned.

La Piazza, an in-door market place with show facilities and culinary highlights,will be present at some events to provide off-track entertainment.

The event program, the race format, and the calendar convinced no less than 18 drivers to sign up during the past four weeks. Several other teams joined in during the Brazilian Race Night in Wegburg, such as the V8Star Team of  MIS Sport Promotion. MIS will compete with the V8Star vice-champion Thomas Mutsch in the EG2 Class.

Provisional 2006 race calendar

March 03                     Test day in Valencia (Spanisch GT Championship)

April 14 – 16                Nürburgring (GTP)

May 12 – 14                Spa – Francorchamps (Le Mans Endurance Series)

July 07 – 09                Zolder (Super Prx)

July 21 – 23                Eurospeedway Lausitz (Belcar)

September 15 – 17    Dijon (GTP)

Other dates are under negotiation.