Separate V8 Star Class within reach
Already four V8 Star Teams have entered six cars for the 2004 season of the Euro GT Series. Seven weeks before the start of the season there are nine entries in the GT Class and eight entries in the N-GT Class.
Although the receipt of entries is slow, with still seven weeks to go before the first race it is expected that the Euro GT Series will have a separate V8 Star Class within the Series next to the GT and the N-GT Class. With six cars already entered now it is expected that the prerequisites for a separate V8 Star Class will be fulfilled. The Ryll Team and the MIS Team have each entered two cars and entries have also been received from Sweden and from Switzerland.
Both Ryll and MIS and also teams which have not entered yet still have driver seats available. The Euro GT Organization plays a liaising role here between teams and drivers. The new Class will use the 2003 V8 Star Technical Regulations but will adopt the Sporting Regulations of the Euro GT Series.
Cor Euser will enter his Marcos LM 600 in the GT Class and hopes to have more luck this year and beat 2003 champion Mike Martin (Oreca Viper). For both Cor and Mike the Stealth B6 with the shape of a GT1 car and driven by Rob Knook will be an unknown factor. Other possible competitors are Herman Buurman (Marcos LM 600), Max Stanco (car still unknown), and the second Euser Team Marcos LM 600.
Familiar faces will be Chaouki Chikhani (Porsche) and Andre Wilke (Porsche), and back from old days is fast and cheerful Daniel Schrey (Porsche). There will be various guest teams such as Team Probst (Porsche), Dane Lars Schönemann (Porsche), and Paul Daniels (Porsche) from the UK.
Cor Euser will also enter one or two Marcos Mantis cars in the N-GT Class to fight Charles Brugman (Porsche), Peter Brecht (Ferrari), and Italian Luca Moro (Porsche). Guest drivers Nico Unteregger (Chevrolet Corvette), Mirco Schultis (Panoz Esperante), Klaus Schneider (Porsche), and Team Backelandt (Porsche) will make it an interesting grid.
More team entries are expected before March 31 when the reduced entry fee period (discount € 1000) will expire.
The 2004 calendar consists of six events with two races each in Germany, Belgium and The Netherlands. This programme makes it possible to drive a full season at reasonable cost. The most important event this year will be the famous Marlboro Masters of Formula 3 at Zandvoort in August.
The Euro GT Series has reached an agreement with Dunlop for 2004 (optional for 2005 and 2006) to use Dunlop tyres as compulsory fitment on all cars. Tyres and tyre service are available through the Euro GT Organization at reduced prices. Dunlop will give technical support to the teams to allow them to get the best out of their Dunlop tyres.
