Australian GT will offer one of the biggest prizemoney funds in Australian motorsport as it looks to expand the category next season.
Championship organisers have made $200,000 available for competitors as an incentive to contest all rounds of both the Australian GT Championship and Australian Endurance Championship.
Drivers who compete in both championships will be eligible to claim a new Australian GT Overall Competitor Award determined by points accumulated from the two championships.
The winner will scoop $100,000 in prizemoney while a further $100,000 will be split amongst the rest of the top five.
The initiative follows a new-look 2017 calendar which sees the category move away from competing at Supercars promoted events.
Australian GT category manager Ken Collier hopes the introduction of a prize kitty will ensure strong grids for both championships.
“This new award is an enhancement of the CAMS Australian GT Championship and CAMS Australian Endurance Championship,” Collier told Speedcafe.com.
“When we were given the opportunity to conduct both championships in 2016 we were unsure how many teams would enter either or both of the championships.
“The registration process was priced so that competitors who supported both championships received a reasonable incentive.
“The outcome was that with only a few exceptions, all of the competitors registered for both championships even if they did not intend to be at every round.
“For 2017 we will continue with the combined championship entry incentive but also add this enormous AGT Overall Competitor Award for all eligible combined championship competitors.
“The $200,000 cash prize pool is additional to the added investment in media and increased opportunities for manufacturer and team sponsors involvement in hospitality and event interaction.
“Being able to have the AGT teams as the premier category at most of our 2017 events gives us the flexibility to manage the events so we have the best outcome for the AGT teams.”
The Australian GT Championship will begin on the Adelaide streets at the Clipsal 500 from March 2-5.
The four-round Australian Endurance Championship will kick-off at Phillip Island from May 26-28.
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