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SRO has advised teams that it has taken over full control of Fanatec GT World Challenge Australia Powered by AWS, Speedcafe has learned.
The ‘GT World Challenge’ (GTWC) branding was introduced to the Australian GT Championship when SRO and the Australian Racing Group jointly took over category management effective from the 2021 season.
As Speedcafe predicted, the former now solely holds the CMA, per an email sent to teams this afternoon by SRO, attributed to its General Manager of GTWC Asia (among other properties).
That communication coincides with a press release distributed by Motorsport Australia which has announced that SRO is set to run a standalone ‘GT4 Australia Series’ in 2024.
Strictly speaking, said release does not confirm the CMA change for GTWC Australia, which is contested predominantly by GT3 vehicles.
However, the aforementioned email reads, in part, “On behalf of SRO, I am pleased to confirm that from season 2024 onwards we will assume operational and promotional management of the Fanatec GT World Challenge Australia and GT4 Australia Championships.”
GT4 vehicles previously formed a class within GTWC Australia and now race in the Monochrome GT4 Australia Championship on the same grid as Mobil 1 Australian Production Cars.
The public announcement today from SRO, via Motorsport Australia, reads, in part, “Top-level SRO promoted GT racing in Australia will expand in 2024 with confirmation that GT4 cars will compete as part of the Motorsport Australia national championship.”
The season will be run to a six-round calendar on the Shannons SpeedSeries platform, kicking off at Phillip Island in April.
That will be followed by stops at The Bend in May, Queensland Raceway in July, an as yet unannounced venue in late-August/early-September, and Sydney Motorsport Park in October.
The finale will take place at the Supercheap Auto Bathurst International in November.
Stephane Ratel, Founder and Global CEO of SRO, said, “SRO are very excited to enter GT4 Australia into the Australian Motorsport market as a standalone category for the first time in 2024.
“We see GT4 as a vital piece in the growth of GT Racing throughout Australia as we plan on building GT Racing in Australia as we have globally.
“GT4 globally is a category designed for both semi-professional and young aspiring professional drivers which is why we will be implementing the same philosophy in Australia.”
Michael Smith, Motorsport Australia’s Director of Motorsport & Commercial Operations, remarked, “It’s going to be an exciting year for GT4 in Australia, with a new standalone series in 2024 part of the Shannons SpeedSeries suite of categories.
“We’ve already seen its potential this year and it has certainly proven to be a popular category.
“We look forward to seeing it grow further under SRO’s leadership as a standalone series as part of a broader global GT platform.”
Details of the 2024 Monochrome GT4 Australia Championship are yet to be announced.
SRO GT4 Australia 2024 calendar
| Rnd | Circuit/Event | Date |
| 1 | Phillip Island | Apr 12-14 |
| 2 | The Bend | May 24-26 |
| 3 | Queensland Raceway | Jul 19-21 |
| 4 | TBC | Aug 30-Sep 1 |
| 5 | Sydney Motorsport Park | Oct 18-20 |
| 6 | Supercheap Auto Bathurst International | Nov 8-10 |
