PROsport Racing’s continued participation in the GT4 European Series is uncertain. This is due to the current BoP situation in international GT4 racing. Team owner Chris Esser explains his view of the political development of the class and possible program options.
After four of six race weekends, it is uncertain whether PROsport Racing will compete in the GT4 European Series in Monza and Jeddah, why is that?
I don’t want to do what we experienced in Hockenheim at the GT4 European Series to our drivers or my team again. I myself left on the Friday of practice and was on the verge of withdrawing the cars as well. From a sporting point of view, it was a humiliation with an announcement and economically a great loss for us, as you no longer have satisfied drivers or customers with such a BoP.
If the BoP develops in a direction that is objectively fair for us, then we will also go on the grid, but in the current situation this is just burning money for us and destroying our good name in GT4 racing. You saw it recently in Hockenheim: Hugo drove a great lap in qualifying to seventh place on the grid, but was overtaken by eight cars on the first half lap of the race because we simply don’t have any top speed on the straights due to the classification and are therefore simply eaten up by the competition. With a top speed disadvantage of up to 15 km/h, the best driver cannot achieve a result, especially as top speed is crucial in Monza and Jeddah.
Could you describe the problem with the BoP vehicle classification in more detail?
Our problem is that the business model of the SRO and the manufacturers is based on the sale of new vehicles and Evo packages, so the teams always have to start with the latest material. We start with the predecessor model from Aston Martin, which in our opinion is the better race car. We have it on good authority that the BoP of the old Vantage has been changed at the request of Aston Martin Racing so that it is guaranteed to be behind the new Vantage. As the new car has so far tended to be in the midfield, we had to be slowed down so much that we have practically no chance. I sometimes have the feeling that there is a BoB, a balance of business.
You could clearly see what we could have achieved with the old Vantage GT4 at the season opener in Le Castellet, for example, when we took first and second positions in qualifying and won the race.
How do you rate the development of the GT4 class?
After more than ten years of GT4 racing and four championships won with three different models, I feel I can make a judgment on the subject. If you look at the price development of GT4 cars in recent years, it no longer has anything to do with a beginner’s series. The price of a new GT4 car has risen by 100% since 2016 and, as if that wasn’t enough, customers are presented with a nice Evo package for hefty prices in the second year at the latest.
Our first GT4 car, a Porsche 911 Cup GT4 from the 997 generation, cost less than €100,000 back then and you could become a champion with it, whereas today you have to fork out €250,000 and get a large-series car with a few tuning items. Eight to ten years ago, a season didn’t cost €100,000, but now three times that amount is no longer enough.
In my opinion, the entire GT4 class is quite a cash cow right now and we urgently need to make sure that the situation doesn’t get any worse!
The situation also has further implications for PROsport Racing’s racing program…
Exactly, we actually wanted to make a guest start at the remaining three ADAC GT4 Germany race weekends, but we canceled it after seeing the BoP. With this classification, we would have no chance, just like in Hockenheim. Our Aston Martin has the same classification as last year, but what use is that to us if the BMW and the Mercedes-AMG drive with significantly more engine power and the Porsche is allowed to unload weight compared to last year?
One option is a start in the ADAC GT Masters:
Exactly, we are in talks about entering our Aston Martin Vantage GT3 in the ADAC GT Masters this year. It is important for us that we receive a fair vehicle classification, but we are currently in constructive talks with the ADAC, who are very keen for us to compete.
