Production car battle ground over GT4

A reported dispute last weekend during the Motorsport Australia Trophy Series event at The Bend between the promoters of the Australian Production Cars Championship, Production Car Racing Pty Ltd (PCR) – who have also been running GT4 spec cars in the APC series – and Motorsport Australia could trigger a move for a PCR controlled production car-based category to the AASA sanctioned Hi-Tec Oils Super Series for the 2024 season. 

At the same time, SRO Motorsport, the global owner of the GT World Challenge, which also includes the GT4 category looks set to end its relationship with ARG and wants to take back full control of the GT program in Australia which includes the GT3 and GT4 categories. SRO owns the intellectual property and BOP for GT4.

GT4 returning to control of the SRO and Motorsport Australia has been confirmed – see story here.

It is expected that a higher profile GT series will include some Supercars events for both GT3 and GT4 cars will be finalised for the 2024 series. SRO is also in partnership with Supercars for the Bathurst 12 Hour race.

A reported dispute between Production Car Racing Pty Ltd (PCR) and Motorsport Australia could see a Production Car based category similar to the Motorsport Australia owned category head to the AASA sanctioned Super Series. Image: Speed Shots Photography

While issues around the running of the GT4 cars have been simmering for some time, it was brought to a head at The Bend with the GT4 runners wanting to run slicks tyres as opposed to running on semi slick tyres. The only tyres at The Bend that could be used were from Michelin which were not homologated for the cars and were outside the agreement with SRO.

The supplementary regulations for the GT4 cars were changed and they were forced to run as ‘Invitational’ cars in the production car races.

It is believed that PCR will also withdraw from its partnership with the Australian Racing Group (ARG) after less than one year. ARG is likely to remain with Motorsport Australia, while PCR looks likely to move its remaining categories under AASA sanctioning rather than Motorsport Australia, which means losing the rights to the Australian Production Car Championship in the process.

Sources within Motorsport Australia believe that a properly run GT4 category has a positive future in Australia.

Stay tuned to our website and RevLimiter podcast for more information as this issue evolves.

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