New IRC series extends GT3 invite
The Hi-Tec Oils Super Series newest category – the Innovation Race Cars (IRC) – has opened the door for older model GT3 cars to compete in the IRC series in its own class.
That allows all GT3 cars built prior to and including 2019 to be eligible, including the Lamborghini Gallardos, Audi R8 LMS’, Porsche GT3 machines, Ferrari 458s and 488s, McLaren 650s’, Mercedes AMG GT3s, the list goes on…
The GT3’s will compete for their own championship in their own class, seperate from the IRC title that will be contested over the six Super Series rounds in 2025.
The IRC category founder Danny Stutterd has opened the gates for the older models as he believes there’s a distinct lack of opportunity for owners to get their machines on track.
“We’re inviting ‘Trophy’ cars, GT3 cars 2019 and older because I believe drivers and owners of older GT3 cars have been forgotten, left standing with nowhere to race,” Stutterd said.
“We at IRC would be very keen to have them run with us, we love the cars, and they lap at a very similar pace, with similar driving standards.
“There’s an opportunity to have those cars come and join our field. So, why wouldn’t we open the series up to old GT3 cars? They’re beautiful machines which now have a place to run in.”
IRC cars – such as this 2024 Camaro – will be sharing the track with older GT3 machines in the new 2025 Super Series category
The GT3 cars will also run with a “Sporting Handicap” against the Aussie built IRC and MARC machines that make up the category
The Sporting Handicap restrictor will be deemed by the year of the manufacturer, whilst only Bronze and or uncategorised drivers are allowed to compete.
“I’ve gone through the sporting handicap thoroughly, and we propose to run a sporting handicap, a restrictor, and weight.
“So, if the car in its day ran with a 51 restrictor, and 100 kilos at a certain track, that’s what you’re running. The intention is to have these guys race under the handicap, as it was intended.
The IRC category is hoping to attract GT3’s such as the Lamborghini Gallardos (pictured) to the track
“This means the IRC cars are not going to get blasted away, they’ll be very competitive, if not a bit faster, dependent on drivers.
“This is why we are capping it to cars built to 2019 spec and older. If I go beyond that, the GT3 cars will not be equal in performance with the IRC class, the IRC cars would have to be developed, and that would just add costs to the series.”
Every race, whether it be a sprint or an enduro, will commence with a rolling start to avoid the potential of stalled cars on the grid, whilst currently, the category is also on the hunt for a tyre supplier with all cars required to run the selected tyre compound.
Find out more here – www.hi-tecoilssuperseries.au/news/innovation-race-cars-join-the-hi-tec-oils-super-series
2025 IRC Calendar
- Round 1 – Winton Raceway, 28th Feb – 2nd March
- Round 2 – Sydney Motorsport Park, 30th May – 1st June
- Round 3 – Queensland Raceway, 27th – 29th June
- Round 4 – Queensland Raceway, 15th – 17th August
- Round 5 – Mallala Motorsport Park, 26th – 28th September
- Round 6 – Winton Raceway, 31st October – 2nd November
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