News
The fastest single marque GT racing championship in the UK, the
2018 saw the introduction of the most significant changes to the championship since the very first race in 2003, headlined by the introduction of reversed grids. After one of the most competitive and successful seasons to date, 2019 will usher in only refinements to the format that has become familiar throughout 2018.
Reverse grids
As is currently the procedure, a driver’s fastest qualifying time will determine the starting grid for the first race of each weekend. Similarly, the starting grid for the second race of each weekend will be determined by the finishing order in the first race. However, any drivers failing to complete race one in 2019 will start race two behind the last race finisher of their category. All other classified finishers will be allocated starting positions in accordance with their finishing position in race one.
The winner of the first race will continue to select a number at random between four and six, denoting whether the first four, five or six overall finishers will have their grid positions reversed for race two.
Points system
The consistent points format for all categories introduced for the 2018 season will continue, with the Pro category points weighted towards race one and drivers in each category awarded two championship points for setting the fastest lap within their category in qualifying. For 2019, the driver who sets the fastest lap within their category during a race will be awarded an additional championship point per race.
In a bid to mitigate any drivers who join the championship mid-season affecting the points haul of full-season championship challengers, all drivers who join the championship after round six will no longer be eligible for championship points.
Prize money
Drivers and teams will be competing for an unchanged prize fund, including awards of £40,000 to the overall champion and £35,000 to the winner of the Rookie class – two of UK motorsport’s single largest prizes. For Pro category competitors in 2019, weekend prize money will now align with the points system in being weighted towards the first race. The distribution for 2019 is as follows:
Race 1 Race 2
1st £1,700 £1,300
2nd £1,400 £1,000
3rd £1,200 £800
4th £900 £700
5th £600 £600
In addition, all other prize initiatives will continue. Winners of the Pro, Pro-Am and Am categories will be offered the use of a
Calendar (provisional)
Continuing the tradition of providing a world-class calendar as part of the world-wide
Rounds 1 and 2 Brands Hatch (Indy) TOCA 5–7 April
Rounds 3 and 4 Spa or Monza WEC or ELMS
Rounds 5 and 6 Croft TOCA 14–16 June
Rounds 7 and 8 Oulton Park TOCA 28–30 June
Rounds 9 and 10 Snetterton TOCA 27–29 July
Rounds 11 and 12 Knockhill TOCA 13–15 September
Rounds 13 and 14 Silverstone (National) TOCA 27–29 September
Rounds 15 and 16 Brands Hatch (GP) TOCA 11–13 October
Following positive feedback from drivers and teams there will continue to be four fully-supported
Media Day Silverstone March
Supported Test 1 TBC March
Supported Test 2 Snetterton Preceeding week
Supported Test 3 Knockhill Preceeding week
Supported Test 4 Silverstone Preceeding Week
New initiatives
For 2019, the championship will introduce a
Furthermore, on each morning of a championship weekend, five drivers will be selected at random to conduct a breathalyser test. The tests will be performed by the championship team and a zero-tolerance rule will be in effect.
The reports of previous seasons can be found in our news archive.