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The GT2 class is taking off, with four manufacturers now building cars and more coming. KTM launched its offering in October

- ANDREW COTTON

German motorcycle manufacturer KTM, which has been producing the X-Bow and derivatives for the GT4 category since 2008, has taken the next step in its racing programme and developed a new car for GT2 aimed squarely at the customer racing driver.

Actually, the company has launched two cars. Alongside the GT2, KTM has also released the GTX, which is aimed at track day driving, the Creventic 24-hour race series and can also compete in the GT-Open and the former VLN series, based on the Nürburgring Nordschleife. The two cars, GT2 and GTX, are similar enough that one can be converted into the other using a conversion kit that will shortly become available.

GT2 was launched in response to the increasingly aerodynamically complex GT3 cars, which have become too challenging for many amateur drivers to race competitively. With more aero dialled onto the cars, the speed is made up in the corners rather than the straights, and the amateur drivers have been rapidly disappearing as a result.

Stéphane Ratel, promoter of GT racing in various series around the world, built his business on these drivers and so has taken steps to address the issue, launching a series for relatively inexpensive cars more suited to them, and both manufacturers and tuners have responded positively.