Waiver yellow flag

The new-for 2022 GT3 regulations will mean a radical change for one of motorsport’s most successful categories, but might it also lead to cost hikes from the manufacturers? Racecar investigates

- ANDREW COTTON

New regulations have been agreed for GT3 for 2022 onwards, and passed by the FIA World Motorsport Council in December. The controversial new rules will mean a change to one of the most successful categories motorsport has seen. Yet while there is agreement from manufacturers not to go to extreme lengths in their pursuit of victory, and to respect the customer element of the category, these regulations do allow large scope for car development.

The situation has grown out of a problem BMW has had. It is developing its M4 for GT3 competition but has not been allowed into the category, as it stands, due to the M4 being a ‘platform’ car, sharing with other models in the group. While BMW argues that the car is almost the definition of a GT, or Grand Touring, car, compared to a supercar such as a Ferrari 488, the FIA says that the current regulations do not allow this car to compete in GT3.

BMW does not have another car that would fit the current GT3 regulations and it argues that many other manufacturers are in the same position, with cars that they might like to race – such as Audi with its A5, for instance.

The FIA also wanted to change the homologation regulations for GT3 in order to make the category more consistent and easier to manage. So, with the new regulations scheduled for 2022, it took the opportunity to make the changes it wanted.

Simplification