+ BMW extends points lead with string of strong showings in Europe
+ Porsche still in contention, Aston Martin makes major gains
+ Lead trio face Audi, Ford, McLaren, Mercedes-AMG and Toyota in global contest
BMW has stretched its advantage at the top of the GT4 Manufacturer Ranking, while Porsche is facing increasing pressure from Aston Martin as the season reaches its halfway point.
Eight brands dispute this new global classification, scoring points via their customer GT4 teams in America, Asia, Australia and Europe. Seven events have run during the past four weeks, beginning with the Japan Cup contest at Fuji Speedway on 22/23 June.
Having launched with a standalone meeting at Sugo, this marked the first of three rounds at which the new-for-2024 series will run alongside Fanatec GT World Challenge Asia Powered by AWS. Race 1 saw Toyota earn maximum points in the Silver-Am class thanks to Toyota Gazoo Racing Indonesia, which narrowly beat Porsche squad Sunrise BLVD to top spot in the one-hour contest.
Sunrise BLVD struck back in Race 2, defeating the YZ Racing-run BMW to give the Cayman its first Japan Cup victory of the year. The Toyota came home third, ensuring that Porsche narrowly out-scored the home favourite at Fuji, while McLaren earned a good haul thanks to a pair of Am class wins for JBR.
The same weekend saw plenty more GT4 racing on the other side of the globe. From the foothills of Mount Fuji to the rolling hills of the Ardennes, both the FFSA French GT Championship and British GT were in action at Spa-Francorchamps, headlining the returning Spa Speedweek.
In both cases, the trip to Belgium marks the only event on the calendar to take place on foreign soil. Porsche was the biggest scorer in the French championship thanks to an excellent showing from AV Racing, which clinched an Am class win and a podium finish in Pro-Am. Mercedes-AMG also secured a good haul in the Ardennes, taking a Silver victory and a pair of Am podiums with NM Racing Team.
Aston Martin continued its fine form in British GT, which staged a single two-hour race that was reduced due to an early accident. Not for the first time, Forsetti Motorsport was its star performer, securing victory in the Silver class and runner-up in Pro-Am. Mercedes-AMG and BMW scored well too, the latter sealing Pro-Am victory via Century Motorsport. Ford and McLaren also picked up useful points by finishing second and third respectively in the Silver class.
Just one week later, the GT4 European Series Powered by RAFA Racing Club brought yet more action to Spa-Francorchamps as a support event to the centenary CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa. With an astonishing 57 cars on the entry list, this is likely to go down as the biggest GT4 grid of the entire year – and therefore the best Manufacturer Ranking scoring opportunity.
BMW bolstered its place at the top of the standings thanks to a Pro-Am win for Chazel Technologie Course, which led a class podium sweep for the M4 GT4. The Bavarian marque also secured a runner-up finish in Silver, though it was eclipsed by McLaren as Elite Motorsport won both races with its Artura, banking 1,400 points in the process.
On 6/7 July the ADAC GT4 Germany paddock assembled at the Norisring street circuit in Nuremberg. Staged alongside the DTM, this event is among the highlights of the German motorsport calendar, drawing more than 100,000 spectators to the historic venue. BMW banked the biggest points haul in the opening contest thanks to Hofor Racing by Bonk Motorsport, which led a podium sweep for the home brand.
Locking out the top three positions is no mean feat, but it was put firmly in the shade by the Porsche contingent's efforts in Race 2. The winning W&S Motorsport crew took the chequered flag ahead of five more Caymans, with the best of the rest down in seventh. In doing so, Porsche prevented its rivals from scoring significant GT4 Manufacturer Ranking points.
Over the same weekend, Japan Cup was back in action at Suzuka for its penultimate round of 2024. Wakayama Toyota with Hojust Racing enjoyed a perfect showing with its Supra, clinching Silver-Am victory in both races. BMW secured a pair of runner-up finishes thanks to YZ Racing, while D'station Racing clinched both Am victories with its Vantage.
On 13/14 July the British GT grid travelled to Snetterton, where Aston Martin secured another Pro-Am win courtesy of Forsetti Motorsport. The same squad added a further Pro-Am podium and a pair of Silver class rostrums, wrapping up the GT4 Teams’ title with two rounds to spare. BMW was also on form, earning Pro-Am victory with Century Motorsport, while McLaren scored well courtesy of a Silver win for Optimum Motorsport.
Snetterton marked the 24th of 46 events scheduled to run in 2024. BMW therefore enters the second half of the campaign still on top with 14,181 points and a useful advantage over nearest rivals Porsche (12,553). Indeed, having been within striking distance of top spot, the Stuttgart brand is now under growing threat from Aston Martin (11,943). This trio is firmly established at the head of the standings, followed by Mercedes-AMG (8,916), Toyota (6,119), McLaren (5,911), Audi Sport (3,725) and Ford (2,042).
But Porsche can take encouragement from the fact that the America and Australia series, in which it has tended to score particularly well, have not staged events during recent weeks. As such there could be a shift in momentum when Pirelli GT4 America and GT America Powered by AWS resume at Virginia International Raceway this weekend (20/21 July). The GT4 European Series Powered by RAFA Racing Club is at Hockenheim on the same dates, while Monochrome GT4 Australia resumes at Queensland Raceway on 3/4 August.
