SRO Motorsports Group Unveils New Driver Grading System for British GT Championship
SRO Motorsports Group has announced a new two-tier driver grading system aimed at accommodating the growing presence of younger and more experienced FIA Bronze-graded drivers in the British GT Championship. The updated format, set to be implemented in the 2026 season, introduces the ‘Bronze Plus’ category, which targets Bronze drivers under 40 who meet certain criteria, including recent extensive racing experience or a downgrade from Silver status.
The Spa and Donington Park rounds will each be 120 minutes long, a reduction in duration from previous years. A longer pit compensation time and an additional 25 kg ballast will be applied to GT3 Pro-Am or Silver-Am teams that field a ‘Bronze Plus’ driver to maintain competitive balance.
The SRO emphasized the importance of enabling amateur drivers of varied abilities to compete on a level playing field, stating, “British GT is taking proactive action by introducing a two-tier grading system.”
In related changes, GT4 Silver entrants will no longer bear extra weight ballast, and the former pit stop time handicap has been eliminated. Instead, the Pro-Am and Silver classes will be balanced using a compensation time applied only to the previous race’s overall podium finishers.
Lauren Granville, British GT Championship Manager, noted, “The ideas we’re implementing are based on feedback from existing teams. We’re aiming for marginal gains rather than sweeping changes, which will help to restore participation levels.”
The 2026 racing calendar, announced during the 78th 24 Hours of Spa, includes four sprint and four endurance events. The season kicks off with the Silverstone 500, scheduled for April 25-26, which remains the only three-hour race. Notably, the Spa round’s duration has been shortened to two hours.
Updated 2026 British GT Championship Calendar:
- March 31: Media Day – Silverstone GP
- April 25-26: Silverstone 500* – 1x 3-hour
- May 23-25: Oulton Park – 2x 1-hour
- June 20-21: Spa-Francorchamps* – 1x 2-hour
- August 15-16: Snetterton – 2x 1-hour
- September 5-6: Donington Park* – 1x 2-hour
- September 26-27: Brands Hatch* – 1x 2-hour
*GT4 Endurance Cup events
The entry process for the upcoming season opens December 1, with a cap of 34 cars.
