Challenge Bathurst event to fight GT ban

The November sprint event at Mount Panorama was last year used by a number of GT3 teams as a warm-up for February’s Bathurst 12 Hour, however a change in CAMS regulations could well make that impossible this time around.

The governing body has moved to effectively restrict GT3 cars from competing in events outside of the Australian GT Championship or the Bathurst 12 Hour, as outlined in a ‘stakeholder announcement’ last month, which was then revised earlier this month.

“National Championships are sanctioned by CAMS to encourage, develop and recognise professional competition and provide a place or pathway for similar racing cars to compete fairly.

“Similarly Club Level, or grass roots competition is to provide a pathway for entry to the sport and for those who wish to compete in events where the focus is more on participation and enjoyment of the sport and not necessarily with a single desire to be performing at the highest levels of the sport.

“Therefore, CAMS must restrict certain vehicles from racing in certain events. In order to apply such a restriction, CAMS will be re-classifying applicable 2GT vehicles to a revised CAMS Category Classification code of 2GT CHAMP.

“For clarity, CAMS will only permit a vehicle defined by CAMS as a 2GT (FIA/ASN Homologation GT) CHAMP Log Booked vehicle eligible to compete in the Australian GT Championship, and other Australian GT permitted events. Accordingly, these 2GT CHAMP vehicles will not be eligible for any other competition.

“All other CAMS Classified 2GT vehicles will remain eligible for other competition events, whereby they are accepted for competition at such events.”

That decision hasn’t gone down well with former Bathurst 12 Hour promoter O’Brien, who today released a statement of his own vowing to fight the ban after having the Challenge Bathurst supplementary regulations knocked back.

“The recent statements by CAMS, issued on 24 May and 5 June 2017 respectively, aim to restrict certain FIA homologated GT3 automobiles (2GT) from competing at any CAMS sanctioned events other than Australian GT Championship or other Australian GT permitted events,” read O’Brien’s statement.

“CAMS intend to achieve these restrictions by re-classifying applicable 2GT automobiles to a code of 2GT CHAMP. CAMS have produced a list of automobiles to be re-classified as 2GT CHAMP, all of which would be ineligible to compete at the Event.”

“We have reviewed the CAMS eligibility restrictions in conjunction with the International Sporting Code, CAMS Constitution and the National Competition Rules. It is our opinion that CAMS does not have jurisdiction to make a rule that restricts the participation of FIA homologated GT3 vehicles at the Event and consequently the vehicle eligibility restrictions which were announced on 24 May and 5 June 2017 are void.

“The draft Supplementary Regulations (“the Regulations”) for the 2017 Event were submitted to CAMS for comment in late April. The final Supplementary Regulations were submitted to CAMS for approval on 26 June 2017.

“These Regulations include the eligibility of all FIA GT3 automobiles, as approved by CAMS at the 2016 Event, regardless of any domestic re-classification by CAMS. On 28 June 2017, CAMS refused to approve the Regulations without the restrictions above.

“We intend to appeal this decision through the Australian Motor Sport Appeal Court however are unable to provide a date for this Appeal. The date for entries to open in the Supplementary Regulations was 3 July 2017. Without approval of the Supplementary Regulations by CAMS, we are unable to accept entries to the Event.

“Once the Appeal has been heard, we will be able to advise the outcome and a revised date for entries to open.”