With the test and media days now complete, it is apparent this year’s FIAGT season will look much different than 2008’s. Many new cars are out in force including teams backed directly by Nissan and Audi. Our newest gallery features all these cars from GT1 down to GT4 around the colorful Paul Ricard High Tech Test Track (HTTT).
The biggest news in GT1 comes from Matech Racing who have made the jump from GT3 to GT1. Working with Ford Motorsports they will directly field a team of Ford GT1s and support an additional car for Belgian team VDS Racing. Nissan will also join the fray with their factory-backed Nissan GT-R, but it will race only four times in 2009.
Matech have been consistent winners in the GT3 class, but this year the Audi R8 LMS might upset its position. Audi have developed their GT3 contender with leading expertise in endurance racing and it will be a great unknown until the first race at Silverstone in May. At that time we will also see Kessel Racing’s Ferrari F430 Scuderia.
GT4 has 13 different manufacturers in 2009 with most appearing nearly stock. Maserati hope to change the game with their GranTurismo MC. It will go head-to-head with the Mustang FR500, V8 Vantage N24, BMW M3 and other new cars.
