Two exciting new GT3-specification Italian racers, the Maserati GranSport Light and the Lamborghini Gallardo GT3R, both took to the track last week as the new FIA European GT3 Championship arrived at the Paul Ricard HTTT circuit in the South of France for the new series' first official testing session ahead of next year's first full season. The inaugural test followed quickly on from the official launch of the new FIA European GT3 Championship which took place in Monaco on Friday December 2nd.  Despite the torrential rain, which closed Nice airport, a full crowd listened to SRO Chairman Stephane Ratel as he presented the innovative new 'low cost' championship, which will take to the tracks, alongside the International FIA GT series next year.

The President of the FIA, Mr Max Mosley, was the guest of honour, and he spoke encouragingly of the new Championship, saying: "I think the FIA GT3 European Championship is an excellent idea, and we at the FIA are very pleased about it.  It fills a gap in the market and it provides the possibility of very good and very entertaining racing for competitors and drivers who might otherwise be left out in the ever more professional top end of GT racing." Representatives from most of the manufacturers who are committed to building GT3 cars also spoke during the presentation. Cars on display in front of the Hotel de Paris in Monaco, included the Ascari KZ1R, Aston Martin DBRS9, Corvette Z06 GT3, Dodge Viper, Lamborghini Gallardo, Lotus Exige, Maserati GranSport Light, Porsche 997 and the Venturi Heritage.

The first ever day of testing for the new FIA GT3 European Championship took place at the impressive Paul Ricard High Tech Test Track last week. The 'official' GT3 test driver, Christophe Bouchut, spent more than four hours trying all the cars which had assembled for the test, in order to start the process of balancing their performance. The cars which had been on display in Monaco the day before were joined by the Nissan 350Z. The fastest time of the day was eventually set by the new Aston Martin DBRS9 in 2 minutes 14.669 seconds, followed by the venerable Dodge Viper (2:14.938), Porsche 997 (2:15.765), Maserati GranSport Light (2:18.252), Lamborghini Gallardo (2:18.316), Ascari KZ01 (2:19.804), Nissan 350Z (2:21.172) and the Lotus Exige (2:25.51).

Aston Martin Racing became to first major manufacturer to confirm FIA European GT3 Championship entries, announcing swiftly that two teams will be representing the British marque in the new FIA GT3 Championship in 2006: BMS Scuderia Italia, who will also be Aston Martin Racing's works team in the 2006 FIA GT Championship, and Barwell Motorsport, former British Touring Car Championship Production Class winners.
 

Two leading Italian sportscar manufacturers, Maserati and Lamborghini, are already committed to the new series. Maserati Corse boss Claudio Berro is a strong supporters of the new regulations and spoke positively about the new championship last week. "GT3 is a very fantastic idea," said Berro, following the Paul Ricard test. "We spoke with Stephane some years ago about this type of car, when we prepared a car for the 24 Hours of Daytona. The car was completely standard with a normal gearbox and engine, not an expensive car, and it ran for twenty four hours without any problems and finished tenth in the race. For me, this is the idea for entries in the GT. The car is not expensive, very reliable, and we can use a lot of parts from the road version. That is why I think the GT3 is a good idea, and it was a very good idea of Stephane's to organise this series, to show that you can have endurance without the cost."

Meanwhile, Lamborghini will be represented by Hans Reiter who is already building the 5.0-litre V10-powered Gallardo sportscar to GT3 specification, the first example of which is already being run by new outfit Lambo-Racing, in the German-based VLN Nordschleife championship. The Gallardo GT3R is immediately identifiable by a huge new rear wing, jutting front lip spoiler, additional cut-out air intakes (including ones slashed across a new engine cover), new larger exhausts, tow hooks, an even lower suspension, and huge, bulging 11x18-inch OZ racing alloy wheels. The Gallardo GT3R will offer 500bhp and 510Nm of torque. Reiter Engineering has already received several firm orders and admits to considerable further interest. They are pitching to run the Gallardo GT3R (six cars will be required from each manufacturer) for interested 'gentleman' drivers and is offering a cost-effective, fully tailored package.