SRO Motorsports Group has launched a special award for the 2011 FIA GT3 European Championship which will reward the amateur driver pairings in Europe’s most successful GT Championship. 

The SRO Gentleman’s Trophy will be awarded to the best Bronze-Bronze driver pairing in each of the twelve races, with an overall award going to the best bronze driver, or best bronze pairing, at the end of the season.  Points will be awarded on the same scale as the main championship, with 25 points for the leading eligible pair of drivers, followed by 18-15-12 etc for the next classified finishers.

Stephane Ratel, CEO of the SRO Motorsports Group, said: “The FIA GT3 European Championship attracts some of the leading amateur and semi professional GT drivers and competition for podium places is very fierce.  In an effort to reward amateur drivers SRO has launched the ‘Gentleman’s Trophy’ for the 2011 season for any teams that feature two bronze drivers in the same car.  At the moment we don’t have many bronze-bronze pairings but we’re confident that more non professional drivers will consider racing in the FIA GT3 European Championship if they know they don’t have to be paired with a gold or top silver driver to be able to stand on the podium at the end of one of the FIA GT3 races.”

In addition to receiving points towards the overall Gentleman’s Trophy at the end of the season, the top drivers at each event will be invited to step onto the podium to receive their trophies and take part in the post race press conference.

For more information on the FIA GT3 European Championship visit www.gt3europe.com and any drivers interested in taking part in the championship can email Ina Fabry at ina@sro.fr

Twenty eight cars are entered for the opening round of the 2011 season, which takes place this weekend at the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve in Portugal.