Ratel Downplays GT3 Shift as Mercedes and Toyota Ready 2 Reverse-Developed Cars

1 articles · Updated · Sportscar365 · May 25

Stephane Ratel said the new Mercedes-AMG GT3 and Toyota GR GT3 do not yet signal a damaging arms race, even though both were designed for racing before road homologation.
Price is the real test, he said, because GT3 remains healthy only if the cars reach customers at a reasonable cost when deliveries begin next year.
Ratel argued the bigger pressure on GT3 comes from road-car trends, with newer production models becoming larger, heavier and less suited to racing.
The category’s 20th anniversary comes with a warning from GTE’s collapse in 2023, but Ratel said GT3 is safer as long as it stays rooted in customer racing rather than factory marketing budgets.

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