SRO Motorsports Group
An international motorsport organisation that promotes and manages GT, touring-car, esports and multidisciplinary racing championships.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
SRO Motorsports Group is an international motorsport organisation best known for developing, promoting and operating GT racing championships. Established in 1995 by Stéphane Ratel, the organisation was originally known as the Stéphane Ratel Organisation before adopting the SRO Motorsports Group name. Its work spans championship creation, sporting and technical administration, event promotion, commercial partnerships, manufacturer engagement and the management of racing platforms for professional, amateur and aspiring drivers. The company’s central business is GT racing. Its portfolio includes the global Intercontinental GT Challenge, the regional GT World Challenge championships, GT4 competitions, the British GT Championship, touring-car series and other specialist events. These programmes use different regulatory and sporting formats to connect manufacturers, professional teams, customer-racing operations and privateer competitors. SRO’s model generally combines championship promotion with rules and class structures designed to support manufacturer participation while preserving opportunities for customer teams and amateur drivers. The Intercontinental GT Challenge, introduced in 2016, brought major endurance races in different regions into a single manufacturer-focused global championship. Rather than requiring manufacturers to operate factory teams at every event, the format encourages them to support selected local or customer teams. The championship has included major endurance races such as the Bathurst 12 Hour, Nürburgring 24 Hours, CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa, Suzuka 1000 km and Indianapolis 8 Hour, although its calendar has changed over time. SRO’s GT World Challenge structure was launched in 2019 by bringing together its established regional series in Europe, Asia and America, with Australia joining the programme in 2021. The regional championships remain distinct competitions, while manufacturers can also compete for recognition across the global platform. GT World Challenge Europe developed from the Blancpain Endurance Series and Blancpain GT Series, while the Asian series originated as Blancpain GT Series Asia. SRO acquired the Pirelli World Challenge in 2018, subsequently developing it into GT World Challenge America. The organisation also created the GT4 category in 2006. GT4 cars are generally less powerful and less extensively modified than GT3 machinery, placing them closer to road-going vehicles and making the category suitable for amateur competitors and developing professionals. SRO owns and maintains the GT4 concept, while individual championships may be directly promoted by SRO or operated through agreements with other organisers. GT4 series have been established in Europe, America, Australia and other markets, and GT4 cars also appear alongside GT3 machinery in mixed-class championships. Beyond circuit-based GT competition, SRO has been associated with the FIA Motorsport Games, the FIA GT World Cup, touring-car categories, track-day and driving events, and esports initiatives. Its SRO E-Sport GT Series was developed with partners including Kunos Simulazioni and AK Informatica. The organisation has also overseen or supported one-make and manufacturer-focused competitions, allowing brands and drivers to compete within controlled technical frameworks. SRO operates internationally, with offices reported in London, Paris, Liège and Hong Kong. Stéphane Ratel has continued to serve as chief executive. The organisation’s present identity is closely associated with globally connected GT racing, professional event operations and a ladder of championships accommodating factory-supported competitors, customer teams, gentleman drivers and young talent.
History
SRO Motorsports Group was founded in 1995 by Stéphane Ratel, initially operating under the Stéphane Ratel Organisation name. From its beginning, the organisation concentrated on creating and promoting international racing programmes, particularly in the GT category. Its activities developed at the intersection of sporting administration, event promotion and manufacturer-backed customer racing. SRO became associated with several major GT and sports-car competitions. Earlier programmes connected with the organisation included the BPR Global GT Series, the FIA GT Championship, the FIA GT1 World Championship and the FIA GT3 European Championship. It also became involved in national and regional categories, including the British GT Championship, which it has overseen since 2004. The organisation’s portfolio has changed repeatedly as regulations, manufacturer interests and market conditions evolved. A significant step came in 2006 with the creation of the GT4 concept. GT4 was positioned below GT3 in performance and cost, using cars more closely related to road-going models and supporting a mix of amateur and professional participation. The concept enabled SRO to develop a broad international ecosystem of championships, including the GT4 European Series, GT4 America, GT4 Australia and other national or regional competitions. GT4 cars have also competed in mixed GT3-and-GT4 formats. SRO expanded its endurance-racing role through the Blancpain Endurance Series, launched in Europe in 2011. The programme later evolved into the Blancpain GT Series, combining Sprint Cup and Endurance Cup elements. The CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa became its signature event and an important anchor for SRO’s European GT activities. In 2016, SRO launched the Intercontinental GT Challenge to connect prominent endurance races across continents in one manufacturer-focused championship. The concept relied on manufacturers supporting local teams at selected events rather than requiring a single factory operation at every round. This approach helped connect established races such as the Bathurst 12 Hour, Nürburgring 24 Hours, 24 Hours of Spa, Suzuka 1000 km and Indianapolis 8 Hour within a common global framework. SRO’s regional GT portfolio was reorganised in 2019 under the GT World Challenge name. The European championship grew from the earlier Blancpain series, while GT World Challenge Asia developed from Blancpain GT Series Asia. In North America, SRO’s acquisition of the Pirelli World Challenge in 2018 provided the basis for GT World Challenge America. Australia joined the global structure in 2021 after SRO assumed control of the Australian GT Championship. The organisation has also operated or supported the GT Sports Club, later reorganised as the GT2 European Series, with a focus on Bronze, Titanium and Iron amateur-driver classifications. Other activities have included touring-car championships, the FIA GT World Cup, FIA Motorsport Games, esports racing and track events. SRO has maintained an international presence through offices in London, Paris, Liège and Hong Kong. Stéphane Ratel has continued as chief executive, while the group has remained focused on the global promotion and administration of GT motorsport.
- 2021
Australia joins GT World Challenge
[1]GT World Challenge Australia becomes the fourth regional series in the global structure.
- 2019
GT World Challenge is introduced
[1]SRO unites its principal regional GT championships within a common global manufacturer competition.
- 2018
SRO acquires the Pirelli World Challenge
[1]The acquisition expands SRO’s North American presence and leads to the creation of GT World Challenge America.
- 2016
Intercontinental GT Challenge launches
[1]SRO creates a global endurance championship designed primarily around manufacturer participation.
- 2011
Blancpain Endurance Series begins
[1]SRO launches the European endurance series that later develops into the Blancpain GT Series and GT World Challenge Europe.
- 2006
GT4 concept is launched
[1]SRO introduces GT4 as a lower-performance GT category aimed at amateur drivers and developing professionals.
- 2004
SRO begins overseeing the British GT Championship
[1]SRO assumes responsibility for the British GT Championship, a mixed GT3 and GT4 national series.
- 1995
SRO is founded
[1]Stéphane Ratel establishes the organisation that later becomes SRO Motorsports Group.
Products and positioning
A specialist international organiser and promoter focused on GT racing, with an integrated portfolio spanning global endurance competition, regional championships, customer racing, amateur participation, touring cars and esports.
Global GT racing platform · 2019
GT World Challenge
GT World Challenge is SRO’s connected regional GT championship platform. It includes GT World Challenge Europe, Asia, America and Australia. Each region retains its own sporting identity and calendar, while manufacturers can accumulate recognition across the wider programme. The platform grew from earlier Blancpain-branded championships and the former Pirelli World Challenge.
Global endurance GT championship · 2016
Intercontinental GT Challenge
The Intercontinental GT Challenge links major endurance races across different continents in a manufacturer-oriented championship. Manufacturers are encouraged to support local or customer teams at selected events, creating a global competition without requiring a single factory team to contest every round.
Customer and amateur GT racing · 2006
GT4 Series
GT4 is an SRO-created category positioned below GT3. Its cars are generally closer to road-legal models and are intended to provide accessible competition for amateur drivers, customer teams and aspiring professionals. SRO directly promotes or licenses GT4 championships in several markets.
National GT championship · 1993
British GT Championship
The British GT Championship is a UK-based series featuring GT3 and GT4 machinery, commonly with professional-amateur driver combinations. Originally created by the British Racing Drivers’ Club, it has been overseen by SRO since 2004.
Multidisciplinary national motorsport event
FIA Motorsport Games
The FIA Motorsport Games is a multidisciplinary international event in which national teams compete across multiple motorsport disciplines. SRO organises the event under the FIA framework.
Esports racing series
SRO E-Sport GT Series
The SRO E-Sport GT Series extends SRO’s GT-racing model into simulated competition. It was developed with partners including Kunos Simulazioni and AK Informatica.
Brand decisions
2019
Unify regional championships under GT World ChallengeStrategyBackground
SRO had established GT series in Europe, Asia and North America operating under different historical identities.
Action taken
The organisation introduced GT World Challenge as a common global platform while preserving separate regional competitions.
Aftermath
Manufacturers gained a connected international championship framework spanning multiple SRO markets.
2018
Acquire the Pirelli World ChallengeM&ABackground
SRO pursued a stronger operating presence in North American GT racing.
Action taken
SRO acquired the Pirelli World Challenge and later repositioned it as GT World Challenge America.
Aftermath
The transaction expanded SRO’s regional championship network and supported the later global GT World Challenge structure.
2016
Launch the Intercontinental GT ChallengeProduct launchBackground
Major endurance races operated in separate markets, creating an opportunity for a global manufacturer-focused championship.
Action taken
SRO connected selected international endurance events within a common championship and encouraged manufacturers to support local teams.
Aftermath
The series became a central part of SRO’s global GT portfolio.
2006
Create the GT4 categoryProduct launchBackground
SRO sought to provide a GT racing category below GT3 that would be more accessible to amateur competitors and closer to production-based sports cars.
Action taken
The organisation established GT4 regulations and developed a network of directly promoted and licensed GT4 championships.
Aftermath
GT4 became an international customer-racing platform used in standalone and mixed-class series.
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