The youngest driver paring in the field José Luis Pampló (21) and Miquel Julià (20) driving for Escudería Roger Racing
One of the most interesting characteristics of the 2008 season of the International GT Open is the sharp drop of the average age of drivers, a trend that appeared already last year but which is even more evident in 2008, and repeals all the established clichés about GT racing. The category is not only one for old stars, gentlemen and semi-professional drivers. On the contrary, it is becoming a very attracting option for young, talented and ambitious drivers.
"The arrival of young blood is always very good news for any series", comments Jesús Pareja, organizer of the International GT Open, "especially when they are good and determined drivers. No doubts that this is one of the reasons why this year's championship is being so competitive".
Analyzing this trend is an enlightening exercise. In a pyramidal sports like motor racing, where there are only 20 seats in the top formula, GT races offer better opportunities to young drivers to build for themselves a professional future in the sports. Giampaolo Coppi, owner of the GPC Sport team, thinks that "today's young people are starting to understand that dreaming with Formula 1 brings them nowhere" and that "getting involved soon enough in GT racing offers more possibilities to become a professional driver, make a living out of their passion and have success, and all that for a longer period".
The opinion is shared by Mariano Oucinde, manager of some drivers like José Luis Pampló and Miquel Julià, the youngest pair in the 2008 series (pictured): "It is always very difficult to succeed in this sports, because there are so many variables besides pure ability, but in GT the number of elected ones is larger. In addition, the International GT Open has good visibility in media and budgets are more reasonable than in most single-seater formulas. Finally, with regard to sponsors, it is easier to try to sell a program built around a vehicle called Ferrari or Lamborghini or Porsche, prestigious cars that everybody knows, rather than a formula with an obscure name, which tells something only to experts".
20 years: Manuel Sáenz Merino (Spanish F.3)
Miquel Julià (F.Renault - kart)
Alex Frassineti (Italian GT - Italian F.3 - F.Renault)
Henri Moser (GT3 - Ferrari Challenge)
21 years: Marco Frezza (GT Open - F.Renault)
José Luis Pampló (Asian F.Renault - Spanish F.3 - F.Master Junior)
Andrea Ceccato (FIA GT & GT3 - Porsche Cup - F.Renault)
23 years: Alessandro Bonetti (GT Open - LMS - F.3000 - F.Renault)
Manuel Cerqueda (Spanish F.3)
Giacomo Piccini (GT Open & Italian GT- F.3000 - Spanish & Italian F.3)
Giacomo Ricci (GP2 - F.3000 - Champ Atlantic - World Series - Sp. F.3)
Marc Carol (GT Open & Spanish GT - WTCC - Seat León Cup - F.Renault)
Ferdinando Monfardini (FIA-GT - GP2 - F.3000 - F.Renault)
Matteo Cressoni (FIA GT - GT Open - F.3000 - LMS - Italian F.3)
Marco Visconti (F.Renault - F.Junior)
Michele Maceratesi (GT Open & Italian GT - Ferrari Challenge)
24 years: Damien Pasini (GT Open, FIA FIA & Italian GT - World Series - F.Renault)
Alejandro Núñez (World Series - Euro & Spanish F.3)
Richard Lietz (GT Open - LMS - Porsche Supercup - Euro & german F.3)
25 years: Matt Griffin (British GT - Porsche Cup - F.Renault)
Marco Mocci (GT Open - F.3000 - F.Renault)
Michele Rugolo (FIA GT & Italian GT - LMS - Italian F.3 - F.Renault)
26 years: Óscar Fernández (Spanish GT - Hyundai Cup)
José Manuel Pérez-Aicart (GT Open - SEAT León Supercopa - Spanish F.3)
Domingo Romero (GT Open & Spanish GT)