Yas Marina Circuit charts new territory with AZM GT
A fresh racing championship emerges from Abu Dhabi's celebrated circuit, welcoming GT competitors from across the globe to contest a three round season beginning in 2027.
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The rhythms of competitive motorsport are about to pulse through Abu Dhabi with renewed intensity. Yas Marina Circuit, the island venue that has long anchored the region’s racing calendar, has engineered a fresh competitive platform to extend the reach of GT racing across the Emirates and beyond. AZM GT arrives as a thoughtfully constructed championship, one that recognises both the appetite for competitive racing and the necessity of sustainable, accessible pathways for drivers and teams to engage with the sport.
The championship will make its debut with a special Trophy Round during the December 2026 Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, an elegant introduction that positions AZM GT within the sphere of international motorsport attention. The formal season then unfolds across three rounds beginning in January 2027, with races held at Yas Marina Circuit itself, a second round at Dubai Autodrome, and a championship finale returning to Abu Dhabi in February.
What distinguishes AZM GT is its architectural openness. The championship welcomes GT3, GT Cup and GT4 machinery, creating a framework spacious enough to accommodate both established professional outfits and emerging competitors seeking their place in competitive racing. Teams and drivers from the UAE, the wider Middle Eastern region and the international racing community are invited to participate, transforming the calendar into something genuinely cosmopolitan in its reach.
A Serious Programme for Serious Competitors
Each championship round unfolds across a substantial competitive schedule. Three 60-minute free practice sessions allow drivers to build confidence and refine their craft, whilst two 15-minute qualifying sessions and two 55-minute races provide the racing itself, offering genuine opportunities for competitors to demonstrate speed, strategy and racecraft. This is not tokenism masquerading as motorsport; the programme has substance and depth.
Ali Al Beshr, General Manager of Yas Marina Circuit, speaks to the philosophy animating this venture. The championship represents an important step forward in strengthening the UAE’s motorsport ecosystem, creating opportunities that extend beyond Formula 1 and into the broader landscape of competitive racing. Yas Marina Circuit’s commitment to developing motorsport in the region extends intentionally into the future, establishing AZM GT as what the circuit envisions becoming a fixture on the winter motorsport calendar.
For Yas Island, celebrated as both a sporting venue and an entertainment destination, AZM GT adds another dimension to its role as a nexus of racing activity. The championship brings together teams, drivers and racing communities, whilst providing the platform through which GT racing can continue its development across the Emirates. Teams and drivers wishing to participate in either the Trophy Round or the 2027 championship season may register their interest by contacting azm@ymc.ae.
Imagery courtesy of Yas Marina Circuit.
