Zoom FIA GT1 aiming for a 12 round championship

The FIA's premier GT series will become a World Championship from next season following agreement between the FIA and championship promoter SRO.

The series was granted world championship status by the World Motor Sport Council last week after it met the FIA's stringent requirements, which include the provision of a calendar of high-level events across at least three continents. Next year's FIA GT1 World Championship aims to visit five continents, with twelve rounds in twelve countries.

The FIA signed a contract with SRO to be the promoter of the new World Championship from 2010. SRO has been the promoter of the FIA GT Championship since 1997, and of the FIA GT3 European Championship since 2006.

As part of this agreement, the current FIA GT Championship (GT1 and GT2) and the GT3 European Championship, will be split into three distinct and easily identifiable FIA GT Championships. The FIA GT1 World Championship will be for independent teams and professional drivers, the FIA GT2 European Championship for independent teams and pro-am driver crews, and the FIA GT3 European Championship for independent teams and non-professional drivers.

The new GT series becomes the fourth major World Championship under the FIA umbrella, joining World Rally, World Touring Car and Formula One. It is also the first World Championship to be aimed at independent teams rather than manufacturers.

Max Mosley, FIA President
“I'm proud that the FIA has a new world championship, especially one which further demonstrates the growing global interest across all areas of motor sport. I would like to thank our commercial partner SRO for the outstanding work it has done in developing GT racing and I very much look forward to the first season of this exciting new championship.”

Nick Craw, FIA Deputy President for Sport
“I'm delighted that we have created not just a new global championship for motor sport but also one based on strong economic foundations. The new GT1 cars will embody all of the glamour and excitement of GT racing, while giving a cost-effective formula to the independent teams who wish to compete for a real World Championship title.”

Stephane Ratel, SRO CEO and Chairman
“After more than 15 years of development in rebuilding GT racing, I'm glad that we have helped to cement its position as a major motorsport category. I would like to thank President Mosley, Nick Craw and all at the FIA for their continuous support in achieving this and I believe we now have a tremendous opportunity to build on the global appeal of this major new Championship.”

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