A new GT racing championship is joining the UAE motorsport calendar, with AZM GT set to make its first appearance during the 2026 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix weekend before launching a full three-round season in early 2027.
Developed and promoted by Yas Marina Circuit, the championship is designed to create a dedicated platform for professional and amateur GT teams and drivers in the UAE and wider region.
The first public appearance will come with a special Trophy Round at Yas Marina Circuit from 4–6 December 2026, running alongside the Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. The Trophy Round will not count towards the championship standings.
The inaugural full AZM GT season will then run across January and February 2027, with three rounds split between Yas Marina Circuit and Dubai Autodrome.
AZM GT Debuts During Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Weekend
The championship’s first event will take place at Yas Marina Circuit from 4–6 December 2026.
Rather than opening the points-paying season, the event will operate as a standalone Trophy Round and serve as the first showcase of the championship format.
Running during the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix weekend gives AZM GT immediate visibility in front of one of the largest motorsport audiences in the region while allowing teams and organisers to introduce the series before the full championship begins.
First Full Season Set for January and February 2027
The first championship season is planned around three rounds.
The venue sequence is:
Round 1 — Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi — January 2027
Round 2 — Dubai Autodrome, Dubai — during the 2027 season
Round 3 — Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi — February 2027
Exact dates for all three championship rounds have not yet been published.
The structure gives Yas Marina Circuit a central role in the series, with the Abu Dhabi venue hosting both the opening and final championship rounds.
Dubai Autodrome will stage the middle event, giving AZM GT a second major UAE venue and extending the championship beyond Abu Dhabi.
GT3, GT Cup and GT4 Cars Will Be Eligible
AZM GT is planned to accommodate three categories of racing machinery: GT3, GT Cup and GT4.
GT3 will bring purpose-built racing versions of high-performance sports cars, while GT4 provides a more production-based category with its own technical framework.
GT Cup will add another class to the championship, although the final eligible models, technical regulations and sporting details are still expected to be confirmed through the official championship regulations.
The multi-class structure gives AZM GT the potential to attract a broad field rather than relying on one single vehicle specification.
Each Round Will Feature Two 55-Minute Races
The planned weekend format gives teams substantial track time across each championship round.
Each event is expected to include:
Three free-practice sessions — 60 minutes each
Two qualifying sessions — 15 minutes each
Two races — 55 minutes each
That means each round is built around three hours of practice before qualifying and race sessions begin.
The structure should place equal importance on preparation, qualifying performance and race consistency across the weekend.
With two separate races, drivers and teams will have more than one opportunity to score strong results during each round rather than relying on a single longer race.
Yas Marina and Dubai Autodrome Form the Championship Base
The first AZM GT season will be entirely based in the UAE.
Yas Marina Circuit will host the December Trophy Round, the opening championship round in January and the season finale in February.
Dubai Autodrome will host the second championship round and provide a different technical environment for teams and drivers.
The two circuits give the series a clear domestic footprint from the outset and connect two of the UAE’s most established motorsport venues within one championship.
A New GT Platform for the UAE
AZM GT is being positioned as a dedicated championship rather than a one-off support race.
That distinction is important for the regional motorsport scene.
A regular three-round season gives teams and drivers more opportunities to compete, develop over multiple events and build continuity across a championship structure.
The series also broadens Yas Marina Circuit’s motorsport programme beyond Formula 1 by creating another competitive platform for GT racing in the region.
Its long-term impact will depend on the strength of the entry list, sporting regulations and how quickly teams commit to the format, but the core structure is already clear.
AZM GT will make its debut from 4–6 December 2026 during the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix weekend, before the first full season begins in January 2027 and concludes at Yas Marina Circuit in February 2027.
