AZM GT: a new winter GT championship for the Gulf, with Michelin tyres

Yas Marina Circuit has announced AZM GT, a new GT racing championship developed and promoted by the circuit, which is operated by Ethara. The series is built for the Gulf winter season and takes its name from the Arabic word for determination and resolve.

Provisional calendar

The dates below are provisional, subject to confirmation and a final commercial agreement.

Trophy Round (non-championship): 4 to 6 December 2026, Yas Marina Circuit, during the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Round 1: 8 to 10 January 2027, Yas Marina Circuit Round 2: 29 to 31 January 2027, Dubai Autodrome Round 3: 12 to 14 February 2027, Yas Marina Circuit

An official test day is planned for November 2026, with the date still to be confirmed.

Cars and drivers

Three categories race on one grid:

GT3 GT Cup, such as Porsche Cup and Ferrari Challenge cars GTX, which means GT4

Professional and amateur teams and drivers from the UAE, the wider region and abroad can enter. Drivers must be at least 16 and hold a National C licence or above. Two-driver line-ups should combine an amateur driver with a second amateur or professional, and a time penalty at the mandatory driver change will depend on the drivers' categories.

Teams and drivers who want to take part in the Trophy Round or the 2027 championship can register their interest at azm@ymc.ae.

Race weekend format

Championship rounds run from Friday to Sunday:

Friday: one 60-minute session and a 90-minute test Saturday: a 60-minute free practice, two 15-minute qualifying sessions and the first 55-minute race Sunday: the second 55-minute race

Races last 55 minutes plus one lap, start from a rolling start, and include one mandatory pit stop between the 25th and 35th minute. Race 1 and Race 2 grids follow Qualifying 1 and Qualifying 2.

At the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix the Trophy Round uses a shorter format, with two 30-minute races. In a two-driver crew, one driver does Qualifying 1 and Race 1 and the other does Qualifying 2 and Race 2, with no mandatory stop.

Points and classifications

Each race awards 25, 18, 15, 12, 10, 8, 6, 4, 2 and 1 points to the top ten. There are overall classifications for teams and drivers, plus a nations classification that counts the best-finishing car per country.

Michelin tyres

Michelin is the official tyre partner. Teams get three sets at the Abu Dhabi event and four sets at each championship round, and must carry one set of wet tyres at all times.

What the organiser says

Ali Al Beshr, General Manager of Yas Marina Circuit, said AZM GT "represents an important step forward in our ambition to strengthen the UAE's motorsport ecosystem". The aim is for the championship to become a regular part of the region's winter motorsport calendar.

Sources: Yas Marina Circuit announcement and AZM GT Team Guide, October 2026.