33 GT4 cars representing 10 manufacturers will contest the inaugural SRO GT Cup round at Shanghai this weekend (March 21-23).
The new-for 2025 domestic GT4 Series will open its account as a support event to the Formula 1 Heineken Chinese Grand Prix with two 30-minute races and single driver entries.
The total number of cars and breadth of manufacturers has surpassed even the organiser’s expectations for a championship that was only first discussed in late November 2024. Since then SRO Asia’s team and partner-AAMC have worked tirelessly to make the series a reality ahead of its debut.
Remarkably, given the limited preparation time, Shanghai’s is believed to be the largest GT4 entry ever assembled for an event in Asia.
Results and points count towards SRO GT Cup’s Am and Silver championships, as well as a qualifying for Macau Grand Prix-Greater Bay Area GT Cup.
Shanghai also plays host to the first two of 100 races that determine 2025’s global GT4 Manufacturer Ranking title, which comprises nine championships spread across four continents. Seven of those eight registered manufacturers are represented this weekend.
They include Mercedes-AMG which, with seven cars, boasts the greatest number of contenders in Shanghai. Porsche comes a close second with six Caymans, and Toyota is also well represented thanks to four GR Supras.
There are also multiple Audis, BMWs, Ginettas, Lotuses and McLarens, plus single entries for Aston Martin and KTM.
They will be driven by some of China’s most successful national teams and drivers.
Wang Hao is a three-time reigning China Endurance Championship GT4 champion whose 2023 and ’24 title-winning co-driver Han Lichao also claimed Greater Bay Area GT Cup victory last year. Both represent Toyota Gazoo Racing China this weekend.
Former Porsche Carrera Cup Asia champion Lu Wenlong is also on the grid with Pegasus whose line up features Shanghai 8 Hours podium finisher Liu Kaishun.
Luo Kailuo and Chen Weian are both GT3 regulars in GT World Challenge Asia powered by AWS, while another driver with GT3 experience – Chen Chun Hua – is a Thai Super Series race winner.
Both 30-minute races will be shown with native commentary on China’s prominent live streaming platforms and SRO’s GT World YouTube channel this Saturday and Sunday.
SRO GT CUP TIMETABLE – SHANGHAI (GMT +8)
Friday 21 March
08:15 – 08:40 Free Practice 1
17:00 – 17:25 Free Practice 2
Saturday 22 March
08:30 – 08:55 Qualifying
12:30 – 13:05 Race 1 (30mins +1 lap) LIVE
Sunday 23 March
09:20 – 09:55 Race 2 (30mins +1 lap) LIVE
