The FIA GT World Cup returns to the streets of Macau from 13–16 November 2025, with a 16-car grid representing six GT3 manufacturers set to battle for glory on the iconic 6.12km Guia Circuit.
As part of the 72nd Macau Grand Prix week, the event once again blends factory power, FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) regulars, and emerging GT talent. In total, 16 drivers from 12 nationalities will take part, including eight FIA Platinum-ranked drivers.
The big omission from the entry, which is down on last year’s 23-car field, is Mercedes-AMG. Senior sources from the brand confirmed to DSC that the introduction of torque sensors in this year’s race was at the core of the decision for the brand to sit out the event.
The German marque’s business model is to field cars with teams from the region for the event, and Southeast Asia sees the cars constantly on the move in containerised transportation. That leaves limited opportunities for conversion work and testing to be undertaken for the sensors, let alone the cost.
2023 winner Raffaele Marciello headlines the list as he seeks to claim his third FIA GT World Cup crown. The Italian will lead BMW’s effort with ROWE Racing, while Sheldon van der Linde continues with Team WRT after finishing on the podium last year.
“After the bitter main race last year, we still have unfinished business with the FIA GT World Cup. Our BMW M4 GT3 was very strong on the Guia Circuit in 2024, but missed out on the main race victory due to external circumstances. This year, we aim to claim that win with the EVO version of our GT car,” said Andreas Roos, the head of BMW M Motorsport.
“With Raffaele Marciello and Sheldon van der Linde, we have two drivers who have repeatedly proved their class at this street race in recent years. Add to that two experienced teams, and we have created the best possible conditions for the next BMW M Motorsport victory in the Main Race since 2018.”
Ferrari arrives with a trio of 296 GT3s, featuring two 24 Hours of Le Mans victors. 2024 Le Mans winner Antonio Fuoco will make his second Macau start with AF Corse, while compatriot Yifei Ye, fresh from his own Le Mans triumph, returns with Harmony Racing. Rising Chinese driver Deng Yi will make his Macau debut with Winhere Motorsports, completing the marque’s strong line-up.
After rejoining the field in 2024, Lamborghini strengthens its hand through Absolute Corse, entering two Huracán GT3 Evo 2s for Edoardo Mortara and Luca Engstler.
Mortara, the second most successful driver in Macau Grand Prix history with seven victories across multiple disciplines, aims to recapture the crown he last won in 2017. Engstler returns following a standout DTM campaign and a spectacular qualifying crash in last year’s event.
Porsche leads the manufacturer charge with five 911 GT3 R (992) entries. Laurens Vanthoor, the 2019 Macau winner, spearheads the Tempo by Absolute Racing effort alongside Alessio Picariello (liveries below).
Schumacher CLRT adds further strength with Ayhancan Güven, fresh off his DTM title, and Laurin Heinrich—two of Porsche’s brightest young factory stars. Dorian Boccolacci rounds out the Stuttgart contingent with Phantom Global Racing.
“We’re delighted to be returning to the FIA GT World Cup in Macau and to be supporting five Porsche 911 GT3 R,” said Alexandre Gibot, managing director, Porsche Motorsport Asia Pacific Ltd.
“It’s great to have two regional customers in Absolute Racing and Phantom Global Racing competing, as well as welcoming back Schumacher CLRT with an expanded effort, returning after last year’s edition. We’ll also get to see both Dorian and DTM champion Ayhancan making their Macau GT debuts, which is very exciting!
“It’s an iconic and prestigious event in the Asia-Pacific region and with the line-up we’ve got, we believe that we have the potential to be fighting at the sharp end of the grid.”
Audi Sport returns with two R8 LMS GT3 Evo2s under the FAW Audi Sport Asia Team Phantom banner for Christopher Haase and Joel Eriksson, while Hong Kong’s Adderly Fong adds local representation with Uno Racing Team.
McLaren also makes a long-awaited comeback, its first Macau appearance since 2015, with Optimum Motorsport fielding a GT3 Evo for Benjamin Goethe, a regular front-runner in the GT World Challenge Europe Sprint Cup.
A revised qualifying format is being introduced for 2025. The traditional 30-minute Q1 session will be followed by a Q2 ‘Super Pole’ shootout for the top ten drivers, who will each complete two timed laps individually on fresh tyres.
The race structure remains unchanged, with a 12-lap Qualification Race on Saturday setting the grid for Sunday’s 16-lap Main Race, which crowns the FIA GT World Cup champion.
The FIA GT World Cup again shares the spotlight with the FIA Formula Regional World Cup, the Kumho Tire FIA TCR World Tour season finale, and the newly introduced FIA Formula 4 World Cup—bringing four FIA-sanctioned events together for the first time at the Grand Prix.
Fans can follow all the action live and free via the FIA’s official YouTube channel.
Images courtesy of FIA & Porsche
