Five manufacturers enter GT World Cup

Five manufacturers have signed up to compete in the inaugural FIA GT World Cup in Macau this November.

Aston Martin, Audi, McLaren, Mercedes and Porsche will each be represented by a trio of GT3 cars in the event on the Macau Formula 3 Grand Prix undercard on Nov. 19-22 and will battle it out for the FIA GT World Cup for Manufacturers' title.

The FIA and event promoter the Automobile Association Macau China had been seeking seven manufacturers to provide 21 of the 28 cars allowed to take the start on Macau's Guia circuit. It brought in Stephane Ratel, organizer of the Blancpain GT Series and the architect of the GT3 category, in July to put together the grid.

"We're very satisfied to have received entries from five of the world's most famous racing manufacturers for the first event," FIA GT Commission president Christian Schacht said. "It's the result of two success stories – the FIA GT3 concept used in the majority of GT championships all over the world, and the legendary Macau Grand Prix.

"For Aston Martin, Audi, McLaren, Mercedes and Porsche, the FIA GT World Cup provides a great opportunity to showcase their cars on a big stage in the heart of the growing Asian market."

Aston Martin Racing boss John Gaw told AUTOSPORT: "Asia is an important market for Aston and Macau is one of the biggest events in Asia, so we are delighted to be taking part. It should be a terrific event; I know how good it is having raced there [in the Macau GT Cup] myself two years ago."

Additional cars from other manufacturers will be allowed to take part in the event at the invitation of the selection committee. It is understood that only those teams representing the five registered manufacturers will be able to field gold or platinum-ranked drivers in an attempt to ensure that the winning car is from one of those makes competing for the manufacturers' title.

The event will be made up of a qualifying race of 12 laps or 45 minutes and a points-scoring main event lasting 18 laps or 60 minutes. The top two cars from each registered manufacturer will accrue points on the Formula 1 scoring system.

The teams that will be representing the five registered manufacturers will be announced when the entry list is published next month.

Gaw said that the Craft team would provide at least two of the cars in Aston's roster. He revealed that it is likely that AMR driver Stefan Mucke would likely take part in the event, having contested the Macau GT Cup two years ago.

Originally on Autosport.com