Fanatec GT World Challenge Powered by AWS finalises global calendar for 2024

The 2024 Fanatec GT World Challenge Powered by AWS calendar is now complete following last week's announcement of the full Australian schedule.

Established in 2019, the global competition draws upon established continental series in Europe, Asia, America and Australia. Each continues to run as a standalone championship while also counting towards the Fanatec GT World Challenge Powered by AWS manufacturers' standings. This year has featured seven elite brands and, with a final round to run this weekend, Mercedes-AMG cannot be beaten.

The European calendar was announced in June, during the build-up to the marquee CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa, and includes some notable changes from the 2023 schedule. It will open with a three-hour Endurance Cup round at Circuit Paul Ricard (5-7 April) followed by Sprint Cup contests at Brands Hatch (4/5 May) and Misano (17-19 May). The CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa is scheduled for 27-30 June, marking the centenary edition of the Belgian endurance classic.

The season continues with a German doubleheader at Hockenheim (Sprint, 19-21 July) and the Nürburgring (Endurance, 27/28 July), followed by a return to Magny-Cours (Sprint, 23-25 August). Monza shifts from its familiar season-opening date to September 21/22, followed by the Sprint Cup finale at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya (11-13 October).

The biggest news for 2024 is the location of finale, which will take place at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit in Saudi Arabia on 21–23 November. A six-hour contest at the high-speed Formula 1 venue will launch a new long-term partnership between Saudi Arabia and SRO Motorsports Group, which is expected to grow over the coming seasons.

Fanatec GT World Challenge America Powered by AWS officially finalised its calendar in September. The 2024 campaign will launch on 5-7 April at Sonoma Raceway followed by events at familiar venues Sebring (3-5 May), Circuit of the Americas (17-19 May), Virginia International Raceway (16-18 June) and Road America (18-20 August).

On 6-8 September the series will make a popular return to Barber Motorsports Park. This will be the first time that Fanatec GT America has competed at the picturesque Alabama road course since 2016, while the autumn date is entirely new. The season will conclude on 4-6 October with the established long-distance race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, alongside Intercontinental GT Challenge Powered by Pirelli.

Fanatec GT World Challenge Asia Powered by AWS will undertake a six-event schedule, kicking off at Malaysian venue Sepang on 20/21 April before heading to Chang in Thailand on 11/12 May. A trio of Japanese rounds follow at Fuji (22/23 June), Suzuka (6/7 July) and Okayama (24/25 August), setting up the deciding contest at Shanghai International Circuit on 14-15 September. This will mark a first visit to China since 2019, when the Shanghai track also staged the closing round of the campaign.

In another noteworthy change, Fanatec GT Asia will now be reserved solely for GT3 cars. Its GT4 entrants are set to migrate to the Japan Cup, which will split from Fanatec GT Asia to become a series in its own right. The popular domestic sprint championship will stage a standalone season opener at Sugo on 8-9 June and then runs alongside Fanatec GT Asia at its three Japanese events.

There are also structural changes in Fanatec GT World Challenge Australia Powered by AWS, which is set to conclude its 2023 season this weekend at the Adelaide Parklands Circuit (25/26 November). When racing resumes next term, it will be under the management of SRO Motorsports Australia. The new organisation will be led by Ben McMellan, while Charise Bristow continues as Fanatec GT Australia championship manager and Abi Hay joins as head of business development and sporting. This matches the management structure already used in Europe and America.

The seven-round calendar features five Sprint Cup events and two Endurance Cup rounds. It will launch at one of the world's most popular long-distance events, with Fanatec GT Australia contesting the legendary Bathurst 12 Hour at Mount Panorama on 16-18 February. This is followed by Sprint rounds at Phillip Island (12-14 April), The Bend Motorsport Park (24-26 May) and Queensland Raceway (19-21 July). The date and location for the fifth round of the championship will be confirmed in due course.

On 18-20 October the series heads to Sydney Motorsport Park for its second Endurance meeting set to take place under the lights at the Eastern Creek venue. The finale will see Fanatec GT Australia head back to Bathurst on 8-10 November, staging a pair of Sprint races at Mount Panorama.

In total, next year’s Fanatec GT World Challenge Powered by AWS calendar is set to feature sprint and endurance races at 30 events in 13 different nations. This will add up to more than 100 hours of competitive action, running from the opening race at Bathurst on 18 February to the final encounter on the streets of Jeddah on 23 November. All of this, as well as a wide range of practice and qualifying coverage, can be streamed free of charge across the globe thanks to the GT World YouTube channel.