What Is 2010 FIA GT1 World Championship

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Last updated: April 15, 2026

Quick Answer: The 2010 FIA GT1 World Championship was the inaugural season of the FIA's global grand tourer racing series, running from March 28 to November 14, 2010, with 10 rounds across four continents. It featured 21 teams and 42 cars from manufacturers like Aston Martin, Corvette, and Maserati, using 4.7-liter V8-powered GT1-class vehicles.

Key Facts

The 2010 season ran from March 28 to November 14, 2010, across 10 rounds
21 teams and 42 cars competed, split into two 60-minute races per round
Aston Martin Racing won the Teams' Championship; Yelmer Buurman and Peter Kox won the Drivers' Championship
Each race weekend featured two 60-minute races with mandatory pit stops and driver changes
Cars were based on production models like the Aston Martin DBR9, Maserati MC12, and Corvette C6.R

Overview

The 2010 FIA GT1 World Championship marked the first season of a new global grand tourer racing series established by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA). Designed to replace the FIA GT Championship, it aimed to create a true world championship for GT1-class vehicles with races on four continents.

Teams competed in identical 4.7-liter V8-powered cars derived from production models such as the Aston Martin DBR9, Maserati MC12, and Corvette C6.R. The series emphasized equal performance through Balance of Performance (BoP) regulations to ensure close competition.

10 rounds were held across Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and South America, starting in Abu Dhabi on March 28 and ending in San Luis, Argentina, on November 14.
Each event featured two 60-minute races, with mandatory pit stops and driver changes, increasing strategic depth and driver versatility.
Aston Martin Racing dominated the Teams' Championship, winning 7 of the 20 races and securing the title by a 34-point margin.
The Drivers' Championship was won by Yelmer Buurman and Peter Kox, driving for Mad-Croc Racing in a Nissan GT-R, accumulating 113 points over the season.
Manufacturers including Aston Martin, Maserati, Corvette, Ford, and Lamborghini participated, with factory and privateer teams fielding identical-spec GT1 cars.

How It Works

The 2010 FIA GT1 World Championship used a unique race format and technical regulations to promote competitive balance and global appeal. Each round followed a structured schedule with qualifying and two races.

Qualifying Format: A knockout-style system determined starting positions for Race 1, while Race 2 grid was set by a reverse-order draw based on Race 1 results, enhancing unpredictability.
Race Duration: Each race lasted 60 minutes, requiring mandatory pit stops and driver changes, testing team coordination and endurance strategy.
Balance of Performance (BoP): The FIA applied weight and restrictor adjustments to equalize performance across different manufacturers, ensuring close racing.
Driver Pairings: Each car had two drivers, with a required driver change during the pit stop, promoting shared responsibility and strategic timing.
Points System: Points were awarded to the top 10 finishers in each race, with 10-8-6-5-4-3-2-1-1-1 distribution, plus 1 point for pole position.
Car Specifications: GT1 cars were based on production models with 4.7-liter naturally aspirated V8 engines, producing around 600 horsepower and weighing approximately 1,200 kg.

Comparison at a Glance

The following table compares the 2010 FIA GT1 World Championship with its predecessor and successor series:

Series	Seasons Active	Number of Rounds	Manufacturers	Championship Format
FIA GT Championship	1997–2009	8–10 per season	Ferrari, Porsche, Chrysler	Single 2-hour race per round
FIA GT1 World Championship	2010–2012	10 in 2010	Aston Martin, Corvette, Maserati, Ford, Lamborghini	Two 60-minute races per round
FIA WEC GT1	2010–2011	Part of 8-round WEC	Aston Martin, Peugeot (GT1 class)	12–24 hour endurance format
Blancpain GT Series	2011–present	10+ rounds	Multiple GT3 manufacturers	Sprint and endurance formats
GT World Challenge	2019–present	Global series, 6+ events	GT3-based cars	Regional and world finals

The 2010 FIA GT1 World Championship stood out for its global reach and standardized race format. Unlike the endurance-focused FIA WEC, it emphasized sprint-style racing with two shorter events per weekend, appealing to television audiences and promoting tighter competition.

Why It Matters

The 2010 FIA GT1 World Championship represented a pivotal shift in international motorsport, aiming to revive GT racing with factory-backed entries and global exposure. Though short-lived, it influenced future GT series with its balance of performance and race structure.

Revived GT1 class after the decline of the FIA GT Championship, attracting major manufacturers like Maserati and Ford.
Introduced global GT racing with events in China, Russia, Brazil, and the UAE, expanding motorsport’s reach beyond Europe.
Used BoP regulations effectively, setting a precedent for modern GT3 and endurance series.
Provided a platform for emerging drivers like Yelmer Buurman and Alex Müller to gain international recognition.
Highlighted technical parity across brands, proving that different manufacturers could compete evenly under regulated conditions.
Set the stage for the GT World Challenge and other sprint-format GT series that followed.

The 2010 season, while only the first of three, laid the groundwork for future global GT racing formats and remains a benchmark for manufacturer involvement and competitive balance in grand tourer motorsport.