Ningbo Replaces June Shanghai Event in 2026 Schedule

Photo: SRO

The GT World Challenge Asia powered by AWS series has made a late change to its schedule with its Chinese round next month moving from the Shanghai International Circuit to instead be held at Ningbo.

The swap was formally confirmed by the series on Friday, just two weeks before the June 3-5 event was due to take place, although teams had been given advance warning of the change in venue.

In a statement, series organizer SRO explained: “Local administrative complications linked to China’s nationwide College Entrance Exam recently cast doubt over the scheduled Shanghai event, which was due to take place on the same dates.

“SRO Motorsports Group has therefore taken the proactive decision to move the event to Ningbo, a circuit it last visited in 2018.”

That 2018 event was the season finale of that year’s campaign and the circuit played host to FFF Racing’s Dennis Lind and Martin Kodric winning the title at the wheel of a Lamborghini Huracan GT3.

The circuit has also previously hosted other notable categories, including the FIA World Touring Car Championship.

SRO added that Ningbo’s nearby location to Shanghai, with approximately a three-hour drive separating the tracks, made it the obvious alternative venue.

“Staging both races on Friday instead of Saturday, as would have been the case at Shanghai, also allows staff to travel home using pre-existing bookings,” read the statement.

A draft timetable is due to be released soon, but testing, practice and qualifying are scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday, ahead of the Friday and Saturday races.

The Ningbo event is the third of six rounds making up the 2026 campaign and the standings are currently headed by Absolute Racing Porsche 911 GT3 R Evo pair Alessandro Ghiretti and Huang Ruohan.

Source: Sports Car 365