The new format of the FIA GT1 World Championship begins this weekend at the Yas Marina Circuit. I'll try to catch the race online in their live TV section of the website; you can too by going toFIA GT1 World Championship - Official Site
In case you did not know, they have changed the race format a little. The field of cars will only consist of GT1 spec racers; GT2 will have their own separate series in 2011. Also the endurance race format has been thrown out. Instead, it will follow a two-race format similar to the WTCC. Races are designed to be an hour in length requiring one pit-stop and driver change. Points’ scoring has also been changed to follow that of the F1 World Championship.
Six manufacturers in a 24 car grid are contending this season with raced out versions of the Nissan GTR, Chevrolet Corvette Z06, Maserati MC12, Aston Martin DB9, Ford GT, and Lamborghini Murcielago.
I'm not sure what to think about the new two-race format. GT racing has always spoken endurance to me. The theory behind the shorter races is to make the series more television friendly instead of having these long, drawn out enduros to attract a younger audience; I guess all the young, hip kids have ADD (in my mind there seems to be risks attached to obtaining a dominant base of young viewers by bastardizing the series to make it cool for the kids who aren't true enthusiasts). The other purpose of the two-race format is to keep the field more close together in a shorter time span.
I guess we'll see if the new format is worth any fuss. Race 1 (quali race) is 4/17 13:00 GMT and Race 2 (championship race) is 4/17 16:45 GMT.