Aston Martin Returns in 18-Car Entry, Fuoco Won’t Defend Win

Aston Martin will have a presence in the FIA GT World Cup in Macau for the first time in over a decade this year, but last season’s winner Antonio Fuoco is absent from the 18-strong entry list.

Comtoyou Racing is due to field a pair of Aston Martin Vantage GT3 Evos in the Nov. 19-22 event, the first time the British manufacturer has featured in the contest since 2015.

Factory driver Marco Sorensen will pilot one of these cars, while the other will be driven by Jamie Day — who has entered the new-for-2026 Silver class.

The British brand’s presence, combined with the return of Mercedes-AMG after the German company elected to skip the 2025 edition, means a record eight manufacturers will be represented on this year’s capacity grid.

It had previously been announced that Maro Engel, Lucas Auer and Adderly Fong would all be racing Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo machinery.

While the Astons and Mercedes-AMGs have joined, Fuoco is absent having starred in a Ferrari 296 GT3 in the past two editions.

Instead Ferrari GT3 regular Alessio Rovera will pilot a Harmony Racing-entered 296 GT3 Evo for his Macau debut, while Yifei Ye will drive the only other Ferrari on this year’s entry.

The BMW, Porsche and Audi representation had also been confirmed earlier this week, while the publication of the official entry list revealed that one McLaren 720S GT3 Evo will again feature with Benji Goethe at the wheel of an Optimum Motorsport machine.

There will also be only be one Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO2 participating this time around, an Absolute-run machine piloted by Luca Engstler.

The entry list represents two cars more than competed last year but, despite the addition of the Mercedes-AMG and Aston crews, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Porsche and Audi will each have one fewer car on the grid.

“As GT3 celebrates its 20th anniversary, the FIA GT World Cup remains the category’s ultimate showcase with eight manufacturers participating,” said FIA GT Commission President Lutz Leif Linden.

“The Macau Grand Prix occupies a unique place on the global motorsport calendar, combining one of the world’s most demanding circuits with a strong presence in a region that is hugely important for premium manufacturers and their iconic GT models.

“The strength of this year’s entry underlines both the success of the GT3 platform and the enduring appeal of competing for FIA World Cup honours on the streets of Macau, an event that year after year attracts a stellar line-up of drivers from the worlds of GT and endurance racing for a truly unique GT3 sprint contest.”