A GT race at the Macau Grand Prix traces its origins to 2007, when a GT3 category was added to the event's supporting program as the Macau GT Cup. The race took place on the Guia Circuit, a 6.120-kilometer street circuit combining fast straights and tight corners that is recognized as one of the most technically demanding tracks in the world. The challenging nature of the circuit — where minimum width drops to seven meters and barriers line most of the course — made the GT race an intense event from its introduction.
Between 2008 and 2014, the GT race ran under various local title sponsorships as the Macau GT Cup, with titles including the Windsor Arch Macau GT Cup and City of Dreams Macau GT Cup. These events established the format as a highlight of the Macau Grand Prix weekend alongside the Formula 3 title race and the Guia touring car race.
In 2015, the FIA elevated the race to championship status as the FIA GT World Cup, confirming the event as a standalone title decider rather than a points-accumulating series. The concept was unusual in international motorsport: a single-race world cup where the outcome of one race determines the overall winner, similar in structure to the FIA Formula 3 World Cup at Macau.
The FIA GT World Cup uses GT3-specification cars, the same category that forms the basis of numerous global and national championships. The event is organized by SRO, the company founded by Stéphane Ratel that administers GT3 regulations and oversees the Blancpain and GT World Challenge championships globally. The manufacturers' award goes to the brand with the most combined points from its two best-placed cars with a manufacturer entry in the main race.
Starting in 2017, the event introduced an age limit: drivers over 59 years and 364 days were barred from participation, because under FIA driver grading rules any driver aged 60 or older is classified as a bronze-rated driver, and bronze-rated drivers are prohibited from the FIA GT World Cup.
From 2020 to 2022, the event was not organized by SRO as an official FIA GT World Cup due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which imposed severe travel restrictions on Macau and prevented international competitors from attending. During these years, the race continued locally as the Macau GT Cup, organized independently rather than under the FIA title. In 2023, SRO returned as the organizing body and the FIA GT World Cup designation was restored, with the event continuing from 2023 onward as the Macau GT Cup carrying FIA GT World Cup status.
The Guia Circuit, on which the FIA GT World Cup is contested, measures 6.120 kilometers with sections combining high-speed straights and extremely tight corners separated by concrete barriers with minimal run-off. The circuit's minimum width of seven meters and the constant proximity of barriers make it exceptionally demanding for GT3 cars. Unlike a purpose-built racing facility, the Guia Circuit uses public roads that close specifically for the Grand Prix weekend, adding to the prestige and difficulty of the event.