The 2025 GT World Challenge Asia Powered by AWS reaches a significant milestone this weekend as the championship stages its first-ever street race. The new Beijing Street Circuit, designed by Apex Circuit Design in collaboration with SRO Motorsports Group and the Beijing Economic-Technological Development Area (E-Town), marks a landmark addition to China’s motorsport landscape.

A new type of circuit for Beijing

Set in Beijing’s E-Town district, the 4.9-kilometre circuit uses a blend of public roads and dedicated sections of highway infrastructure, looping around the Tongming Lake Park area and framed by modern city architecture.

With a projected maximum speed of 299 km/h, the layout balances two long straights with a series of slower, technical corners. The configuration has been designed to FIA Grade 3 standards, allowing the circuit to host GT and touring car events while meeting the highest requirements for safety and operational efficiency in a temporary urban environment.

“The Beijing Street Circuit presented the challenge of creating a world-class motorsport venue within one of the world’s busiest cities," described Jack Wheeler, Apex Circuit Design's Design Director. "Our task was to deliver a design that excites drivers and fans while integrating seamlessly with the city’s existing transport and urban infrastructure.”

The project extends Apex’s reputation for delivering complex street and hybrid circuit environments, where the demands of motorsport, logistics, and urban design converge.

Building on global experience

Beijing’s design draws on lessons from some of Apex’s most recognised recent projects — from the Formula 1 circuit in Miami, to long-term development and sustainability initiatives at the Dubai Autodrome, and the current upgrade proposal of Kyalami Circuit to FIA Grade 1 standards.

At the Miami International Autodrome, Apex created a “temporary-permanent” track that blends the spectacle of street racing with the durability of a semi-permanent facility. The simulation-led design approach used there — modelling driver behaviour, braking zones, and line-of-sight visibility — has informed the technical and safety planning for Beijing, particularly in sections with tight radii and variable surface conditions.

The Dubai Autodrome, completed in 2004 and still regarded as a benchmark for integrated motorsport complexes, demonstrates Apex’s ability to design for long-term operational sustainability. Its renewable energy installations and efficient spectator logistics have shaped how Apex approaches the temporary structures and resource management of new city circuits such as Beijing.

Meanwhile, at Kyalami, Apex is guiding the circuit’s evolution to full FIA Grade 1 compliance through a “light-touch” programme of upgrades that enhance safety without altering the venue’s essential character. That philosophy directly parallels Beijing’s brief: improving safety and raceability within the constraints of an existing urban layout.

“Projects like Miami and Kyalami have refined how we design and simulate street environments," explained Andrew Wallis, Apex Circuit Design's Engineering Director. "Beijing benefits from that experience — every aspect, from corner geometry to barrier and kerb placement, has been modelled to meet international standards while minimising the city impact.”

Designing for efficiency and legacy

Apex’s remit was primarily focused around the circuit design and homologation, working closely with the client, the FIA, CAMF and the local authorities helping the local team of contractors to ensure that the track was built on time, to the standards required for the licencing of the venue.

Every barrier, kerb, and access point was digitally modelled using Apex’s in-house simulation tools to predict vehicle behaviour and emergency access efficiency. The result is a layout designed for both performance and practicality — combining high-speed flow with strong overtaking opportunities and clear visibility for competitors and marshals alike.

“Street circuits are as much about urban integration as they are about racing," said Wheeler. "By designing from both perspectives, we’ve ensured that Beijing delivers a world-class motorsport experience while respecting the rhythm and functionality of the city around it.”

A new chapter for Asian motorsport

The GT World Challenge Asia finale will bring international attention to Beijing’s E-Town district, creating a new focal point for Chinese motorsport. For Apex, it continues a 20-year trajectory of shaping circuits that balance precision engineering with creative vision — from purpose-built facilities to temporary street venues.

As cars take to the new 4.9-kilometre track this weekend, Beijing will stand as a testament to what modern circuit design can achieve: a technically exacting, operationally efficient, and visually striking environment that reflects both Apex’s experience and its forward-looking approach to global motorsport design.

Qualifying and both races are live on SRO’s GT World YouTube channel, and national broadcaster CCTV will show Sunday’s race live across China – something that not even the Chinese F1 Grand Prix can boast!