Stéphane Ratel, CEO of the SRO Group, stated during the course of the 2011 season that the 2012 calendar would include rounds in Europe, as well as Brazil, Argentina, and the United Arab Emirates.
[9] After further meetings between SRO, FIA and team owners, it was agreed to eliminate GT2 cars from GT World and to adopt regulations from the GT3 category.
As part of the equalization process, GT3 specification cars were to be allowed upgrades to increase their speed, as well as the adoption of carbon brakes and less restrictions on exhaust noise levels.
[16] 2011 FIA GT1 World Champions Hexis Racing later announced their return to the series, joining with manufacturer McLaren, while Münnich switched to Mercedes-Benz.
New entries for the 2012 season include 2010 FIA GT1 World Champions Vita4One Racing taking over the new BMW campaign from the withdrawn Marc VDS, while 2010 entrant Reiter Engineering returns with Lamborghini.
Stef Dusseldorp remains with the squad while Frédéric Makowiecki returns to the Hexis, having driven for the team in 2010 but campaigning for Marc VDS in 2011.
FIA GT3 graduate Grégoire Demoustier joins the squad, partnered with McLaren Automotive test driver Álvaro Parente.
Reiter Engineering's Peter Kox returns after a shortened 2011 season with Swiss Racing Team, and is joined by series newcomer Darryl O'Young of Hong Kong.
Mike Parisy, a former winner in FIA GT3, and Porsche Supercup driver Matt Halliday of New Zealand will enter the second car.
Valmon Racing Team Russia brings Russian involvement in the series for the first time with two drivers, Sergey Afanasyev and Alexey Vasilyev.
Former Formula One and Stock Car Brasil driver Antônio Pizzonia was originally scheduled to partner Vasilyev, but was replaced on the eve of the Nogaro round by former GT1 race winner Maxime Martin.
Sunred originally intended to partner experienced Serbian driver Miloš Pavlović — who ran two rounds in 2011 — with Formula Two graduate Andy Soucek as his teammate, whilst putting Matteo Cressoni alongside Emmanuel Moncini in the second entry.
The team re-arranged their driver line-ups, entering Pavlović and Cressoni in the race whilst sidelining Soucek and Moncini until the second car was ready.