However, as there were no interested GT2 teams and only a handful of former GT1 runners were willing to participate, the SRO Group decided that the 2012 season would be contested with GT3-spec cars only (yet retaining GT1 in the series' title).

To ensure close competition, each model of car was tested by the FIA to determine any mandatory adjustments (such as extra weight ballasts and restrictor tweaks) for performance balancing.

Yas Marina Circuit of the United Arab Emirates represented the series' only Middle East round.

South America featured the Potrero de los Funes Circuit in Argentina and Interlagos in Brazil.

Six manufacturers were represented in the inaugural season of FIA GT1, with Chevrolet, Maserati, and Aston Martin retaining the grandfathered Corvette C6.

After the qualifying race on 5 December 2010, the champions of the 2010 season were crowned at the San Luis street circuit in Argentina.

Germans Michael Krumm and Lucas Luhr, of the JR Motorsports team, won the year's Drivers' Championship in the penultimate race of the season, while Hexis AMR (Aston Martin) won the Teams' title in the final race of the year.