Global GT racing kingpin Stephane Ratel is set to attend the Australian GT season finale at Highlands Park, New Zealand, this weekend.

Frenchman Ratel’s decision to fly to New Zealand is the latest sign of the Australian championship’s growing importance in the worldwide GT market.

The Tony Quinn owned Australian GT category this year expanded to include a dedicated endurance series, which also concludes at Highlands.

Owner of the Blancpain Sprint and Endurance Series in Europe, Ratel will next year kick-off a similar GT3 competition in Asia.

Australian GT manager Ken Collier says that Ratel’s visit to Highlands comes after an invitation extended at last year’s Nurburgring Blancpain event.

The two parties have previously discussed including a New Zealand leg in an Asia Pacific Series mooted by Ratel.

“We’re delighted that Stephane’s accepted our invitation and taken time out of his busy schedule to experience the exceptional Highlands Motorsport Park this weekend,” said Collier.

“Stephane invited Tony Quinn and I over to the Nurburgring last year and it was a fantastic experience.

“While we were there we extended an invitation to one of our rounds, so it’s great that he’ll be with this weekend.”

Ratel also attended the Bathurst 12 Hour earlier this year as part of his Stephane Ratel Organisation’s deal to manage parity at the event.