Krystian Korzeniowski opened the 2026 GT Winter Series with victory in the #777 Olimp Racing Ferrari 296 GT3 in a dramatic 30-minute Ford vs Ferrari season-opening showdown at Portimão, as mixed conditions, early incidents and relentless pressure defined Race 1 on Portuguese soil.

Mixed conditions and a disrupted start

Wet qualifying produced a mixed-up grid for Race 1 of the GT Winter Series, but a mixed conditioned track greeted the field for the race itself. The #64 Ford Mustang GT3, driven by Kiano Blum, claimed pole position as the leading GT3 entry, lining up alongside Arunas Geciauskas in the #71 Juta Racing Audi R8. Elsewhere on the grid, Team Steiner’s #47 Porsche Cup 2, driven by Mats Kimby, required last-minute mechanical attention before the start.

The race began behind the safety car with no green-flag lap, following timing issues. After the field was released early, the pack accelerated to catch the safety car, running closely grouped before racing finally got underway.

Early incidents and close calls

Once the green flag dropped, Jonas Karklys briefly moved into second at Turn 1, only to be cut back at Turn 2 by Olimp Racing and the Juta Racing Audi. Early drama unfolded as the #333 ASR entry, driven by Alessio Ruffini, and the #88 PT Sports Porsche collided at Turn 1. Shortly after, the #67 Orange Racing McLaren overtook the AF Motorsport Porsche as the field settled into rhythm.

Team Engstler’s Jonas Karklys spun into the final corner, coming to a brief stop on the track. Marcus Clutton of Orange Racing had a heart-stopping near-miss with the front of the Lamborghini, while Karklys drove onto the grass at Sagres and rejoined the race unscathed.

Ferrari vs Ford at the front

A backmarker Porsche nearly handed Korzeniowski a golden opportunity to pass Blum, but the move slipped away in traffic. Moments later, the Ferrari and Ford went three-wide with the lapped Porsche, allowing the Korzeniowskito seize the advantage and slice past Blum to take the lead.

Mid-race incidents continued as Michael Sander and Alfredo Hernández both ran off at Torre VIP, with Sander catching air over the sausage kerbs at the apex. Both drivers managed to rejoin the track, though the #111 SR Motorsport by Schnitzelalm Mercedes-AMG GT3 of Sander was forced to retire in the Portimão pit lane.

Further back, Dexter Müller battled desperately to find a way past the #5 Olimp Ferrari, with Branden Oxley, driving a Mercedes-AMG GT2 for NM Racing, hot on his heels and applying relentless pressure.

At the chequered flag, it was Korzeniowski’s Olimp Racing Ferrari leading the pack, with Blum’s Haupt Racing Team Mustang chasing hard behind, capping off an incident-packed and dramatic opening race of the GT Winter Series season.

The GT Winter Series weekend at Portimão continues on Sunday with two further races, as Race 2 gets underway at 09:15 WEST for 30 minutes, followed by Race 3 in the afternoon at 12:15 WEST, running for 55 minutes.

GT WINTER SERIES PORTIMÃO | ENTRY LIST | RACE 1 REPORT | RACE 2 AND 3 REPORT | GALLERY