The Michelin 24H Dubai brought the Middle East Trophy to a close, the GT Winter Series returned to action at Portimão, and teams gathered at Daytona for the Roar Before the 24 ahead of the Rolex 24.

24H Series – 24H Dubai: Late drama crowns Team WRT

The Michelin 24H Dubai delivered a tense and emotional finale as Team WRT secured a sensational one-two finish with its BMW M4 GT3s after a nail-biting final half hour. The winning #669 BMW gambled on fuel saving rather than a late splash-and-dash, with Jordan Pepper executing the strategy perfectly to claim victory by a lap from the sister car.

The decisive moment came when the podium-contending #992 Paradine BMW suffered a catastrophic brake failure with less than 30 minutes remaining, ending its charge and reshuffling the order. That heartbreak opened the door for Winward Racing’s Mercedes-AMG to complete the GT3 podium, while WRT celebrated not only victory but also a milestone result.

With this win, Team WRT equalled Black Falcon on five overall Dubai victories, while BMW drew level with Porsche on six manufacturer wins at the event.

GT Winter Series – Portimão: Korzeniowski leads Olimp Racing double

The 2026 GT Winter Series started at Portimão with a lively Ford vs Ferrari duel in mixed conditions. Krystian Korzeniowski led the way for Olimp Racing, winning two of the three races during the weekend in the #777 Ferrari 296 GT3.

Full race 1 report available here.

Jay Mo Härtling claimed victory in Race 2 of the GT Winter Series with #11 SR Motorsport by Schnitzelalm, prevailing after a sustained fight at the front. Härtling ran nose-to-tail with Karol Basz for much of the race before making the decisive move to take the lead and control the closing stages.

Olimp Racing completed a strong Portimão weekend with victory in Race 3, as Krystian Korzeniowski and Karol Basz guided the #777 Ferrari 296 GT3 to the top step. An early spin for Korzeniowski dropped the car back through the order, but consistent pace kept the Ferrari firmly in contention.

After the pit stops, Basz took over and delivered a controlled stint to bring the car back to the front and secure the win, sealing a second victory of the weekend for the #777 crew.

Full race 2 and 3 report available here.

IMSA WeatherTech Sports Car Championship – Roar Before the 24: Daytona sets the scene

Three days of running at Daytona provided teams with their first clear picture of form ahead of the Rolex 24 at Daytona. Across multiple sessions, IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship contenders cycled through qualifying simulations, long runs and night running, with both factory and customer programmes featuring prominently on the timing screens.

Porsche and Cadillac shared the GTP spotlight throughout the Roar, with Porsche’s pace proving particularly consistent from the opening session through to Sunday’s final runs. LMP2, GTD Pro and GTD all saw frequent changes at the top as teams focused less on outright lap times and more on preparation, reliability and balance ahead of race week.

Alongside the WeatherTech Championship, the VP Racing Fuels SportsCar Challenge launched its season with hard-fought sprint races, adding further track action to a busy Daytona weekend.

Catch the full Roar and VP SportsCar Challenge coverage here.

From the archive: Bobby Rahal on a new chapter with McLaren

Last November, Bobby Rahal reflected on a major turning point for Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, as the team prepared to move on from its long-standing partnership with BMW and begin a new programme with McLaren. Rahal pointed to McLaren’s energy, momentum and commitment as key factors behind the decision, signalling a fresh direction for one of sports car racing’s most storied and successful operations.

That new era begins in earnest this weekend at the Rolex 24 at Daytona, where RLL makes its competitive debut with McLaren on one of the sport’s biggest stages. It marks the start of a new chapter for a team defined by success and ambition.

Read the full interview to revisit Rahal’s thoughts on the move and, with McLaren’s Hypercar project taking off, what it could mean for the future.

Next up: Daytona leads the way while GT Winter Series continues at Estoril

This weekend, the spotlight firmly falls on the Rolex 24 at Daytona, as the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship opens its season with the 24-hour race at Daytona International Speedway. Running across Saturday and Sunday, the endurance classic brings the first major international test of 2026.

Alongside the action in the United States, the winter racing programme continues in Europe, where the GT Winter Series heads to Circuito do Estoril for its second round.