GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS returns as one of the most competitive GT3 championships around the globe, with ten manufacturers joining the battle such as BMW, Mercedes-AMG, Porsche, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Audi, Aston Martin, McLaren, and Ford confirmed to participate. A total of 59 cars are set to take the grid at Circuit Paul Ricard for the season opener, although that number drops to 58 following the withdrawal of the #34 Walkenhorst Motorsport Aston Martin.
Calendar overview and schedule changes
The 2026 calendar still maintains a total of ten rounds, with the same Sprint Cup and Endurance Cup format as the previous year. The majority of the series will still take place on the same circuits and even on almost the same dates. However, there are two schedule changes. Zandvoort, which last year was in the early rounds, has now moved to September. This has a significant strategic impact, as Zandvoort is now in the final stages of the season, when the battle for points is usually crucial and the pressure is much higher.
If Valencia was the final round of the GT World Challenge Endurance Cup in 2025, now Algarve International Circuit (also known as Portimão) becomes the closing round of the season. The last time this circuit appeared in the GT World Challenge Europe was in 2015, making this more of a ‘comeback’ and bringing a different track character — more flowing and technical — for the deciding race.
Technical updates and team moves
The 2026 season also brings several updates with the latest GT3 cars. One of the most anticipated is the Lamborghini Temerario GT3, which teams like Rutronik Racing will use. Rutronik Racing is making a major shift from Porsche to Lamborghini and will field the latest Lamborghini Temerario GT3 in the Pro class. This is one of the most exciting projects, as they are the current Endurance Cup champions. Despite the changes, Rutronik Racing will continue to field the #97 Porsche 911 GT3 R Evo in the Bronze class, with Antares Wu, Riccardo Pera, and Loek Hartog as its line-up.
Furthermore, the Ferrari 296 GT3 Evo is also beginning to be used more widely by several teams, including AF Corse. Indonesian driver Sean Gelael has joined #50 AF Corse Ferrari for the Endurance Cup alongside Arthur Leclerc and Lilou Wadoux in the Ferrari 296 GT3 Evo. Wadoux also makes history as the first female driver to compete in the Pro Endurance Cup for a full season.
Boutsen VDS, following its split from Mercedes-AMG, will field two full-season Porsche entries. Dorian Boccolacci and Alessio Picariello are confirmed for one car, while Gilles Magnus and Robin Knutsson will compete in the Gold Cup with the other.
Audi is also returning to overall competition through Eastalent Racing after winding down full factory support for GT3 racing. Christopher Haase and Simon Reicher will drive the #84 Eastalent Racing Audi R8 LMS GT3 EVO II in all 2026 rounds, with Markus Winkelhock also part of the line-up for the Endurance Cup.
Team WRT returns with updated line-up
Some big teams will come to the European venues with interesting changes. Defending overall champions Team WRT will return with their BMW M4 GT3 Evo, bringing a promising line-up for both series.
Kelvin van der Linde and Charles Weerts are reunited to defend their championship title, using the same number as last year, #32 Team WRT BMW M4 GT3 Evo for the Sprint Cup line-up, while Jordan Pepper has joined the team for the Endurance format. Meanwhile, Pepper will team up with Amaury Cordeel in the #31 Team WRT BMW for the Sprint Cup.
Valentino Rossi also makes his comeback using his legendary number #46 Team WRT, joining Max Hesse for the Sprint Cup, while Dan Harper will join the team for the Endurance format. Other drivers joining Team WRT include Matisse Lismont and Ignacio Montenegro, who will compete in the Silver class for the Sprint Cup, while Amaury Cordeel is also added to the team for the Endurance Cup.
Alongside WRT, fellow BMW contender ROWE Racing returns to the 2026 GT World Challenge Europe, fielding two BMW M4 GT3 Evo cars in the Pro class for the Endurance Cup. The #98 entry will feature Augusto Farfus, Raffaele Marciello, and Jake Dennis, while the sister car, #998, will be driven by Jens Klingmann, Ugo de Wilde, and Tim Tramnitz.
Line-up changes
Verstappen Racing, now under the name #3 Mercedes-AMG Team Verstappen Racing and organised by 2 Seas Motorsport, is also back and this time using a Mercedes-AMG to fight for the overall title with Chris Lulham and Daniel Juncadella as the main line-up. Jules Gounon is also added to the line-up for the Endurance Cup. Car #48 Mercedes-AMG Team Mann-Filter will see Lucas Auer and Maro Engel teaming up for the Sprint Cup, with Luca Stolz joining them for the Endurance Cup.
Defending champions in the Gold class, Emil Frey Racing, will compete in the Pro class this season. They will field two cars, with newcomer Matteo Cairoli joining Konsta Lappalainen in the #14 Emil Frey Racing Ferrari 296 GT3 Evo. Their sister car, #69 Emil Frey Racing Ferrari with Red Bull livery, will be driven by Thierry Vermeulen and Ben Green.
On the McLaren side, Garage 59 returns with a line-up of factory drivers such as Marvin Kirchhöfer and Dean MacDonald, who are strong candidates in the Pro class.
Another F1 driver joins GT racing
Big news comes from Comtoyou Racing Aston Martin, as they’ve just announced their driver line-up for the first round of GT World Challenge Europe. Lance Stroll is the next active Formula 1 driver to join GT racing, following Max Verstappen, as he prepares to make his GT World Challenge Europe debut at Circuit Paul Ricard.
Stroll had his first test in his Aston Martin Vantage GT3 on 1 April at the Nürburgring. He will start the GT World Challenge Europe with Comtoyou Racing, sharing the car with Roberto Merhi and Mari Boya for at least the opening round with more races possible.
Official Test Prologue
All teams and drivers used the Prologue as preparation for the 2026 season-opening six-hour race at Circuit Paul Ricard on 8–9 April.
Two sessions were held on each day: a morning session and an afternoon session. In the morning of the first day, Thomas Preining set the fastest time with a 1:55.682 in the #80 Lionspeed GP Porsche, ahead of Christopher Haase in the #84 Eastalent Racing Audi by 0.086 seconds. In the afternoon session, the #23 Team RJN McLaren driven by Ben Dörr topped the times with a 1:54.762, followed by the #97 Rutronik Racing Porsche of Loek Hartog in second place.
On day two, Christopher Haase again set the fastest lap with a time of 1:54.325. Second place went to the #2 Boutsen VDS Porsche, 0.283 seconds behind, driven by Alessio Picariello. Two incidents marked the session: Jamie Day crashed at Turn 7 in the #34 Walkenhorst Motorsport car. The damage was deemed too severe, and the car has been ruled out before its weekend has even begun. The second incident involved Mari Boya. He lost control of the #18 Comtoyou Racing car at Turn 2 and hit the barriers at high speed.
Track action continues on Friday with the Bronze Test, followed by Free Practice 1 and Free Practice 2. Qualifying and the six-hour race will take place on Saturday.
Full 2026 GT World Challenge Europe entry list
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