2026 GT World Challenge Europe
| 2026 GT World Challenge Europe | |
|---|---|
| Organizer | SRO Motorsports Group |
| Discipline | Sports car racing |
| Number of races | 15 |
| Champions | |
| GT World Challenge Europe Drivers | |
| GT World Challenge Europe Teams | |
The 2026 GT World Challenge Europe Powered by AWS is a planned motor racing championship for GT3 cars, marking the 13th edition of the GT World Challenge Europe. Organised by the SRO Motorsports Group, it will form the European part of the broader GT World Challenge, which will also include GT World Challenge America, GT World Challenge Australia and GT World Challenge Asia.
The championship will split into the Endurance Cup and the Sprint Cup, each with its respective titles, alongside the overall GT World Challenge Europe championship. The season will take place over ten rounds at various European circuits. The annual season prologue, which acts as the championship's pre-season testing, is scheduled to take place between 7 and 8 April 2026, with testing for the 24 Hours of Spa occurring between 19 and 20 May 2026. Racing is planned to commence in April and conclude in October.
Calendar
All Sprint Cup rounds consist of two one-hour races, totalling 15 races throughout the season, alongside the single 3-hour, 6-hour, or 24-hour races in Endurance Cup rounds.[1][2]
| Round | Circuit | Date | Series | Map |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Circuit Paul Ricard | 11–12 April | Endurance | |
| 2 | Brands Hatch | 2–3 May | Sprint | |
| 3 | Monza Circuit | 30–31 May | Endurance | |
| 4 | Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps | 25–28 June | Endurance | |
| 5 | Misano World Circuit | 18–19 July | Sprint | |
| 6 | Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours | 1–2 August | Sprint | |
| 7 | Nürburgring | 29–30 August | Endurance | |
| 8 | Circuit Zandvoort | 19–20 September | Sprint | |
| 9 | Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya | 3–4 October | Sprint | |
| 10 | Algarve International Circuit | 17–18 October | Endurance | |
| Source:[3] | ||||
Calendar changes
2026 is scheduled to feature a largely unchanged calendar. With the only significant alterations being the return of the Algarve International Circuit as the season finale, marking its first appearance since 2015, and Circuit Zandvoort being moved from May to September.[3]
Entries
Sprint Cup
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Endurance Cup
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To be confirmed
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Driver and team changes
For the 2026 season, the former Porsche marque and overall winners of the previous season's Endurance Cup, Rutronik Racing, will make the switch to Lamborghini, aiming to field the new Lamborghini Temerario GT3 in the whole season Pro class with a line-up of factory drivers.[6] In their place, Boutsen VDS will make two full-season Porsche entries after splitting from Mercedes-AMG, one of which is confirmed to have Alessio Picariello at the helm, the other will have Gilles Magnus and Swedish rising star Robin Knutsson behind the wheel.[4][5]
See also
- 2026 GT World Challenge America
- 2026 GT World Challenge Asia
- 2026 GT World Challenge Australia
- 2026 GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup
- 2026 GT World Challenge Europe Sprint Cup
- 2026 GT3 Revival Series
- 2026 Intercontinental GT Challenge
References
- ^ Euwema, Davey (27 June 2025). "Portimao to Make GTWC Europe Return After 11-Year Absence – Sportscar365". sportscar365.com. Retrieved 28 June 2025.
- ^ Kilbey, Stephen (27 June 2025). "GT World Challenge Europe Calendar Features Portimāo Return". www.dailysportscar.com. Retrieved 28 June 2025.
- ^ a b "GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS returns to Portimāo for 2026 season finale". GT World Challenge Europe Powered by AWS. 27 June 2025. Retrieved 27 June 2025.
- ^ a b c d e "Boutsen VDS switches to Porsche for 2026, names Picariello as first driver signing". GT World Challenge Europe Powered by AWS. 28 November 2025. Retrieved 28 November 2025.
- ^ a b c d e "Instagram". www.instagram.com. Retrieved 19 December 2025.
- ^ a b c "Rutronik Racing partners with Lamborghini to field new Temerario GT3". GT World Challenge Europe Powered by AWS. 21 November 2025. Retrieved 21 November 2025.
- ^ a b "Niederhauser Named Lamborghini Factory Driver – Sportscar365". 17 December 2025. Retrieved 17 December 2025.
- ^ "HRT Expands Mustang GT3 Program; Enters IGTC – Sportscar365". 18 December 2025. Retrieved 18 December 2025.
- ^ a b c d "RaceGroup to Make Series Debut With Ferrari Effort – Sportscar365". 26 November 2025. Retrieved 26 November 2025.
- ^ Goodwin, Graham (3 December 2025). "SR Motorsport by Schnitzelalm Goes International!". Retrieved 4 December 2025.
- ^ "Steller Motorsport get out testing in Spain". Bucks Herald. 18 November 2025. Retrieved 19 November 2025.
- ^ a b "Valentino Rossi leaves WEC after just two seasons, BMW announces | Crash.net". www.crash.net. 11 December 2025. Retrieved 15 December 2025.
- ^ "Max Verstappen tests Mercedes car in latest GT3 appearance". RacingNews365. 16 December 2025. Retrieved 16 December 2025.