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Nights of Spa: Get ready for more music and more parties at the 2026 CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa

Three evenings of festivities and live music at the CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa
New: Rooftop Party during Night Practice on Thursday 25 June; Raidillon Party after the first support races on Friday 26 June
Global superstar Dimitri Vegas joined on the main stage by leading Belgian and French

From 24–28 June, the CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa invites you to experience something truly extraordinary. While the on-track action is non-stop, music and celebration are also an integral part of this increasingly popular event – as demonstrated by the 128,000 spectators who attended in 2025.

For the 2026 edition, the 24 Hours of Spa is innovating once again by creating the "Nights of Spa," a name that encompasses three nights of celebration in unique and legendary locations.

On Thursday, while the 24 Hours hopefuls tackle Qualifying and Night Practice, the roof of the Endurance pits will host a Rooftop Party that you won't soon forget. With French artists SiBE and Julien Perrier providing the music, you can enjoy the bars while watching the GT3 cars climb Raidillon at over 240 km/h. The cars' headlights will combine with specially installed lighting to create an atmosphere unlike any other in the world. From 20:00 until 01:00, this experience – along with the Pit Walk from 23:35 to 00:35. – will give you goosebumps.

On Friday evening, the circuit will be open to the public for the Track Walk. Following the first races (including the opening contest for the spectacular GT4 European Series), thousands of fans will be able to walk the asphalt, take photos, leave their signature on the Raidillon kerbs, and enjoy this unique opportunity.

The major new feature this year is the Raidillon Party. You read that right: the most famous corner in the world will be transformed into a huge dancefloor from 23:00 until 01:00. For the occasion, SiBE – the resident DJ of the GT World Challenge Fan Zones – will be back on the decks.

And what would the CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa be without the Saturday night electro concert, staged at the heart of the Fan Village. In just a few steps, spectators can go from the paddock, transformed into a hive of activity during the race, to the Fan Village. From the grandstands at the foot of Raidillon, they can admire the daring runs of the world's best GT3 drivers before heading off to the concert arena.

On an even bigger and more spectacular stage, the 2026 show will last eight hours. SARI (aka Éléonore Cesari), from Charleroi, will open this giant concert with a set from 18:00–20:00, followed by Liège native iCe Kream (20:00–21:30). From 21:30–23:00, Jérémie Charlier and SPX (winner of the Contact DJ competition) will team up for a back-to-back set that will push the excitement level even higher.

At 23:00, Dimitri Vegas will take to the stage at the CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa. Over the past 10 years, the Antwerp native has consistently ranked among the world's top five DJs, even leading the prestigious DJ Mag ranking on several occasions. The Tomorrowland icon is a showman capable of captivating crowds, and thousands of fans are expected to sing along to his choruses as the race unfolds.

Finally, SIKS – best known for his remix of Charles Aznavour's "La Bohème" – is a rising young French artist. With his powerful, emotional, and unifying sound, SIKS brings a sonic identity perfectly suited to the biggest stages. With his live piano, he will be headlining for the first time, closing the huge electro concert between 00:30 and 02:00.

The Nights of Spa alone are worth the trip, but they represent only a part of the unique experience offered by the event. On the track, elite drivers representing 10 prestigious manufacturers will compete for victory in the world's biggest GT race. In the Fan Village, spectators can enjoy a variety of entertainment, including a Ferris wheel. On Saturday evening, during the race itself, a spectacular fireworks display will light up the sky. There are also supercar exhibitions, dozens of bars and restaurants, campsites, a Kids & Family Zone, merchandise stalls, drift demonstrations, and opportunities to meet the drivers. And if you haven't got your tickets yet, it's not too late!

MORE INFOS

Battle rages on latest collector's edition poster with just three weeks to go until 2026 CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa

Fourth poster for 2026 CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa concludes this year’s saga
Ferrari and Ford locked in fierce battle at the heart of the Belgian Ardennes
Wide variety of ticket options for the world's greatest GT race on 24–28 June

Three weeks – that’s all that remains before we find out who will be on pole for the 2026 CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa. Following a particularly exciting GT World Challenge powered by AWS Endurance Cup contest at Monza, the teams have entered the final phase of preparation before the most important race of the season.

The fourth and final collector's edition poster perfectly captures the intensity of the battle that will unfold between the drivers in this great endurance classic, which kicks off on Saturday 27 June at 16:30. Behind the wheel of his Ferrari 296 GT3 EVO, Arthur Leclerc strives to overtake the Ford Mustang GT3 EVO driven by Fabio Scherer, one of the pole-sitters last weekend at Monza. As with the first three posters, artist Guillaume Lopez transports us to the heart of the action, set against the magnificent backdrop of the Belgian Ardennes, which has witnessed some of the most glorious chapters in motorsport history.

The world's greatest GT race promises to be a fierce battle between the best teams and drivers on the planet. But there is so much more to Spa: it's an automotive festival, an event to be experienced; indeed, it is impossible to describe in words alone given the countless activities, exhibitions, and highlights on offer.

The CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa is felt deep in your bones. It will thrill you. It will give you goosebumps. It will have you dancing along to the live performance of global superstar Dimitri Vegas. It will entertain you. It will make you dream when you meet your favourite drivers, especially during the unmissable parade on Wednesday 24 June.

For five days, the CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa promises to awaken all your senses and leave you in awe. To experience this unique event at the heart of the majestic Spa-Francorchamps, find the complete ticket offer (general admission, paddock, camping, parking, VIP experience, etc.)

GT2 EUROPEAN SERIES POWERED BY PIRELLI SCORCHES INTO A NEW SEASON AT MONZA

+ Record grid brings the heat to the Temple of Speed

+ Maserati and Mercedes-AMG share the early honours

+ SRO GT Academy begins with fierce competition
+ Huge crowds turn out to witness GT World’s return to Italy

The GT2 European Series powered by Pirelli opened a new chapter in its history at Monza this weekend, with a record grid playing out two thrilling races in front of a packed Temple of Speed.

Almost 45,000 fans flooded the legendary Italian parkland track to witness action from a near 60-car GT World field, a 44-strong GT4 European Series grid and an all-time-high 22-car GT2 entry. Together with the McLaren Trophy Europe, road-going supercars on both static and moving display, plus a bustling fan zone soundtracked by the GT World DJ, the event provided thrills at every turn.

MASERATI AND MERCEDES-AMG SHARE OPENING HONOURS

Two different overall winners across two different classes proved the competitiveness of the new-look GT2 Europe field as Antoine Potty secured the opening honours of the season in his i4Race Maserati, before David Thilenius and Jay Mo Härtling gave SR Motorsport by Schnitzelalm Mercedes-AMG top spot in the finale.

With the new Silver class for this year, GT2 aims to establish itself as an ideal proving ground for young talent, and Potty took full advantage by producing a controlled drive to overhaul class rivals Branden Oxley and Adrián Ferrer, who started on pole in their NM Racing Team Mercedes-AMG. Oxley led much of the race, but a slow stop when handing to Ferrer opened the door for Potty to strike, with the grey and green Maserati sweeping through to win. Stefan Rosina and Gerhard Tweraser secured second in their LP Racing Maserati ahead of Thilenius and Härtling, who both completed the overall podium and topped Pro-Am.

Class success was just the start for the Schnitzelalm pair though, as Härtling and Thilenius then claimed outright victory in Race 2. Härtling showed his class by leading the entirety of the opening stint from pole before handing to Thilenius, who continued to lead until Oxley blew past into Parabolica and looked set for the win. However, his car was hit with a 12-second time penalty for a short pit stop, handing the result back to Schnitzelalm, with NM Racing Team’s Nil Montserrat and Alberto de Martin making it a Mercedes-AMG one-two. The penalty also denied Oxley and Ferrer the Silver class win, as they fell just shy of Ethan Gialdini and Mikkel Njor’s CMR Ginetta, which completed the overall podium.

Philippe Prette proved he is still the man to beat in the Masters class, winning both races aboard his LP Racing Maserati. The Monegasque driver has now won eight races in a row, a run stretching back to the middle of last season. The results were made all the more impressive by the fact Prette was forced to switch to a backup chassis after his own car suffered an accident during testing on Thursday.

WINNERS AND FASTEST LAPS GALORE FOR SRO GT ACADEMY CANDIDATES

The eight drivers chasing the biggest SRO GT Academy prize ever got both their first taste of GT2, and their first opportunity to size up their opposition. All eight, split across six cars, gathered for a group photo on the grid ahead of the start of action, complete with a Mercedes-AMG GT3 from the GetSpeed team to represent the prize they will be fighting for – a funded (excluding crash damage) season in the 2027 GT World Endurance Cup with a Mercedes-AMG Customer Team.

Jay Mo Härtling got off to an impressive start, twinning his Pro-Am class win from Race 1 with overall success in Race 2, setting the fastest lap across both outings and adding a pole position too. Antoine Potty’s Race 1 victory will have impressed the judges, but his weekend was tempered by tyre damage that cost him the chance to fight in Race 2.

Brandon Oxley scored a pole position and added two Silver podiums to his cause alongside Adrián Ferrer. A Silver victory was a boost for Ethan Gialdini and Mikkel Njor, who share a CMR Ginetta. Niccoló Pirri lost his chance to fight in Race 1 when an issue with his Maserati’s door delayed him, but fourth in Pro-Am in Race 2 was a solid recovery. Moritz Wiskirchen never got the chance to show what he can do after his car was crashed early in Race 1 and he was forced to start the finale a lap down from the pit lane after repairs.

FANS SOAK UP THE SUN

Throughout the event the fan zone proved a popular destination, with healthy crowds enjoying both the 30-degree weather whilst also keeping cool with the range of food and drink stands on offer. All of the track action was shown live on the big screen as the GT World DJ provided the soundtrack.

A glorious selection of supercars dazzled in the sunshine, highlighted by the new Kimera Evo 37 and Érik Comas who brought his unique Nissan R390 for both show and demonstration laps, providing some glorious GT1 nostalgia.

The GT2 European Series powered by Pirelli continues its 2026 season as part of SRO Spa Speedweek. Staged one week before the CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa, this free-to-attend event is schedule for 20-21 June at the legendary Belgian venue.

RACE REPLAY

HOW TO WATCH

Extensive live coverage of the GT2 European Series powered by Pirelli is available on the GT World YouTube channel. This is free to view around the globe and includes start-to-finish action from every GT World Challenge race. Click here for more information.

GT World Challenge powered by AWS delivers again at Monza as packed weekend culminates in incredible race

• Tresor Attempto Racing puts Audi back on top with remarkable win

• Packed event includes action on and off the track for fans to enjoy

• Next stop Spa-Francorchamps for 78th CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa

• Final Result: Monza

With more than 43,000 spectators in attendance, a carnival atmosphere among the fans and plenty of action on the circuit, GT World Challenge powered by AWS served up another unforgettable weekend of entertainment at Monza.

Sunday’s three-hour race began in dramatic fashion, developed into a game of strategy, then ended with yet more drama. A multi-car crash at the start removed several leading contenders, including the top five on the grid. It also paved the way for several underdogs to step into the spotlight, particularly the #23 RJN McLaren and the #87 Winward Racing Mercedes-AMG.

But the winners’ champagne belonged to the #66 Tresor Attempto Racing squad, which showed that Audi can still triumph in the most competitive GT series in the world by winning overall with its Silver Cup crew. For the young trio of drivers – Rocco Mazzola, Ariel Levi and Sebastian Øgaard – it was a day to remember.

As ever, Monza offered far more than just the action on track. The public were treated to plenty of extra activities, including a pair of autograph sessions which allowed them to meet the drivers, and a fully stocked Fan Zone with music from the GT World DJ, food and drinks, and more. Support action came from three high-level championships: the GT2 European Series powered by Pirelli, GT4 European Series, and McLaren Trophy Europe.

There were also some incredible supercars, including the cutting-edge Kimera Evo 37, a restomod that pays tribute to the iconic Lancia rally car. There was nostalgia too, with Érik Comas running demonstration laps in his road-legal Nissan R390 GT1, a car that turned heads on-track and in the paddock. And, in what is now an annual tradition, the Fanfara Alpina Angelo Masciadri were on the grid to perform a rousing rendition of the national anthem. With perfect weather, it was an ideal weekend for fans.

While the race result will take the headlines, there was also a significant story in qualifying when the Ford Mustang GT3 secured its first-ever GT World Challenge pole position. It came only 18 months after the American manufacturer launched its new programme and added a new name to the list of brands that have taken pole in the series. The remarkable level of competition was fully on display in qualifying, where the fastest 33 cars were separated by less than a second.

There was another significant off-track development on Thursday. Italian-Swiss watch brand DESDER was unveiled as Presenting Partner, with its unique all-titanium creation – the D001 – launched to media, teams, and drivers before the race. Inspired by the automotive tradition of GT cars, this unique timepiece features some of the most intricate engineering ever seen in watchmaking with a Triple Axis Tourbillon, put together by the leading experts in horology.

“GT World is a natural home for us, as automotive culture is at the very heart of our ethos,” said the brand’s founder Fabrizio Nardini. “We’re delighted to begin our journey at one of the most iconic venues in international motorsport.”

With the Monza weekend complete, the next event on the GT World Challenge calendar is the most important of them all: the CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa. The Belgian endurance classic stages its 78th edition on 24-28 June and will see a 70-car field tackle the biggest GT race in the world.

The main event will be preceded by a week of activities both on and off the Ardennes circuit. From the first track action on Tuesday to Wednesday's parade, three nights of music – including the electro night headlined by Dimitri Vegas – and plenty of support race action, it promises to be truly unforgettable. For more information and to get your tickets, please click here.

MEDIA INFORMATION

SCHNITZELALM SHINES IN THE SUN AS THE GT4 EUROPEAN SERIES TURNS UP THE HEAT IN MONZA

+ Förderer and Fuchs do the double across two crazy races

+ Baking Temple of Speed showcases almost 150 GT cars

+ GT World experience attracts 45,000 fans

SR Motorsport by Schnitzelalm drivers Enrico Förderer and Cedric Fuchs took centre stage across two absorbing GT4 European Series races at Monza, with the 44-car field producing action everywhere you looked in Italy.

The second round of the season again featured the GT4 field joining forces with the GT2 European Series powered by Pirelli and McLaren Trophy Europe, combining to support the GT World, which headlined the action at the Temple of Speed with its own 57-car GT3 grid.

In total, almost 45,000 fans turned out to catch the action, and they were treated to a host of entertainment both on and off the track with live music, pit walks, autograph sessions, supercar displays and a busy fan zone providing plenty of options.

FÖRDERER AND FUCHS MAKE IT THREE FROM FOUR

After their flying start to life in GT4 Europe at the opening round last month, Förderer and Fuchs went even better in Monza, securing their biggest points haul of the season so far to extend their championship lead. The twin victories take their tally to three wins from the four races so far, reinforcing their title-chasing form.

They faced a host of challenges, however, and the #111 Mercedes-AMG was rarely the fastest car, but their consistency and cool heads amid the searing track temperatures got them through in front.

Robert Consani and Benjamin Lariche held a formidable record at Monza, having won three of the last four races here. They looked like extending that when each driver smashed the old Qualifying lap record to grab both pole positions aboard the #1 Team Speedcar Audi, but again luck was not on their side as they lost a shot at the win in Race 1 to a mechanical issue before a penalty denied them an almost certain victory in the finale.

Lariche took pole for the opener but dropped to third early on, giving himself work to do to claw his way back to the front. That sparked a great four-car fight between he, Pedro Garcia’s Racing Spirit of Léman Aston Martin, Förderer and Cameron McLeod in the flying Academy Mustang. McLeod dropped out of contention after a penalty for a start infringement, while Clement Seyler dramatically crashed out in the Aston, leaving Förderer’s team-mate Fuchs and Consani to play out the lead battle across the closing stages. Consani had only just stolen the lead when his Audi slowed with a gearbox problem, leaving Fuchs to take the glory.

Race 2 was just as dramatic, with two safety car interruptions, the second caused by a spectacular airborne accident for the #30 W&S Motorsport Porsche. The fact all drivers emerged unscathed again goes to prove the safety standards of the current generation of GT4 cars.

Consani didn’t let his chance from pole slip, leading throughout the opening stint. The race turned sour for Speedcar when the pit stops arrived and the #1 was handed a time penalty for speeding in the pits, meaning although Lariche rejoined out front he would need to build a gap of 10 seconds or more to secure the win. He so nearly did, pulling 9.4 seconds clear of Förderer by the time he had managed to work his way into second, but in clean air the German ate into the gap just enough, denying Lariche by just over a second and completing a dream double.

Lotus PB Racing celebrated home success in Pro-Am, with Massimiliano Schiavone and Maurizio Copetti scoring victory in Race 1, before Team Speedcar got its reward for strong pace all weekend with Sacha Bottemanne and Viny Beltramelli triumphing in the second. After Am class victory in the opener, Max Kronberg and Daniel Blickle made a flying exit to the second race, leaving Julien Ripert to double Audi’s trophy tally.

THE GT WORLD EXPERIENCE

A total of 43,461 spectators descended on the Temple of Speed for enjoy a packed weekend of world-class GT racing. As well as basking in stunning weather, the crowds enjoyed supercar displays and demonstration laps, open paddock access and a bustling pit walk on Saturday evening, which featured an autograph session with the podium-finishing GT4 Europe drivers.

Automotive exotica included the one-off Nissan R390 GT1, which was both on static display and unleashed on track to allow fans to revel in the sound of its 3.5-litre twin-turbo V8, the new Kimera Evo 37 plus a line-up including world-leading brands such as Ferrari, Maserati, Lamborghini, Dallara, McLaren and more. In addition, the fan zone remained a hive of activity, with thousands of fans enjoying food and drink offerings plus GT World’s live DJ while taking in the action from the big screen.

The GT4 European Series returns to action at the CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa where it will support the world’s biggest GT race across the weekend of June 25-27.

RACE REPLAYS

SRO GT Academy Newsletter: June 2026

Some of the most exciting young talents in global sportscar racing have been on track in recent weeks as they look to take the next step in their careers with help from the SRO GT Academy.

Open to FIA Silver-graded drivers under the age of 30, the Academy consists of three distinct elements, each awarding a specific prize for 2027. Points are scored based on criteria such as speed, race craft and consistency, as well as behaviour on and off the track.

With every eligible series now underway, 44 aspiring professionals have been in action on four continents. Their objective is to follow in the footsteps of Gaspard Simon, who won the inaugural SRO GT Academy in 2025 and now competes full-time in GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS.

Leading candidates emerge for 2027 CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa opportunity

The 2026 CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa is just around the corner, but several SRO GT Academy hopefuls are far more interested in the 2027 edition. That’s because four drivers – one each from the GT World Challenge powered by AWS series in America, Asia and Australia, as well as British GT – will join forces at next year’s race. What’s more, a leading contender has already emerged in each series.

With two rounds complete the Asian table is topped by Yu Kuai (FAW Audi Sport Asia Team Phantom) who edged in front after the second round at Mandalika. The 25-year-old is the defending Silver Cup champion and tops the Academy table despite not currently leading his class standings. Japanese racer Atsushi Miyake (Team 5Zigen Nissan) is his closet challenger, 12 points back from Yu.

The American standings are also topped by an Aussie with Tom Sargent (GMG Porsche) pulling well clear of the opposition. Indeed, the 23-year-old from New South Wales received perfect scores at Sonoma, Circuit of The Americas and Sebring, giving him a 35-point advantage over his Kiwi rival Ryan Yardley (Wright Porsche).

In Australia, Oscar Targett (Kollosche by Tigani Motorsport Mercedes-AMG) has established himself as the favourite to secure a place at Spa in 2027. The 20-year-old rookie set a high standard across the opening events at Phillip Island and The Bend, opening a 36-point gap over Valentino Astuti (Trading Garage Team MPC Audi).

Finally, in British GT, Jarrod Waberski (Barwell Motorsport Lamborghini) has topped the table since leading the scores at Silverstone. Charles Clark (Century Motorsport BMW) prevailed in the first of two races at Oulton Park before Waberski reasserted himself in the second. Nevertheless, the seven-point gap is the closest across the four series.

As it stands in mid-June 2026, the Academy crew for next year’s CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa will consist of Yu/Taggert/Sargent/Waberski. There is still time for others to stake a claim, but each member of this quartet has been the standout in their respective series.

Härtling throws down the gauntlet with stellar GT2 Europe performance

With eight drivers fighting for SRO GT Academy honours, the GT2 European Series powered by Pirelli is a particularly competitive arena. That reflects the highly coveted prize on offer: a fully paid GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup programme with a Mercedes-AMG customer team in 2027.

Jay Mo Härtling laid down a serious marker with his performance in the opener at Monza. The SR Motorsport by Schnitzelalm driver impressed the Academy judges with two class wins, two fastest laps, and an outright pole, earning 60 points from the two-race event.

Härtling’s performance was no surprise: the 23-year-old German won last year's ADAC GT4 title and has made multiple 24h Nürburgring starts. His closest challengers after Monza are the NM Racing Team duo of Adrián Ferrer and Branden Oxley with 33 and 31 points respectively, while Antoine Potty (i4Race Maserati) also impressed by taking the overall win in Race 1.

Papin edges ahead in FFSA GT after Jousset suffers misfortune at Dijon

Championnat de France FFSA GT is where it all began. Launched last year, the inaugural SRO GT Academy was won by Gaspard Simon, who earned a move up to GT World Challenge Europe as well as support from SRO Motorsports Group and the FFSA. The €150,000 on offer for this year’s winner to progress to either GT3 or GT2 means there’s plenty of incentive for the 2026 hopefuls.

With 13 entrants, this is also the biggest Academy field. The campaign began at Nogaro, where Léo Jousset (Race Cars Consulting Alpine) hit the ground running. The 24-year-old took pole position, led his stint and set the fastest lap of the race, clearly establishing his status as favourite to succeed Simon.

But he does not lead the standings. The second round at Dijon began badly for Jousset, with a gearbox problem keeping him out of the first race. He limited the damage by achieving a perfect score in the second contest, aided by another fastest lap and the best average.

The big winner at Dijon was Lukas Papin (Schumacher GP Alpine), who grabbed the lead in the standings after setting the best time among the Academy drivers in qualifying. He heads Viny Beltramelli (Code Racing Development Alpine), and Jousset, while Welsh racer Harri Reynolds (Circuit Toys Toyota) has jumped to fourth after achieving the best score among the Academy drivers at Dijon.

As part of the Academy programme, the top three in the standings – Jousset, Papin, and Beltramelli – will join the team of safety car drivers for the upcoming CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa. Each will hope that this is a step towards competing in the biggest GT race in the world next season.

Gaspard Simon gearing up for CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa debut

Gaspard Simon is proof of what the SRO GT Academy can do for a young driver. The 19-year-old made his name last year with a standout Championnat de France FFSA GT campaign, which included a brace of victories and five additional podiums. This earned him a €150,000 contribution from SRO Motorsports Group and its partners towards a GT World Challenge Europe programme, as well as comprehensive training from the SRO GT Academy and the FFSA GT Academy.

Simon ultimately agreed to a full-season programme with Walkenhorst Motorsport, driving the #35 Aston Martin Vantage in the ultra-competitive Silver Cup class. Thus far he has scored points in all four races, including a best finish of fifth in the Sprint Cup opener at Brands Hatch. Next, Simon will contest his maiden CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa, giving him the chance to demonstrate his ability on the biggest stage in global GT racing.

Q&A: Niccolò Pirri

At just 17, Niccolò Pirri is among the youngest drivers entered in this year’s SRO GT Academy. But that won’t stop the Italian teenager – who makes his GT2 Europe debut this year – from competing for a chance to race with Mercedes-AMG in 2027.

What would it mean to you to win SRO GT Academy in GT2 Europe and earn a GT World Challenge opportunity in 2027?

Winning it would be a huge boost for any driver. The prize is amazing; everyone would love a chance to race in GT World Challenge. The visibility of the series is incredible and I'd love to be there next year.

How will you balance competing for your class title while also looking to win the Academy prize?

I'm prioritising the Academy, but the Pro-Am championship is there to be won as well. I think we have a good shot at it.

This is your first year in GT racing, having stepped up from FFSA F4. How are you finding the Maserati GT2?

Overall I really enjoy the car. I've had to adjust to the change of direction, but I really love the horsepower and I can't wait to get going and see what we can do this season.

Coming up…

June is a busy month for the SRO GT Academy. There will be drivers in action on two continents this weekend (13/14 June) with GT World Challenge America at Road Atlanta and GT World Challenge Australia at Queensland Raceway. Respective leaders Tom Sargent and Oscar Targett will look to strengthen their chances of being at the 2027 CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa.

Then, on 20/21 June, three series will compete at the same circuit as part of SRO Spa Speedweek. FFSA GT and British GT will contest a combined race, a unique instance of two sets of Academy drivers sharing a track. GT2 Europe will also be at Spa-Francorchamps for its second event of 2026.

One week later, it's the race they're all hoping to be a part of next year: the CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa (24–28 June). Gaspard Simon will make his maiden appearance in the Belgian endurance classic, offering a clear example of what a young driver can achieve through the SRO GT Academy.

GT2 EUROPEAN SERIES POWERED BY PIRELLI READY FOR ACTION AT THE WORLD’S GREATEST WARMUP

+ 20-car field set for round two at the legendary Spa-Francorchamps
+ SRO’s full European family to be showcased across two high-octane weeks

+ Free entry for spectators makes Speedweek perfect preparation for the CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa
+ Provisional entry list, Spa Speedweek

The GT2 European Series powered by Pirelli will join forces with the top GT series from both Britain and France as Spa Speedweek kick-starts two incredible weeks of action at the legendary Belgian venue next weekend (Jun 19-21).

Running just days before the CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa, Speedweek serves as the ideal warmup to the world’s biggest GT race, combining the best national GT series from around Europe as the entire European SRO family will be showcased across two huge race meetings in the Ardennes. Spa Speedweek is also completely free for spectators, making the action accessible for all.

After a thrilling season opener at Monza, 20 GT2 cars will contest twin sprint races as the chase for honours across the three class championships and the new SRO GT Academy contest gathers pace. Following that, the British GT Championship and FFSA Championnat de France GT and Alpine Elf Cup will combine to create a super grid of 60 cars for a two-hour spectacular on Sunday.

ENJOY EUROPEAN HEAVY HITTERS… FOR FREE

In a world of rising costs for motorsport fans, Spa Speedweek stands out as a premium European event that is entirely free for spectators.

Across the three days a total of 16 races will be held, with the GT2 European Series joining French Formula 4, Trophée MitJet, FFSA Tourisme, the Porsche Carrera Cup France and the combined British/French GT headliner to create a packed weekend of action.

With completely free entry to the circuit, the grandstands and all of the paddocks, fans can enjoy a world-class show and perhaps even take the opportunity to bring friends and family to introduce them to the wide world of competition offered by SRO Motorsports Group. Spa is also one of the great circuits for viewing, from the iconic high-risk high-reward run up Eau Rouge and Raidillon, which pushes cars and drivers to their limits, to braking zone duels of the final chicane, the fast and flowing 7km circuit is as challenging as it is picturesque.

With the CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa beginning just days later, Spa Speedweek serves as the perfect appetiser for both fans and competitors to get into the swing of what will be a two-week festival of motorsport at one of its storied venues.

WIDE-OPEN COMPETITION HEADING TO SPA

With 20 cars split across three classes and featuring 34 drivers from 14 different nations, predicting a winner in the new-look GT2 European Series grid is a tricky task.

At Monza the wins were shared by Maserati and Mercedes-AMG, with Antoine Potty taking the opening honours solo in his i4Race car before SR Motorsport by Schnitzelalm drivers David Thilenius and Jay Mo Härtling took top spot in Race 2. The fact both cars competed in different categories – with Potty a Silver entry and Thilenius/Härtling a Pro-Am pairing – goes to reinforce the openness of the competition.

In the new Silver category, retirement for Potty cost him momentum following his breakthrough win and opened the door for the consistent CMR Ginetta pairing of Mikkel Njor and Ethan Gialdini to lead the early points. Branden Oxley and Adrian Ferrer were rapid in Italy with two class poles and sit just two points behind.

Thilenius and Härtling look a bit more comfortable in Pro-Am, but all that can change in an instant. They hold a 15-point lead after a maximum score of twin class wins and two pole positions, but have the experienced duo of Nil Montserrat and Alberto de Martin chasing them down in their NM Racing Team Mercedes-AMG. Mauro Calamia and Roberto Pampanini sit third in their Dinamic Motorsport Maserati. Iron Dames drivers Sarah Bovy and Laura van den Hengel also switch to a Maserati for this round. In total seven cars will contest what promises to be a very tight class battle.

Masters leads the entries with nine cars, many of which will be out to try and prevent another Philippe Prette double. The LP Racing Maserati driver began the season as he left off, scoring a dominant double victory in Monza to take his winning streak to eight. Ondrej Rokos and Petr Lisa twice came closest to stopping him in their RTR Projects Mercedes-AMG. After missing Monza due to illness, Matej Homola returns alongside Viktor Mraz in the team’s KTM X-Bow, while a new entry comes from ART-Line, which will run a Lamborghini for Shota Abkhazava. Both team and driver were winners on their last one-off appearance at Misano last year.

ACADEMY READY FOR ROUND 2

After his impressive performance at Monza, Jay Mo Härtling leads the early SRO GT Academy points thanks to the SR Motorsport by Schnitzelalm driver’s sweep of pole positions, class wins and fastest laps in Italy.

Open to Silver-graded drivers aged under 30, the contest awards points across a number of criteria, and will reward one driver with a funded seat in the full 2027 GT World Endurance Cup with a Mercedes-AMG Customer Team.

There is a lot more racing to go though, with Adrian Ferrer and Branden Oxley both right behind in their NM Racing Team Mercedes-AMG. The full field of eight drivers across six eligible cars is completed by Moritz Wiskirchen (Schnitzelalm Mercedes-AMG), Antoine Potty (i4Race Maserati), Ethan Gialdini and Mikkel Njor (CMR Ginetta) and Niccoló Pirri (LP Racing Maserati).

EVENT INFORMATION

TIMETABLE (CEST)

FRIDAY 19 JUNE
Free Practice: 11:10-12:10
Free Practice 2: 17:20-18:20

SATURDAY 20 JUNE

Qualifying: 10:50-11:25 LIVE TV
Race 1: 16:35-17:25 LIVE TV

SUNDAY 21 JUNE
Race 2: 09:30-10:20 LIVE TV

TICKET INFO

Tickets for the upcoming CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa and other GT World events can be purchased here.

One month to go: supercars galore Fuji-bound for GT World Challenge Asia and Japan Cup double header

PROVISIONAL ENTRY LISTS

Fuji Speedway will host a supercar spectacular on July 11/12 when GT World Challenge Asia powered by AWS and the Japan Cup stage their first joint event of 2026.

With a month to go, 26 GT3s are currently confirmed for Rounds 5 and 6 of the pan-continental series, while 17 entries are scheduled to contest the third and fourth races of SRO’s multi-class national championship.

Porsche Sprint Challenge Japan and the Roadster Cup add further variety to the SRO GT Powertour event, which will also include a paddock display featuring some of the world’s rarest hypercars and a fan pitwalk on both Saturday and Sunday.

On track, four podiums in as many races leaves Huang Ruohan and Alessandro Ghiretti with a 20-point advantage over Anthony Liu in the early GT World Asia drivers’ standings. But it’s much closer domestically where Shinji Takei and Ukyo Sasahara lead Yuya Motojima and Yusaku Shibata by one point following Sugo’s season opener.

Asia’s entry is bolstered by the addition of Absolute Racing’s two new Porsches, one of which is shared by GT World America front-runners Kyle Washington and Tom Sargent, plus LM Corsa’s returning Ferrari.

There are also new faces in Japan Cup where FIVESTAR with TEAM DreamDrive’s Mercedes-AMG GT3 joins the grid with Takashi Sano and Takuya Shirasaka behind wheel. Their last appearance came at Fuji 12 months ago, albeit in the GTC class, while GALAHRACING also returns with its Nissan GT-R. E-NEEDS RACING joins the GT4 entry.

The four 60-minute races, split equally between GT World Asia and Japan Cup, take place on Saturday and Sunday. All, as well as qualifying, are live with English and Japanese commentary on SRO’s GT World YouTube channel and official app, while tickets are available from https://en.fujimotorsportsforest.jp/motorsports/2026_gtwca

Little to choose between Mercedes-AMG and Porsche as season hits its stride

• Lead changes back and forth between duelling German brands

• Season now in full swing with 10 of 29 rounds complete

• Upcoming events in America and Australia followed by CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa

GLOBAL STANDINGS

Just seven points separate Mercedes-AMG from Porsche in the scrap for GT World Challenge powered by AWS supremacy as this year’s global GT3 contest passes one-third distance.

All four continental series have been in action over the last five weeks and will be again at least once before the summer break in August. The list of upcoming events is dominated by the world’s biggest GT3 race – the CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa – at the end of June following America and Australia’s outings at Road Atlanta and Queensland Raceway, respectively, this weekend. Asia, meanwhile, returns to action at Fuji in early July following Shanghai’s postponement.

The recent stretch of races began on 25/26 April with GT World Challenge America staging its second round at Circuit of the Americas. Known universally as COTA, the Texan track is motor racing’s answer to a greatest hits compilation, with corners inspired by Spa-Francorchamps, Silverstone and Interlagos among others.

japan cup

gt$ european series

gt3 revival series

2026 JAPAN CUP SCHEDULE

29 MAY 2026

31 MAY 2026

Monza

Italy

Round 2

25 JUN 2026

27 JUN 2026

Spa-Francorchamps

Belgium

Round 3

17 JUL 2026

19 JUL 2026

Misano

Italy

Round 4

18 SEP 2026

20 SEP 2026

Zandvoort

Netherlands

Round 5

Event Info

Save Date

2026 GT4 Australian Series

LIQUI MOLY GT Festival Queensland

Australia

Round 5 & 6

24 JUL 2026

26 JUL 2026

LIQUI MOLY GT Festival Darwin

Australia

Round 7 & 8

18 SEP 2026

20 SEP 2026

LIQUI MOLY GT Festival Sydney

Australia

Round 9 & 10

30 OCT 2026

01 NOV 2026

LIQUI MOLY GT Festival Sandown

Australia

Round 11 & 12

MAY 2026

17 MAY 2026

Championnat de France FFSA des Circuits - Dijon-Prenois

France

Manche 2

20 JUN 2026

21 JUN 2026

Spa SpeedWeek

Belgique

Manche 3

01 AUG 2026

02 AUG 2026

Events

10 APR 2026

12 APR 2026
Circuit Paul Ricard

France
Round 1
- Event Info
- Save Date
29 MAY 2026

31 MAY 2026

Monza

Italy
Round 2
- Event Info
- Save Date
25 JUN 2026

27 JUN 2026

Spa-Francorchamps

Belgium
Round 3
- Event Info
- Save Date
17 JUL 2026

19 JUL 2026

Misano

Italy
Round 4
- Event Info
- Save Date
18 SEP 2026

20 SEP 2026

Zandvoort

Netherlands
Round 5
- Event Info
- Save Date
16 OCT 2026

18 OCT 2026

Portimao

Portugal
Round 6
- Event Info
- Save Date
  
  2026 GT2 European Series

20 JUN 2026

21 JUN 2026

Spa Speedweek

Belgium

Round 3 & 4

18 JUL 2026

19 JUL 2026

Misano

Italy

Round 5 & 6

19 SEP 2026

20 SEP 2026

Zandvoort

Netherlands

Round 7 & 8

17 OCT 2026

18 OCT 2026

2026 CUBE 3 Architecture TA2 Series Central

1 March 2026 Sebring, FL

14 March 2026 Braselton, GA

25 April 2026 Sonoma, CA

26 April 2026 Sonoma, CA

22 May 2026 Lakeville, CT

20 June 2026 Speedway, IN

27 June 2026 Elkhart Lake, WI

18 July 2026 Watkins Glen, NY

19 July 2026 Watkins Glen, NY

5 September 2026 Bowmanville, ON, Canada

19 September 2026 Alton, VA

7 November 2026 Austin, TX