They say a rising tide lifts all boats and evidence of this came courtesy of SRO earlier this week. 31,500 spectators travelled to Circuit Paul Ricard for the GT World Challenge Endurance Cup opener last weekend, adding to the general trend that sportscar racing is becoming more and more popular across the world.
Undeterred by some inclement weather, fans flocked to Le Castellet throughout the meeting to see the suite of SRO GT races at the French circuit. As a result, the opening round of the 2025 GT World Challenge Europe season was a resounding success for Stéphane Ratel’s organisation.
The brand-new Fan Village at the heart of the paddock proved a popular addition to the meeting, providing entertainment, a giant screen, food trucks, and merchandising stands. In addition, spectators were able to get up close to the stars and the cars in the paddock, which was open at no extra cost.
There was also a pit lane autograph session, which took place in front of the garages where the mechanics were preparing their cars for the race. And while the action was in full swing there was music in the Fan Village and a fireworks display to light up the evening.
All these ingredients complemented the on-track action. In addition to the six-hour race featuring 59 GT3 cars representing 10 prestigious manufacturers, spectators were able to enjoy two exciting races each from the GT4 European Series powered by RAFA Racing Club, GT2 European Series powered by Pirelli, and Lamborghini Super Trofeo.
“We really want to thank the 31,500 fans who joined us,” said Laurent Gaudin, the series’ General Manager.
“GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS has confirmed its status as the European leader for both participants and fans. In addition to its success on-site, audience figures are also on the rise. See you back at Circuit Paul Ricard in 2026 for an even better event, or perhaps before that at another GT World Challenge round!”
This followed the news from the ACO that more than 30,000 paid spectators were on hand for the European Le Mans Series season opener in Barcelona earlier this month. A record-breaking of 100,000 fans attended the six ELMS events in 2024 and already there are signs that the total in 2025 will surpass that number.
This weekend the FIA WEC heads to Imola for Round 2 of the globe-trotting championship. Again, a huge crowd is expected, building on the impressive total of 73,600 fans that were trackside for 2024’s edition of the event.
The golden era for sportscar racing continues…
