2024 FIA World Rally Championship drivers’ champion Thiery Neuville is set to get behind the wheel of a BMW Z4 GT3 this week, as part of the first official test for the new GT3 Revival Series.
The GT3 Revival Series, run in collaboration by Peter Auto and SRO for GT3 cars from 2006-2013, will have two days of running at the Circuit Paul Ricard, France on 3rd and 4th March ahead of its maiden event at the same venue on 11th and 12th April. A 20-car field is set to run at the test.
Neuville will pilot the Z4 GT3 which won the Blancpain Endurance Series round at Circuit Paul Ricard in 2013, with the car being run by VDS Racing.
Other cars on the entry list include multiple Audi R8s, Aston Martin V12 Vantage GT3s, Ferrari 458s, Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3s and 997-spec Porsches, as well as a Ford GT Matech and a second BMW Z4.
Participation at the test is not directly related to participation in the series, but several confirmed entries are using it as a shakedown ahead of their 2026 campaign.
French outfit Storic and Race Cars, the historic arm of FIA WEC competitor Akkodis, will run a 2011 Ferrari 458 GT3 Evo for Jean-Luc Beaubelique and Jim Pla. The chassis, which was raced by Beaubelique in-period, competed at the 24 Hours of Spa five times from 2011 to 2015, and scored two class victories.
Debard Automobiles by Racetivity has entered the 2008 Ford GT Matech for Eric Debard and Philippe Giauque. The car is one of the original chassis which won the 2008 FIA GT3 European Teams’ championship.
Other notable names on the entry list include contemporary international GT squads TFT Racing, CMR and Motopark, whilst the drivers listed include former 24 Hours of Le Mans participants Jonathan Hirschi and Lucas Legeret, 2025 Road to Le Mans GT3 winner Heiko Neumann, Spark Models founder Hugo Ripert, the ex NLS / VLN Busch twins and historic specialist Shaun Lynn, the father of Cadillac Hypercar ace Alex Lynn, alongside his younger son Max Lynn.
Images courtesy of VIMAGES/Fabre, GT3 Revival Series and Racetivity
