A 59-car field is set to contest next weekend’s GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup season opener at the Circuit Paul Ricard, France.
The entry features multiple changes from the initial full-season list, headlined by the one-off #18 Comtoyou Racing Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3 Evo for rookies Lance Stroll, Roberto Merhi and Mari Boya.
This effort is part of an 18-car Pro field, which features nine different manufacturers. This includes the European debut of the Lamborghini Temerario GT3, in the hands of TGI Team by GRT and defending teams’ champion Rutronik Racing.
Elsewhere, HRT Ford Racing has finalised the line-up of its #64 Mustang GT3 Evo, with confirmation that Thomas Drouet will return alongside Arjun Maini and Fabio Scherer.
The Gold Cup field has expanded from seven to eight cars, following a change of class for Paradine Competition’s #992 BMW M4 GT3 Evo. Four-time British Touring Car drivers’ champion Ashley Sutton, and rookies Christian Hahn and Robert De Haan, will compete in this entry.
Despite the loss of the Paradine BMW, the Silver Cup has remained at 16 cars, due to the addition of the #25 Sainteloc Racing Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo II. This means that the French outfit will continue its time in GT World Challenge competition into a 15th consecutive season, having been absent from the initial entry list. Ezequiel Perez Companc and Ivan Klymenko are currently entered into the #25 Audi.
Inaugural SRO GT Academy winner Gaspard Simon has been added to the #35 Walkenhorst Motorsport Aston Martin, whilst the #914 Razoon – more than racing Porsche 911 GT3 R (992.2) no longer has any drivers listed. Leo Pichler, Denny Berndt and Luca Rettenbacher were initially named for the car.
And the Bronze Cup has decreased from 18 to 16 cars, following the withdrawal of the #75 75 Express Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO and #76 Kessel Racing Ferrari 296 GT3 Evo.
Paradine Competition has confirmed the line-up for its #991 BMW, with BMW M factory driver Dries Vanthoor and James Kellett joining team owner Darren Leung. Kellett and Leung will compete for the full-season, whilst his M Hybrid V8 programme means that Vanthoor will only feature at Circuit Paul Ricard and the Nürburgring.
Chandler Hull has replaced Hunter Abbott in the #60 JMW Motorsport Ferrari, whilst Alberto Di Folco and Daniil Move have been added to the #88 Tresor Attempto Racing Audi and #93 Ziggo Sport Tempesta Racing Porsche respectively.
Huub van Eijndhoven has replaced Alfred Renauer in the #91 Herberth Motorsport Porsche, whilst a ‘TBA’ currently listed in the #177 Grupo Prom Racing Team Mercedes-AMG as Ralf Aron continues to recover from his accident at the Bathurst 12 Hour.
At Ecurie Ecosse Blackthorn, Tom Wood is listed in the #56 Aston Martin instead of Lorcan Hanafin. This is likely due to Hanafin’s participation in the European Le Mans Series’ 4 Hours of Barcelona, which will take place over the same weekend.
Of the other drivers affected by the clash, Lilou Wadoux is prioritising her GT World Challenge programme, where she will drive the Pro #50 AF Corse Ferrari, whilst David Perel is currently set to compete in both events.
The 2026 GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup commences at Circuit Paul Ricard, France on 10th to 11th April 2026, with a six-hour race.
Images courtesy of SRO/JEP and HRT Ford Racing
