Up2Race has announced an International GT Open programme for the 2027 season, contesting a debut full-season with its #88 Porsche 911 GT3 R Evo.
The team from Nerdlen, Germany, has been preparing throughout 2026 with an extensive testing programme and selected race outings to familiarise themselves with their chrome-gold Porsche nicknamed ‘Goldy’.
Tim Heinemann, Fabio Grosse, Alfred Renauer and Oleksiy Kikireshko secured an impressive victory in the Creventic-run 24 Hours of Barcelona last month in what was Up2Race’s first-ever 24-hour endurance race.
Kikireshko, a former professional football player and rally driver, joins his driving coach Heinemann as teammates in Up2Race’s first GT Open campaign next year in the Pro-Am category, undertaking all six sprint and two endurance race meetings.
Both drivers will participate in GEDLICH Racing’s GT Winter Series next year, with Grosse expected to take turns with Kikireshko behind the wheel. Up2Race also targets guest outings in GT World Challenge Europe.
Team principal Patrick Schneider said: “The International GT Open is one of the best-known international GT3 racing series, so we are delighted that we will be competing in the series with a Porsche next year.
“With Kika and Tim, we have a formidable driver duo in the Pro-Am class.
“We want to carry the momentum from last year’s strong results into the season and fight for strong results there.
“Over the winter months, we will use the GT Winter Series to prepare for the season.
“The starting grid will see significant growth in the coming season, so this will be the perfect preparation for us ahead of the summer season.”
The GT Winter Series commences in January 2027, with the calendar beginning in Portugal in Portimão and Estoril, followed by the Spanish-based Jérez, Barcelona and Valencia
venues.
Following the GT Winter Series finale in Valencia from March 4-7, 2027, GT Open will begin its 22nd annual season with opening rounds in Portimão from April 9-11, marking Up2Race’s debut.
