Seven Ferrari cars at Paul Ricard in the 2026 GT World Challenge Europe

Maranello, 10 April 2026 - Once again, the Le Castellet circuit in southern France will host the opening race of the GT World Challenge Europe – Endurance Cup. Seven Ferrari 296 GT3 Evo cars will be on the grid for the 6 Hours of Paul Ricard on 11 April, marking the model’s debut in the championship.

The crews are spread across the Pro, Silver, Gold and Bronze classes. In the Bronze class, the Maranello Manufacturer enjoyed outstanding results in 2025, with the number 74 Kessel Racing Ferrari 296 GT3, crewed by Dustin Blattner, Conrad Laursen and Dennis Marschall, completing a clean sweep of the category. The Swiss team claimed not only the Endurance Cup Drivers’ and Teams’ titles, but also the Sprint and Combined standings – for both Drivers and Teams. 

The French circuit is a traditional Endurance Cup venue, having hosted a round on 14 previous occasions since the series launched in 2011.

Pro class. Two Ferrari 296 GT3 Evo cars will compete in the main class, both fielded by AF Corse. Ferrari official driver Arthur Leclerc remains in the number 50 car, joined by fellow official driver Lilou Wadoux (who has already begun her season with victory at the 12 Hours of Sebring in the IMSA championship) and Indonesian driver Sean Gelael. The number 51 car, which secured the Endurance title in 2024, sees a change in line-up. Of the title-winning pairing of Alessandro Pier Guidi and Alessio Rovera, only the driver from Varese remains, completing an all-Ferrari official crew alongside Nicklas Nielsen – also competing with the 499P in the FIA WEC, which begins at Imola on the weekend of 17–19 April – and new addition Tommaso Mosca.

Bronze class. The number 74 Kessel Racing Ferrari 296 GT3 Evo returns to defend its titles, with Dustin Blattner and Dennis Marschall back alongside Lorenzo Patrese, who has experience of the series from previous years, having competed in selected rounds last season with the Ziggo Sport - Tempesta Racing Ferrari. The Swiss team also fields a second car, the number 76, with David Fumanelli alongside Alessandro Cutrera – who has experience in the Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli Europe – and Marco Frezza. 

The second Ferrari 296 GT3 Evo in the Bronze class, the number 60 Ferrari 296 GT3 Evo entered by JMW Motorsport, pairs American driver Chandler Hull with Switzerland’s Rolf Ineichen and Germany’s Tim Heinemann.

Silver class. The Silver class features the Rinaldi Racing number 45, with Rafael Duran, Dylan Medler and David Perel, alongside the number 52 AF Corse Ferrari 296 GT3 Evo, driven by Belgians Jeff Machiels and Gilles Stadsbader and Peruvian driver Matias Zagazeta, who took part in the rookie test at Sakhir last November with the Vista AF Corse Ferrari 296 GT3.

Gold class. Selected Car Racing fields the number 71 Ferrari 296 GT3 Evo in the Gold class with an all-Danish crew: Frederik Schandorff (fresh from second place at Sonoma in the GT World Challenge America in March with Ferrari), Simon Birch and Malte Ebdrup.

The programme. Following test days on 8 and 9 April at Paul Ricard, on-track activities for the opening round begin on Friday 10 April with the Bronze test from 9 to 10 a.m., followed by two free practice sessions from 2.25 to 3.55 p.m. and 7.25 to 8.55 p.m. On Saturday 11 April, qualifying runs from 12.05 to 1.15 p.m., followed by the start of the six-hour race at 6 p.m.

The calendar. There will once again be five rounds of the Endurance Cup this season. After France, the championship heads to Italy for the 3 Hours of Monza (31 May), followed by the 24 Hours of Spa (27–28 June) in Belgium, the 3 Hours of the Nürburgring (30 August) in Germany, and the finale in Portugal on Portimão circuit (18 October).

10 aprile 2026