Circuit Paul Ricard will host a festival of GT racing over the weekend of 11–13 April, with GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS providing the headline act. The season-opening event will bring together almost 60 cars from 10 manufacturers to contest a six-hour race, which begins in daylight and ends in darkness. Here's why you should join us at the French track.
A SIX-HOUR RACE IN DAYLIGHT AND DARKNESS
Circuit Paul Ricard will kick off the 2025 season with a six-hour contest, running from 18:00 on Saturday evening and finishing at midnight. This makes it the second-longest race of the season, behind only the marquee CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa, introducing extra strategy and unpredictability.
The sun will set at around 20:30 – often a stunning sight in the Var – and from this point on it becomes a true night race. This is among the most impressive aspects of GT racing, as headlights cut through the darkness and the drivers rely more heavily than ever on their instincts.
A NEW SEASON BEGINS
The start of the season always brings plenty of changes. Fans can expect to see new cars on-track as BMW debuts its M4 GT3 Evo, while the Corvette Z06 GT3.R also joins the grid. A number of teams have changed brands, such as CSA Racing forging a new partnership with McLaren and Haupt Racing Team joining Ford to field the Mustang GT3.
There are many drives in new machinery, too. They include international star Maxime Martin, who makes a long-awaited return to Boutsen VDS, while Arthur Leclerc – the younger brother of Formula 1 ace Charles – joins the grid with Ferrari. The likes of Jules Gounon, Alessandro Pier Guidi and Maro Engel will also be back in familiar surroundings, and you’ll have a chance to meet them all during an autograph session with the drivers.
SUPPORT SERIES ACTION
If you like GT racing, this is the perfect weekend to visit Circuit Paul Ricard. While the GT World Challenge Europe race takes place on Saturday evening, there will be almost five hours of action to look forward to on Sunday. The GT2 European Series powered by Pirelli features high-performance equipment from big-name brands, while there is plenty of door-to-door competition in the GT4 European Series powered by RAFA Racing Club.
Lamborghini Super Trofeo adds its huge grid of Italian machinery, while GT1 Sports Club powered by Curbstone is a non-competitive series that brings some of the world’s ultimate supercars to run on-track. Previous editions have featured such marvels as the Lamborghini SCV12, McLaren Senna GTR, and the Pagani Zonda R.
PADDOCK ACCESS INCLUDED
One of the greatest attractions of GT World Challenge Europe is just how much fans can experience. For instance, all tickets include entry to the paddock, allowing you to see the event from the inside. You’ll discover drivers and team personnel, enormous trucks and vast motorhomes – in fact, everything that goes into making the weekend happen.
You'll also be able to see the GT1 cars on display, getting up close with these jaw-dropping machines. Make sure there's plenty of space on your phone for photos! The event also includes a pit walk, allowing fans to visit the pit lane and take a look inside the garages while teams work on their cars.
INCREDIBLE VALUE
As you’ve learned, there is a huge amount on offer – and all of this can be enjoyed at an exceptional price. A weekend ticket (covering Saturday and Sunday) costs just 20€ including access to the paddock and grandstands. That means an incredible 12 hours of racing action, plus a chance to experience the paddock atmosphere and take part in a pit walk and driver autograph sessions.
You can also choose to attend Saturday only and enjoy the full GT World Challenge Europe race, plus one Lamborghini Super Trofeo support race, for just 15€. This price also includes access to the paddock and grandstands. Kids under 16 go free, so don’t miss a chance to share your passion with the next generation!
