ENTRY LIST: BRANDS HATCH
GT World Challenge powered by AWS goes full throttle on 2/3 May when the Sprint Cup launches at Brands Hatch. A stacked field of 34 GT3 cars will tackle a pair of 60-minute races at the British track, which is legendary among fans and drivers alike as a test of skill and bravery.
It comes three weeks after a dramatic Endurance Cup opener at Circuit Paul Ricard, where Aston Martin claimed a dramatic late win courtesy of Comtoyou Racing. The British marque is one of eight manufacturers on the grid this weekend, all of which have a realistic shot at claiming victory. Here are the key stories heading into the Brands Hatch weekend.
Team WRT is well placed to win yet more Sprint Cup silverware
The Sprint Cup promises to be extremely competitive this year, but make no mistake: defending champions Charles Weerts and Kelvin van der Linde are the favourites to secure another title for Team WRT.
Last year's success was built on consistency and a useful knack for moving forward during the races. If they can improve their qualifying form, the #32 BMW might just be unstoppable this term.
This isn't the only Team WRT entry for 2026. Valentino Rossi returns to full-time action alongside young BMW factory ace Max Hesse, while series rookie Amaury Cordeel shares the #31 with Jordan Pepper. Expect this three-car assault to be strong from the start.
The level is extremely high
Team WRT know they will not have an easy run to another title. There are several strong contenders, the most prominent being Maro Engel and Lucas Auer, who share the #48 Winward Racing Mercedes-AMG. Sprint Cup champions in 2024, they should be right up there again in 2026.
Ferrari has also been a regular winner at this event, though the Sprint Cup title has thus far proven elusive. Arthur Leclerc and Thomas Neubauer will hope to make a good start in the #50 AF Corse entry.
And then there's Nicki Thiim. The larger-than-life Dane is coming off the back of that brilliant win at Circuit Paul Ricard, where he hunted down and passed Auer in the closing stages. He'll share the #7 Comtoyou Racing Aston Martin with Kobe Pauwels, who earned his shot at the big time by winning last year's Silver Cup title.
A home win could be on the cards...
It's been some time since a British driver took overall victory at Brands Hatch – the last was in 2018 – but there's a real chance that this could be the year for the domestic contingent. A particular fan favourite is Garage 59, which has placed Dean MacDonald alongside Marvin Kirchhöfer to form a formidable duo aboard the #59 McLaren.
There should also be plenty of interest in Mercedes-AMG Team Verstappen Racing, which fields young gun Chris Lulham alongside the highly accomplished Dani Juncadella. And don't bet against Emil Frey Racing ace Ben Green, now paired with rapid Dutchman Thierry Vermeulen in the Verstappen.Com-backed Ferrari.
McLaren is the favourite for more Gold Cup glory
A home win is also a strong possibility in the Gold Cup class, especially for the #58 Garage 59 McLaren of Tom Fleming and Louis Prette. This car was in red-hot form during the second half of 2025 and finished on the overall podium at Paul Ricard.
The battle to topple the British squad includes a pair of rival McLarens from CSA Racing, as well as Boutsen VDS (Porsche), AF Corse (Ferrari) and Tresor Attempto Racing (Audi).
The champion is back for another shot at Silver
It is never easy to call the Silver Cup, but with class champion Jamie Day (below) back to defend his title we at least have somewhere to start. He sticks with Aston Martin, though he's moved to the Walkenhorst Motorsport squad. SRO GT Academy winner Gaspard Simon will drive the sister entry.
Other names to watch include Pure Rxcing – which won the opening Endurance round with its Porsche – as well as Optimum Motorsport, whose McLaren crew includes young Brit Mikey Porter. Given its pit stop prowess, Team WRT should also be a factor with its #30 BMW of Matisse Lismont and Ignacio Montenegro.
The full grid features 34 cars from eight manufacturers
The grid also features the new Lamborghini Temerario, making its first-ever appearance at a British circuit with entries from Rutronik Racing and VSR. Both the Ferrari 296 and Porsche 911 have undergone significant upgrades ahead of 2026.
In total, this weekend's field stands at 34 cars, the most at Brands Hatch since 2016. This is despite the Bronze Cup class being absent due to space limitations, with their first outing set to come later at Misano.
Did you know....
The first SRO Motorsports Group event at Brands Hatch was staged in 1996 (pictured below) when the BPR Global GT Series contested a four-hour race. It was won by a factory-entered Porsche 911, shared by Hans-Joachim Stuck and Thierry Boutsen. Many people – including Stéphane Ratel himself – consider the BPR Global GT Series to be the direct descendent of today's GT World Challenge.
