The 2026 GT World Challenge Europe Sprint Cup burst into life at Brands Hatch on 2–3 May, delivering a dramatic opening round at one of Europe’s most iconic circuits.
Held on the demanding Grand Prix layout as part of the venue’s centenary celebrations, more than 23,000 fans packed into the Kent circuit to witness the start of the Sprint Cup campaign—and they were rewarded with a weekend packed with drama, strategy and wheel-to-wheel GT3 action.
Sprint Cup’s trademark format once again ensured there was little room for error, with two one-hour races scheduled for Sunday, each featuring mandatory pit stops and driver changes, alongside separate qualifying sessions. With dry and consistent conditions throughout the weekend, teams were left chasing marginal gains in setup and tyre management around the fast-flowing 3.9km circuit.
Saturday’s practice sessions immediately highlighted just how competitive the field was, with minimal gaps separating the front-runners and midfield runners alike. Around a circuit where overtaking opportunities are limited, qualifying quickly became one of the most important sessions of the weekend.
That pressure was handled brilliantly by Lionspeed GP, who emerged as the benchmark over a single lap. Ricardo Feller and Bastian Buus produced a flawless performance aboard their Porsche 911 GT3 R, securing pole position for both Sunday races in an impressive double pole sweep.
They were closely pursued by leading entries from Team WRT, Winward Racing and AF Corse, ensuring the fight for victory remained wide open heading into race day.
Race 1 wasted no time delivering chaos.
A major opening lap incident forced an immediate red flag, halting proceedings and resetting the field. Once racing resumed, the #80 Lionspeed Porsche looked firmly in control, showing impressive pace at the front before disaster struck when a power steering failure forced the car into retirement.
That handed the advantage to the #3 Mercedes-AMG, which crossed the line first on the road. However, post-race penalties for pit lane and yellow flag infringements dramatically altered the final result.
Photo Courtesy of - Ralph Thompson
Waiting to capitalise was the AF Corse Ferrari 296 GT3 of Arthur Leclerc and Thomas Neubauer, who delivered a clean and composed performance throughout the race. Their consistency paid off as penalties for rivals elevated them to victory in the opening race of the season.
Photos courtesy of - Ffin Koehler-Price
If Race 1 was chaotic, Race 2 proved far more controlled—but no less impressive.
Starting from pole once again, Lionspeed GP made sure there would be no repeat heartbreak. The Porsche established an early advantage of around three seconds during the opening stint while the Mercedes-AMG attempted to remain within striking distance.
Photo Courtesy of - Ralph Thompson
The decisive moment came during the pit window, where Lionspeed executed a flawless stop and extended their advantage to roughly six seconds.
Photo Courtesy of - Ralph Thompson
From there, Ricardo Feller controlled the second stint perfectly, managing tyre wear and keeping the chasing pack at bay to secure victory and ensure Porsche hit back immediately after Saturday’s disappointment.
The weekend also highlighted the depth of talent throughout the field, with strong performances across both Gold and Silver categories, while Mercedes-AMG Team Verstappen Racing, Winward Racing and Team WRT all emerged as consistent podium challengers.
As ever, Brands Hatch proved the perfect venue to launch the season. Its narrow layout, dramatic elevation changes and unforgiving nature punished mistakes instantly and placed enormous emphasis on qualifying and strategy.
Ferrari struck first. Porsche responded immediately.
And if the opening round is any indication, the 2026 GT World Challenge Europe Sprint Cup season is shaping up to be one of the most competitive in recent memory.
Photo Courtesy of - Ralph Thompson
