– The GT World Challenge Europe (GTWC) features Valentino Rossi as one of its regular drivers again in the 2026 season. The nine-time motorcycle world champion was already one of the full-time starters in the European GT3 racing series in 2022, 2023, and 2024. In 2025, he limited himself to selected GTWC races while driving his second full season in the World Endurance Championship (WEC).
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In 2026, Rossi will now drive all races on the GTWC calendar again. These consist of five race weekends of the Endurance Cup and five race weekends of the Sprint Cup. The latter has two races per program, whereas the Endurance Cup features a single long-distance race per weekend (GTWC calendar 2026).
Including the #46 WRT-BMW, which Rossi shares with Max Hesse in the Sprint Cup and with Hesse and Dan Harper in the Endurance Cup, the starting field for the 2026 GTWC season comprises a total of no less than 65 cars. There are individual entries in both cups. 45 vehicles are registered for the Sprint Cup, and as many as 59 for the Endurance Cup.
Our photo gallery shows the cars for the 2026 GT World Challenge Europe with their driver lineups for the Endurance Cup. For 18 cars in the field, the lineup consists exclusively of drivers from the Pro category. The #46 WRT-BMW with Harper/Hesse/Rossi is one of these vehicles piloted by full professionals.
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Photo gallery: GTWC 2026: Valentino Rossi and his competitors
The 2026 GTWC season kicks off this coming Saturday evening (April 11) with the 1000 Kilometers of Le Castellet. The highlight of the season is the 24 Hours of Spa on June 27/28. The season finale is the Sprint weekend in Portimao on October 17/18.
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By the way: A current Formula 1 driver is also competing in the GTWC on a part-time basis in 2026. Because the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix were canceled, making April a race-free month on the Formula 1 calendar, Aston Martin driver Lance Stroll is taking the opportunity to compete in the GTWC season opener in Le Castellet. He is driving for the Aston Martin team Comtoyou Racing. Stroll shares the #18 Vantage AMR GT3 Evo with, among others, former Formula 1 driver Roberto Merhi.
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