Motorsport · GT Series Endurance Cup · 2026

Date & time

11 Apr 2026, 18:00

Round

1

Venue

Circuit Paul Ricard

Location

Le Castellet, France

The 2026 Endurance Cup season kicks off at the Circuit Paul Ricard with its traditional six-hour sunset-to-midnight marathon. The primary challenge for the massive 59-car field is the transition from the blinding glare of the afternoon sun to the technical demands of night racing on a track famous for its complex run-off patterns. The objective for the teams is to survive the high-speed Mistral Straight and the ultra-fast Signes corner while managing tire degradation on the abrasive French asphalt. Strategically, the race is a showcase for the latest GT3 machinery, including the highly anticipated European debut of the Lamborghini Temerario GT3. The goal for the Mercedes-AMG Team MANN-FILTER squad, starting from pole position, is to break the back-to-back winning streak held by BMW. The tactical focus for the Verstappen Racing entry and the Team WRT BMWs, featuring Valentino Rossi, is to navigate the mid-race pit cycles and avoid the chaos of a dense, multi-class field. With over 30 series rookies on the grid, the ultimate goal is to find the perfect balance between raw speed and endurance reliability as the race finishes under the floodlights at midnight.