As a front-running team within Cup 2 during the 2024 season, the Portuguese-Austrian line-up were overall championship contenders, and frequently challenged for overall race results as well as class victories. The driver pairing’s 2024 successes have extended beyond the GEDLICH Racing paddock, having won the Campeonato De Espana De GT championship together with one round to spare, as well as the GT Cup Open AM title.
In addition to five Cup 2 victories for Martins and Svepes as a pairing during the 2024 GT Winter Series the latter driver has also achieved significant success with other teammates in the GEDLICH paddock; during the 2022/2023 season, Svepes co-drove alongside eventual champion Johannes Kapfinger for a majority of the campaign.
Less than a month remains until the beginning of the 2025 GT Winter Series. The first round takes place in Leandro Martins’ home country, at the Circuito Estoril on 16-19 January. Every race of the season will be streamed live on the Winter Series YouTube channel!
16 JAN – 19 JAN ESTORIL /P
23 JAN – 26 JAN PORTIMÃO /P
13 FEB – 16 FEB VALENCIA /E
27 FEB – 2 MAR ARAGÓN /E
6 MAR – 9 MAR BARCELONA /E
The team based in Annecy, France, formerly known as Cool Racing, is operated by Nicolas Lapierre and Alexandre Coigny. Over the course of the team’s existence, CLX/Cool has held a significant presence in international prototype racing. At the 2023 Le Mans 24 Hours, the team has stood on the LMP2 Pro-AM podium, and has also secured three titles within the European Le Mans Series, including consecutive LMP3 championships in 2022 and 2023.
CLX Motorsport’s 2025 Prototype Winter Series driver will consist of Quentin Joseph and David Droux. The pairing have previously shared a car during select rounds of the 2024 Ultimate Cup, and will be a formidable duo in the Prototype Winter Series. Droux, despite being a mere 27 years of age, first competed in LMP3 cars back in 2015. He has been a consistent race-winning force in the category since then, most recently securing the 2024 Michelin Le Mans Cup Drivers’ title for Cool Racing, alongside Adrien Chila.
The team benefits from leadership with a significant background in motor racing. Nicolas Lapierre came through the single-seater ranks in the mid-2000s, before shifting to sportscar racing. The Frenchman forged a successful path in top-class competition with major manufacturers including Toyota and Alpine, while also becoming a renowned driver in the ultra-competitive LMP2 class. Having now retired from full-time competition, Lapierre has a greater focus than ever on CLX, as well as a new Sporting Director role for Alpine in FIA WEC.
Coigny came into racing after attaining success in business, and has experienced plentiful highs over the course of a decade in the sport. Most notably, he was part of his own team’s LMP2 Pro-AM podium success, sharing the cockpit with Lapierre and Malthe Jakobsen.
CLX Motorsport’s portfolio in LMP3 machinery certainly makes it clear that the French outfit will be one to watch in the 2025 Prototype Winter Series. The upcoming season begins at the Circuito Estoril on 16-19 January, and will be streamed live and free on the Winter Series YouTube channel.
16 JAN – 19 JAN ESTORIL /P
23 JAN – 26 JAN PORTIMAO /P
27 FEB – 2 MAR ARAGÓN /E
6 MAR – 9 MAR BARCELONA /E
More info on PTWS
For 2025, the flagship GT Winter Series will utilise SRO’s GT2 and GT3 Balance of Performance formulas for the first time. This move, alongside a new exclusive tyre partnership with Pirelli, will make the GT Winter Series more relevant than ever to the top teams in international GT racing.
Following on from a successful inaugural season, Gedlich’s GT4 Winter Series will be SRO-licenced. The series will once again mirror the leading GT4 categories globally, which also feature SRO’s renowned Balance of Performance and Pirelli tyres.
The partnership between Gedlich and SRO in regards to the GT2, GT3 and GT4 categories will also extend to the new-for-2025 6H Portimão and 6H Barcelona events, ensuring that teams from SRO-affiliated championships across Europe have an appealing option to race in the winter across both sprint and endurance formats.
The GT and GT4 Winter Series will begin at the Circuito Estoril from 16-19 January. The inaugural 6H Portimão will take place on 29 January-2 February, followed by the 6H Barcelona on 14-16 March.
16 JAN – 19 JAN ESTORIL /P (GTWS + GT4WS)
23 JAN – 26 JAN PORTIMAO /P (GTWS + GT4WS)
31 JAN – 02 FEB PORTIMAO /P (6H)
13 FEB – 16 FEB VALENCIA /E (GTWS + GT4WS)
27 FEB – 2 MAR ARAGÓN /E (GTWS + GT4WS)
6 MAR – 9 MAR BARCELONA /E (GTWS + GT4WS)
14 MAR – 16 MAR (6H)
More info on GTWS
More info on GT4WS
More info on 6H Portimão
More info on 6H Barcelona
The team, known for its distinctive gold liveries, has previously taken class victories in the GT Winter Series using Lamborghini Huracan Super Trofeo machinery. During the 2024 GTWS season, both Alfredo Hernandez and 2023 Lamborghini Super Trofeo World Final winner Amaury Bonduel raced under the BDR Competition banner.
Hernandez will once again take the wheel with the team during the 2025 GT Winter Series campaign. The combination of the Mexican driver and the experienced, successful BDR Competition team will arrive into the GT3 class as a competitive force.
While BDR’s most notable successes have come in Lamborghini competition, the team has previously entered the Mercedes AMG GT3 Evo in Ultimate GT-Sprint Cup.
The 2025 GT Winter Series is set to be the most exciting season to date. Each event will be broadcast live on the Winter Series YouTube channel; subscribe to see every breathtaking moment!
16 JAN – 19 JAN ESTORIL /P
23 JAN – 26 JAN PORTIMÃO /P
13 FEB – 16 FEB VALENCIA /E
27 FEB – 2 MAR ARAGÓN /E
6 MAR – 9 MAR BARCELONA /E
Haugen made his first outings in a GT3 car during the previous GT Winter Series season, and subsequently competed in International GT Open with Paolo Ruberti over the summer. It was just his second full season in motorsport, having spent his first campaign in Ferrari Challenge.
Pellin Racing has over 30 years of racing history, tied to Ferrari. The Cremona-based outfit began as one of the first teams to compete in Ferrari Challenge, and has gone on to become a renowned specialist for the prancing horse’s GT racing cars, as well as a specialist service business for road car owners with Ferraris and Maseratis among others.
With more experience under his belt, Thor Haugen will be vying for strong results and podium visits during the 2025 GT Winter Series and be accompanied by Paolo Ruberti, an Italian racing driver with many years of racing under his belt, most of them very successful in Maranello-fit sports- and racecar manufacturer; Ferrari.
Every moment of the upcoming season will be broadcast live on YouTube. Subscribe to the Winter Series YouTube channel to see every race as it happens!
16 JAN – 19 JAN ESTORIL /P
23 JAN – 26 JAN PORTIMÃO /P
13 FEB – 16 FEB VALENCIA /E
27 FEB – 2 MAR ARAGÓN /E
6 MAR – 9 MAR BARCELONA /E
At Valencia’s Circuit Ricardo Tormo in February, Juta Racing entered a pair of Audi R8 LMS Evo IIs into a strong GT3 class field in the GT Winter Series. The team will once again appear in Iberia as part of the GEDLICH Racing paddock, opting to once again bring the enduringly-competitive Audi R8 onto the grid.
With a history dating back to 1988, Juta Racing has gradually expanded from rally and kart programmes in its home nation, to an international presence in GT3 racing. In recent years, the team has competed in ADAC GT Masters, Creventic and NLS in addition to the GT Winter Series.
At this year’s FIA Motorsport Games held in Valencia, Juta Racing represented Lithuania in the GT classes.
Juta Racing will join a star-studded international field for the 2025 GT Winter Series. The sixth season will be broadcast live on the Winter Series YouTube channel: Subscribe to never miss a moment!
16 JAN – 19 JAN ESTORIL /P
23 JAN – 26 JAN PORTIMÃO /P
13 FEB – 16 FEB VALENCIA /E
27 FEB – 2 MAR ARAGÓN /E
6 MAR – 9 MAR BARCELONA /E
At every stop of the 2025 Formula Winter Series, a support truck will be on-hand to ensure teams can setup, maintain and repair their cars to the highest standard.
Tatuus, based in Lainate, Italy, has been a part of the single-seater landscape since its foundation in 1980. Having secured its reputation during the competitive, open-chassis era of junior single-seater racing in the late 20th century, today Tatuus are market leaders, providing vehicles for series across the world.
Beyond its Formula 4 efforts with the T-421, Tatuus machinery can be seen on the US-based ‘Road To Indy’ ladder, the United Kingdom’s popular GB3 class, and in various corners of the globe in Formula Regional competition, for an overall coverage of 24 Championships.
In early 2023, the team shifted operations to a new headquarters, based on famed ground that once played host to Alfa Romeo’s base. The design of this HQ benefitted from the direct involvement of company CEO Giovanni Delfino, and the benefits of this continued investment in Tatuus’ growth and development will be felt in the 2025 Formula Winter Series paddock.
30 JAN – 2 FEB PORTIMAO /P
13 FEB – 16 FEB VALENCIA /E
27 FEB – 2 MAR ARAGÓN /E
6 MAR – 9 MAR BARCELONA /E
More info on FWS
Last year’s gallery
Speedworxx, based in Solingen, is a leading provider in the trackday and racing business, led by racing driver and instructor Erik Braun. The Speedworxx team are regulars in the Winter Series paddock, as well as GEDLICH Racing’s Endless Summer trackday events. At these events, Speedworxx develops track drivers into racers.
One such driver is Franz Linden, who made his racing debut in last year’s GT4 Winter Series, along with his driver coach Arne Hoffmeister. 36-year-old Hoffmeister has experience competing in German and European GT competition for over a decade, and has partnered Linden during his growth as a competitive driver. They will once again share a Porsche Cayman GT4 CS in 2025.
The Cayman Trophy, catering for 3.8-litre ‘CS’-spec Caymans typically found on the Nürburgring, will be an exciting part of the highly-competitive GT4 Winter Series. The first round will take place from the 16-19 January, with all of the action streamed live on the GEDLICH Racing YouTube channel.
16 JAN – 19 JAN ESTORIL /P
23 JAN – 26 JAN PORTIMAO /P
13 FEB – 16 FEB VALENCIA /E
27 FEB – 2 MAR ARAGÓN /E
6 MAR – 9 MAR BARCELONA /E
Popov already has a decade of karting experience, having previously finished third at both the 2019 WSK Final Cup in the 60 Mini class, and the 2021 Champions of The Future in the OK Junior category.
2024 marked the first year of single-seater racing for Popov, who found more pace as the season went on; after securing his inaugural Italian F4 top ten finish at Paul Ricard, he would find himself in the points paying positions three more times over the last six races of the year.
Rob Niessink, Van Amersfoort Racing CEO, said: “We’re delighted to have Maximilian join us for the 2025 season! He has built a solid foundation in karting and has already shown great progress in single-seaters. We are confident that with our support, he will continue to grow and deliver strong performances. We look forward to supporting him on this journey.”
Maximilian Popov added: “I feel really proud to be a part of this huge team. It’s a big pleasure for me to work with all the team members and, of course, we are ready to show some good results!”
The 2025 Formula Winter Series is just over a month away! The season begins at Portimao’s Autodromo Internacional do Algarve, from 30 January-2 February. All of the action will be streamed live on the Winter Series YouTube channel.
30 JAN – 2 FEB PORTIMAO /P
13 FEB – 16 FEB VALENCIA /E
27 FEB – 2 MAR ARAGÓN /E
6 MAR – 9 MAR BARCELONA /E
More info on FWS
Last year’s gallery
Westcott has been tipped as a leading female talent during her karting journey, having repeatedly won KA100 kart events in the United States. In 2024, Payton’s programme was split across the Atlantic, as she was selected to compete in the Champions of The Future Academy Program, as part of F1 Academy’s Discover Your Drive initiative. She competed in the first three rounds of the season in the OK-N Senior class, netting a top ten finish in the second final at Cremona, Italy.
Despite a season that was hindered by a broken wrist sustained in June – which she continued to race with – Westcott has once again been on podium and race-winning form in the U.S. during 2024.
Westcott will now make her car racing debut in the Formula Winter Series, and will be looking to register strong results as she adapts to the Tatuus T-421, as well as Portugal and Spain’s leading international racing circuits.
Viewers across the globe can watch every moment of the 2025 Formula Winter Series, which will air live on the Winter Series YouTube Channel.
30 JAN – 2 FEB PORTIMAO /P
13 FEB – 16 FEB VALENCIA /E
27 FEB – 2 MAR ARAGÓN /E
6 MAR – 9 MAR BARCELONA /E
More info on FWS
Last year’s gallery
