The Austrian-Lithuanian partnership will race a majority of the GT Winter Series calendar, with a view to starting the year trophy-hunting ahead of the 2026 ADAC GT Masters season. Both drivers spent a majority of 2025 racing in GT Masters in Engstler-run Lamborghinis, and will therefore expect to hit the ground running in Iberia.
Hütter, 18, has been working hard since the final 2025 chequered flag, building upon his physical and mental conditioning for racing, and forging new partnerships to benefit his racing future. This effort has most-recently materialised with the addition of Franz Tost. The fellow Austrian, who acted as Team Principal for the Formula One team now known as Racing Bulls from 2006-2023, will mentor Hütter throughout his 2026 racing campaign.
Tost, who guided the likes of Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen through the early stages of their Formula One careers, is regarded as one of the sport’s sharpest minds. Hütter said: “I can learn a lot from Franz because of his experience! It’s a great honour to receive tips from him.”
Jonas Karklys has a long-standing relationship with Team Engstler. Early on, it was perhaps adversarial, as the Lithuanian was one of the main thorns in the side of the Wiggensbach-based team in the latter years of ADAC TCR Germany. However, he has been part of Engstler’s GT Masters line-up since 2024. The 36-year-old racer splits his time between business and motorsport, and is best known as one of the co-founders of tech firm Nord Security. Karklys returns to the GT Winter Series after a successful, race-winning partial campaign in 2025 alongside Luca Engstler.
The 2026 GT Winter Series will begin at Portimão’s Autodromo Internacional do Algarve from 15-18 January. The thrilling grid of GT2, GT3 and single-make GT cars will once again set pulses racing, and fans trackside can see the high-speed supercar duels from just €10 a weekend. Internationally, fans can subscribe to the Winter Series YouTube channel to see every moment of the action live-and-free.
15 JAN – 18 JAN PORTIMAO /P
22 JAN – 25 JAN ESTORIL /P
12 FEB – 15 FEB VALENCIA /E
5 MAR – 8 MAR ARAGÓN /E
12 MAR – 15 MAR BARCELONA /E
The Swiss team, renowned for its long-term partnership with Ferrari as an official dealership as well as in racing, will enter the 296 for Lukas Azzato and Alberto Cola at Portimão and Estoril.
Lukas Azzato made his racing debut at Paul Ricard in November, taking podiums and class victories in his first competitive event. However, the Swiss native has plenty of mileage and knowledge of the 296 Challenge car, having previously joined Ferrari’s non-competitive Club Challenge sessions.
Alberto Cola will bring experience and guidance to the line-up, as a driver with vast experience in single-seaters, GT3s and touring cars. As a well-regarded driver coach, the 39-year-old Italian will be looking to guide Azzato to strong results in the GT Winter Series.
The 2026 GT Winter Series begins at the famed Autodromo Internacional do Algarve in Portugal from January 15-18. Spectators can attend all events of the Winter Series, with tickets starting from as little as €10. Fans around the world can rely on the Winter Series YouTube channel for their racing fix during the early months of the year, with every race streamed as it happens.
15 JAN – 18 JAN PORTIMAO /P
22 JAN – 25 JAN ESTORIL /P
12 FEB – 15 FEB VALENCIA /E
5 MAR – 8 MAR ARAGÓN /E
12 MAR – 15 MAR BARCELONA /E
The Porsche will be entered into the AM class, and piloted by husband and wife pairing Jose Garcia and Oana Gratiela.
Garcia makes his second appearance in the GT4 Winter Series, having also joined the grid for last year’s Portimão round. Garcia also competed in last year’s inaugural 6H of Portimão, and secured GT4 class honours in the Cayman. Garcia’s knowledge of the car and the track will make a useful asset.
Oana Gratiela also appeared at last year’s 6H of Portimão, though her VW Golf sadly failed to start after a crash in qualifying. She will be making her first appearance in the GT4 Winter Series, and will be looking for improvements throughout pre-event testing to maximise her potential in the race.
Sunder Motorworks is a Porsche specialist, but also runs sportscars and builds and restores spectacular vehicles of all descriptions, for road and track. The team from Malaga is a regular presence in the GEDLICH Racing paddock, from Endless Summer trackdays to previous entries and victories in Winter Series events.
The 2026 GT4 Winter Series begins at Portimão from 15-18 January, and will continue through Iberia for yet another competitive season featuring Europe’s best GT4 teams. Every moment of the hugely-competitive GT4 Winter Series races will be broadcast live on the Winter Series YouTube channel, while spectators are able to experience the thrill in-person from just €10 a weekend.
15 JAN – 18 JAN PORTIMAO /P
22 JAN – 25 JAN ESTORIL /P
12 FEB – 15 FEB VALENCIA /E
5 MAR – 8 MAR ARAGÓN /E
12 MAR – 15 MAR BARCELONA /E
The familiar Mercedes is sporting striking colours for the 2026 season, courtesy of new backing from Mannol Oils.
Hernandez, from Mexico, has been a consistent presence in the GEDLICH Racing paddock over recent seasons, and enjoys the thrill of the multi-class GT Winter Series grid. In 2025, Hernandez finished fourth in the GT3 class standings and ninth in the overall points; his focus will be on moving even closer to the top in 2026.
Grupo Prom Racing Team will receive technical support from Haupt Racing Team during the 2026 Winter Series, marking a new and intriguing partnership.
The 2026 GT Winter Series will begin at Portimão from 15-18 January, and go on to visit Estoril, Valencia, Aragon and Barcelona. Every race across all five events will be broadcast live on the Winter Series YouTube, while spectators can enjoy a weekend of international motorsport from just €10.
15 JAN – 18 JAN PORTIMAO /P
22 JAN – 25 JAN ESTORIL /P
12 FEB – 15 FEB VALENCIA /E
5 MAR – 8 MAR ARAGÓN /E
12 MAR – 15 MAR BARCELONA /E
The team from Drees, Germany will be making numerous GT Winter Series appearances, adding the spectacle of the 5.4-litre naturally-aspirated V8 to the grid. In preparation for the team’s ADAC GT Masters campaign, Alain Valente, Kiano Blum, Emil Gjerdrum and Max Cuccarese will share driving duties for Portimão.
Alain Valente returns to HRT in 2026, having previously driven a Mercedes from the team to vice-champion status in the 2023 ADAC GT Masters. The 29-year-old Swiss will use a wealth of experience across multiple GT3 platforms to quickly find the best from the Mustang. He will share a car with Max Cuccarese, who joins the Haupt fold after forging a unique path in motorsport so far, having spent the previous two years racing Formula 2 machinery in BOSS GP. Moving into GTs marks a significant change for Cuccarese, who aims to learn an entirely new discipline of racing while fighting for GT Winter Series results.
Kiano Blum will make his first race appearances in a GT3 car during the GT Winter Series. The 18-year-old Austrian graduated from karting into Porsche Carrera Cup Deutschland at the start of 2024, and now makes the step up to premier-spec GT machinery. In what will be his first races in any front-engined machine, the Winter Series will prove to be a valuable experience.
Alongside Blum at Portimão will be Emil Gjerdrum. The 2024 GT4 Winter Series PRO-AM champion spent the 2025 season in ADAC GT Masters, and returns to the GEDLICH Racing paddock for his first taste of wheel-to-wheel action in the thunderous Ford.
Haupt Racing Team’s return to the grid marks the GT Winter Series debut of the Mustang GT3, as well as the iconic Ford blue oval itself. 2025 saw HRT secure the ADAC GT Masters overall teams and drivers’ titles, as well as the Silver Cup classification. Additional successes included an SP9 PRO-AM victory at the Nürburgring 24 Hours and an overall NLS victory. As the Ford Mustang continues to hit its stride in GT3 trim, fans can expect to see HRT running at the front during the 2026 GT Winter Series.
The fans trackside will be in for an auditory treat from the Ford Coyote V8, while those at home will see all of the action live on the Winter Series YouTube channel. The 2026 GEDLICH Racing Winter Series calendar begins from 15-18 January at Portimão.
15 JAN – 18 JAN PORTIMAO /P
22 JAN – 25 JAN ESTORIL /P
12 FEB – 15 FEB VALENCIA /E
5 MAR – 8 MAR ARAGÓN /E
12 MAR – 15 MAR BARCELONA /E
The 15-year-old arrives to Europe after an F4 season in his native Brazil, where he secured two race victories and nine podiums on his way to third in the points standings. Lima will partake in a full Formula 4 schedule with VAR, including the E4 Championship and Italian F4, as well as the Formula Winter Series.
Lima has moved into single-seater racing as a highly-touted prospect, having previously been a World Karting Championship finalist and the 2024 Copa Brasil de Kart champion. While Iberia’s leading racing venues will present a new challenge for the Brazilian each weekend, his record to date marks him as a contender in the 2026 Formula Winter Series season.
Brad Joyce, Van Amersfoort Racing Team Principal, said: “We are happy to welcome Pedro to Van Amersfoort Racing. He is entering an important stage of his career, with Formula 4 being a key step in a driver’s development. Pedro has shown the right mindset and attitude in both his karting career and his Brazilian F4 season. We look forward to working with him as he steps into the three competitive European Formula 4 championships, continuing to gain experience and build his single-seater career.”
Pedro Lima added: “I am ready for all the challenges and extremely excited to race for Van Amersfoort Racing, a team with a victorious history that has been home to great names in motorsport. It is an honour and pride to be on the grid this year.”
The upcoming Formula Winter Series will begin at a new-for-2026 stop on the calendar, as the Tatuus F4-T421 grid joins the Winter Series programme at Estoril for the first time from January 22-25. With an expanded five-round calendar and a capacity grid, the 2026 Formula Winter Series is set to thrill. Local fans will be able to watch a full weekend of international motorsport from just €10, while fans across the world can see every moment of the action live and free on the Winter Series YouTube channel.
22 – 25 JAN ESTORIL /P
5 – 8 FEB PORTIMAO /P
12 – 15 FEB VALENCIA /E
5 – 8 MAR ARAGÓN /E
12 – 15 MAR BARCELONA /E
Teodor Borenstein, from Czechia, will compete in the full Formula Winter Series season for a second consecutive year. In the 2025 season, he secured a best race result of 12th at Portimão. Borenstein’s season continued in the F4 CEZ series, where he scored two top-five finishes in the final four races of the season.
Borenstein will compete with Jenzer for the first time in the 2026 Formula Winter Series, and will be looking for top-ten finishes and further progression after his first full season in single seaters.
Swiss racer Georgiy Zasov will turn 15 just before new year, in time to make his first F4 starts in the Formula Winter Series. The talented youngster secured the 2025 Swiss OK Karting championship in October, represented Switzerland at the Rotax Grand Finals 2024, while also showing strong performances in WSK competition during the year. Zasov will race in FWS at Estoril, Valencia and Barcelona, while the driver of the car at Portimão and Motorland Aragon is to-be-determined.
Borenstein and Zasov join the already-announced Markas Silkunas and Levi Arn in the quartet of Jenzer entries. The 2026 Formula Winter Series will begin at the Circuito Estoril from January 22-25.
22 – 25 JAN ESTORIL /P
5 – 8 FEB PORTIMAO /P
12 – 15 FEB VALENCIA /E
5 – 8 MAR ARAGÓN /E
12 – 15 MAR BARCELONA /E
The headline-grabbing entry from the Polish team’s stable is a full-season effort utilising a Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo, which is sure to be a title contender in the overall and class standings.
Przemyslaw Bienkowski utilised the Mercedes to win the top GT class of Poland’s national championships in 2025, and will now take on an international competition in GT3 machinery for the first time. He will be joined in the GT Winter Series by PTT’s resident hotshoe, the vastly talented and experienced Mateusz Lisowski.
Alongside the familiar faces in the Mercedes is another returnee, Igor Klaja. After missing the 2025 GT Winter Series season, Klaja will return to the Cup 2 category, fielding his familiar and formidable Porsche 992 GT3 Cup.
Additional PTT entries may also join the grid, including a potential second Mercedes GT3 entry. As always, the well-prepared and competitively-driven fleet of vehicles from Krapkowice County will be a welcome addition to the GT Winter Series field.
The 2026 GT Winter Series promises to be yet another high-adrenaline variety show, showcasing the fastest GT racing cars prepared by teams from across Europe. The season begins at Portimão from January 15-18, and will proceed to offer a spectacle for live crowds and livestream viewers on a five-date tour across Iberia’s premier racing facilities.
15 JAN – 18 JAN PORTIMAO /P
22 JAN – 25 JAN ESTORIL /P
12 FEB – 15 FEB VALENCIA /E
5 MAR – 8 MAR ARAGÓN /E
12 MAR – 15 MAR BARCELONA /E
The familiar line-ups of Krystian Korzeniowski and Stanisław Jedlinski (#5) plus Karol Basz and Marcin Jedlinski (#777) will take on the season opener at the Autodromo Internacional do Algarve. As regular class podium contenders within International GT Open in 2025, the Podkarpackie-based team will be vying for a competitive start to 2026 in the GT Winter Series.
Olimp Racing has been a consistent presence in international GT racing for upwards of a decade, and has previously taken part in the GT Winter Series as well as GEDLICH Racing’s Race Test professional motorsport testing events.
The 2026 GT Winter Series is set to feature some of the most competitive season-long battles seen since the inception of GEDLICH Racing’s flagship category. With it comes a superb fan experience, featuring enhanced broadcasts of every race in 2026 on the Winter Series YouTube channel, as well as weekend tickets available from just €10 for spectators trackside.
15 JAN – 18 JAN PORTIMAO /P
22 JAN – 25 JAN ESTORIL /P
12 FEB – 15 FEB VALENCIA /E
5 MAR – 8 MAR ARAGÓN /E
12 MAR – 15 MAR BARCELONA /E
The team from Kerpen will once again be a significant paddock presence, with six cars entered under the US Racing umbrella. The 2026 driver line-up is set to feature a great variety of driving talents, all vying to emulate the 2025 championship-winning performance of Gabriel Gomez. The 2025 season also marked US Racing’s first teams’ title win since the classification was established in 2024; the squad will be keen to hold that accolade for another Formula Winter Series season.
Founded by Gerhard Ungar and Ralf Schumacher in 2015, US Racing quickly established itself as a leading force in F4 categories across Europe. Leading talents have passed through the team’s line-up, including Oliver Bearman, Théo Pourchaire, Alex Dunne and inaugural FWS champion Kacper Sztuka.
The 2026 US Racing drivers will be revealed in the coming weeks.
The upcoming season of the Formula Winter Series will be the biggest yet, with an expansion to five rounds and a first-time outing to the famed Circuito Estoril in Portugal. A capacity grid will vie for glory, while fans are encouraged to join us trackside to see the spectacle unfold. Event tickets are available for just €10, while fans around the world will be able to see every race live and free on the Winter Series YouTube channel.
22 – 25 JAN ESTORIL /P
5 – 8 FEB PORTIMAO /P
12 – 15 FEB VALENCIA /E
5 – 8 MAR ARAGÓN /E
12 – 15 MAR BARCELONA /E
