Alessio Ruffini and Miloš Pavlović will be looking to defend the Cup 4 crown, which they won in the 2025 season. The pairing then went on to finish second in the Lamborghini Super Trofeo Europe PRO-AM class, culminating a very successful year of collaboration with Auto Sport Racing.
Ruffini has been improving continuously in his relatively brief racing career, thanks in large part to the coaching and guidance of Pavlović, a former PRO champion in Super Trofeo Europe and Lamborghini World Finals, both in 2014.
Auto Sport Racing from Bergamo, Italy hope to be the team to beat once more in 2026’s Cup 4 class, with Ruffini and Pavlovic as well as an additional entry to-be-announced.
The GT Winter Series will begin its new season at Portimão from 15-18 January. Tickets will be available for the opening weekend from just €10, while affordable spectator experiences will be available at all five events of the 2026 calendar. Additionally, all races will be broadcast live-and-free on the Winter Series YouTube channel.
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
As an older, out-of-homologation car, the Z4 will be placed into the GTX class of the GT Winter Series. It will be a significant point of interest to see how it stacks up against the modern day GT2, GT3 and Cup class machines on the grid. The team is expected to join the GTWS grid for Portimão and Valencia.
Classic & Speed is based at the Bilster Berg circuit in Bad Driburg, Germany. The squad specialises in preparing historic racing cars as well as modern machines, and runs several different makes and models in the emerging classic GT3 racing scene.
Marcus von Oeyenhausen is a prolific enthusiast and historic motorsport figure, routinely competing with cars of all vintages. His son, Christoph, has also been making appearances at historic events in recent times, and has raced this Z4 GT3 several times during 2025.
The von Oeyenhausen Z4 is an ex-Triple Eight chassis, which raced in British GT during a halcyon era for the championship. The Z4 was the first GT3-spec BMW built in-house, and achieved success across the world from 2010-2015. On the historic GT3 scene, the car is popular with paddocks and spectators alike, thanks to its ferocious 4.4-litre V8.
The 2026 GT Winter Series will begin from 15-18 January at Portimão. The five-round calendar will take in all of Portugal and Spain’s finest racing destinations, and fans will be able to join the fun trackside from just €10 per weekend ticket. Additionally, all of the racing action will be aired live on the Winter Series YouTube channel, in partnership with broadcast specialists Alpha Live.
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 powerful grand tourer will line-up on the GTWS grid at Portimão’s Autodromo Internacional do Algarve, with Alberto De Martin and Branden Oxley at the wheel.
Alberto De Martin has been a consistent part of the NM Racing Team driver pool since 2021, and has become a versatile and competitive bronze driver with the help of team principal Nil Montserrat. Indeed, De Martin and Montserrat co-drove the GT2 Mercedes during the 2025 GT2 European Series, achieving vice-champion status in the PRO-AM division.
Branden Oxley is familiar to the NM Racing Team line-up as well, having competed with the Spanish squad in the final two rounds of the 2025 GT4 European Series. Along with Marc de Fulgencio, the 21-year-old British driver achieved a second place finish in PRO-AM at the Barcelona season finale. Additionally, Oxley scored a GT4 class podium with NM at the 2025 24 Hours of Barcelona.
As one of the most decorated Mercedes-AMG teams at GT2 level, with a strong driver pairing at the helm, the NM Racing Team entry is an exciting addition to the grid for the GT Winter Series season opener. The teams and drivers will hit the track from 15-18 January, and spectators can attend both days of racing for just €10 in total! Fans further afield will once again benefit from coverage produced by GEDLICH Racing partners Alpha Live, airing on the Winter Series YouTube channel.
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
Over the last decade, the Italian team has achieved repeated international and domestic success with Lamborghini Squadra Corse. After a hugely-successful career including an F3000 title, Vincenzo Sospiri founded his team 25 years ago in his home town of Forlì. Initially competing in single-seater contests, the team has become one of Italy’s most prominent GT racing outfits over the last decade.
The VSR team has been a factor in the GT Winter Series previously, entering Super Trofeo-spec Lamborghinis, and will now be looking for overall wins with its GT3 car.
Mattia Michelotto and Ignazio Zanon arrive to the GT Winter Series as a successful and established pairing, having secured the Italian GT Sprint PRO-AM championship together with Vincenzo Sospiri Racing.
Michelotto has been a proven success with both Lamborghini and VSR for a number of years, winning Italian GT Championships and the Lamborghini Super Trofeo World Final during his tenure racing with the Italian marque. Zanon is much newer to the sport, but has shown promise and development from his earliest efforts in UK Ginetta racing, to his recent collaborations with VSR in Italian GT.
Vincenzo Sospiri Racing is one of many prominent international teams preparing to compete in the 2026 GT Winter Series. The season will begin at Portimão from 15-18 January, while the second round will take place at Estoril from January 22-25.
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
This all-Czech line-up is a regular presence on GT and Sportscar grids in Czechia and surrounding nations, routinely winning races in the Carbonia Cup with various cars prepared by Blue Garage Racing. Both Pavel and his son Troy have a strong record of racing cars, bikes and karts.
The Lotus Emira GT4 was scheduled to make its GT4 Winter Series debut with the Czech team in 2025, however a significant accident in testing ahead of the Valencia event curtailed this plan. With an expanded programme in GT4WS for 2026, this team will be a competitive force in the PRO-AM class.
The 2026 GT4 Winter Series begins at the Autodromo Internacional do Algarve in Portimão from January 15-18. During the season, every race will be broadcast live-and-free on the Winter Series YouTube channel, while spectators can enjoy a weekend of international motorsport from as little as €10 a ticket.
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 and Fernandes are both well-known as Porsche specialists, regularly competing in Porsche Sprint Challenge Iberica, Iberian Supercars, Porsche Carrera Cup North America and various contests in the USA. The transatlantic nature of Fernandes’ racing record matches his Portuguese-American heritage.
As an experienced Porsche racer with a lot of miles in this specific car, Fernandes is expected to be a competitive addition to the GT3 class of the GT Winter Series at the opening two rounds.
In addition to the 991.2 GT3 R, the team also has 991 and 992-spec Porsche Cup machinery available to compete in the GT Winter Series. The 992 Cup is available to enter the Cup 2 class reserved for it, while the 991.2 Cup car is eligible for ‘Cup X’, designed for previous-generation single-make cars.
The 2026 GEDLICH Racing Winter Series will kick-off its 2026 tour at Portimão from 15-18 January, with the GT, GT4 and Prototype Winter Series set to take to the Autodromo Internacional do Algarve. As with all events, the action will be broadcast live on the Winter Series YouTube channel, while spectators will be able to see the thrilling spectacle for just €10 per weekend ticket.
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 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
