When race tracks across much of Europe enter their winter break, the season is only just getting started for GEDLICH Racing.For years, the Winter Series has brought teams, drivers and race cars from across Europe to Portugal and Spain – where ideal conditions, world-class circuits and professionally organised motorsport come together.

In 2027, the Iberian Peninsula will once again become a meeting point for the international motorsport community. From January to March, GEDLICH Racing will offer an extensive programme of GT racing, junior single-seater competition and professional testing opportunities at some of Southern Europe’s finest circuits.

The Winter Series
What began several years ago as an opportunity to use the motorsport off-season for testing has since developed into an established European racing platform. The concept remains deliberately straightforward: professional conditions, plenty of track time and high-quality motorsport – combined with the unique character of racing under the winter sun of Portugal and Spain. Under the Winter Series umbrella, GEDLICH Racing brings together different car categories and target groups. With the GT Winter Series, GT4 Winter Series and Formula Winter Series, both GT drivers and young single-seater talents have a dedicated platform.

GT Winter Series

The GT Winter Series is home to a wide variety of GT racing machinery. GT3 cars compete alongside Porsche Cup, Ferrari Challenge, Lamborghini Super Trofeo and other cars from some of the fastest one-make series and categories. The open, manufacturer-independent vehicle concept has always been part of the series’ DNA. Alongside current-generation race cars, older specifications and exceptional machinery are also welcome, provided they can be integrated into the sporting concept.
The GT Winter Series is particularly aimed at gentleman drivers. Professional drivers are also welcome, while specific sporting regulations are designed to create the most balanced and attractive competitive environment possible.

GT4 Winter Series

The GT4 Winter Series gives GT4 machinery its own dedicated stage within the Winter Series programme. The series combines professional GT racing with an environment that offers development opportunities for both ambitious gentleman drivers and young talents. A variety of manufacturers, international teams and closely matched performance levels ensure exciting and competitive racing.

Formula Winter Series

For young drivers, the journey through international single-seater racing also begins under the Spanish and Portuguese sun. The Formula Winter Series gives emerging talents the opportunity to gain valuable racing mileage and prepare for the upcoming European Formula 4 season under professional conditions. In 2027, an evolved tournament-style race format will provide even more on-track action and additional opportunities for drivers to prove themselves. This once again makes the Formula Winter Series an important part of pre-season preparation for teams and drivers from across Europe.

From Portugal to Spain

The 2027 Winter Series takes teams and drivers to some of the most renowned circuits on the Iberian Peninsula. The season gets underway in Portugal in January. Portimão and Estoril host the opening events before the journey continues to Spain. Jerez, Barcelona and Valencia complete the calendar, offering ideal conditions for intensive winter racing. Sun instead of snow. Racing instead of a winter break. And it is about more than just racing. The Winter Series creates an environment where teams can test, drivers can develop, and new car and driver combinations can be evaluated under real competitive conditions. While Central Europe is dominated by cold temperatures, rain and grey winter days, drivers and teams on the Iberian Peninsula combine high-level motorsport with sunshine, pleasant temperatures and some of the most beautiful regions of Portugal and Spain.

More Than a Racing Series

Over the years, the Winter Series has established itself as a regular meeting point for the European motorsport community. Teams from a wide range of national and international championships use the events to prepare for the upcoming season. Drivers gain valuable mileage, new partnerships and line-ups are formed, and cars are developed further under professional conditions. At the same time, the paddock deliberately maintains an open and personal atmosphere. Teams, drivers, partners and organisers spend several weeks together on the Iberian Peninsula – and that is exactly what gives the Winter Series its unique character. Professional motorsport on track. An international community alongside it.

The Season Starts in Winter

Whether GT3, GT4, Cup car or Formula 4: the Winter Series gives drivers and teams the opportunity to start their season while others are still on their winter break. With world-class circuits in Portugal and Spain, plenty of track time, international competition and the experience gained from numerous Winter Series seasons, GEDLICH Racing once again provides the ideal platform in 2027 for everyone who does not want to wait for the traditional start of the racing season.

No winter break. Just racing. The Winter Series 2027 awaits.

The Formula Winter Series is introducing a new competition format. The aim of this tournament format is to reduce the number of cars on track per race while also giving rookies and midfield drivers greater exposure through the new “Contenders Race.”

 

Fewer cars per race, but twice as many races

The Formula Winter Series has established itself as one of the leading winter training platforms for ambitious Formula 4 drivers, featuring five FIA-homologated circuits across Spain and Portugal. Over the past four seasons, the championship has also developed into a highly competitive and internationally respected series.

Series promoter GEDLICH Racing will now introduce a tournament format in which the grid size will be limited to 28 cars per race. At the same time, the overall number of race heats will be doubled, ensuring an increased number of starting opportunities for participating teams and drivers.

 

One qualifying session determines two preliminary races

Each event weekend will begin with two qualifying sessions, in which 28 cars compete for the starting positions in the opening two races. The fastest drivers from Group A and Group B will each contest separate races based on their qualifying results.

A key feature of the format is that, in the second race, drivers with odd-numbered qualifying positions and drivers with even-numbered qualifying positions will compete against one another.

 

Only the best reach the Masters Race – separate race for the midfield

The concluding highlight of each Formula Winter Series weekend will be the “Masters Race,” featuring the top 28 drivers from the opening two race heats. Qualification for the Masters Race will be determined by combining the finishing positions from the first two races, with the top 14 drivers from each preliminary race advancing to the final showdown.

Drivers finishing outside the Masters Race qualification positions will compete in the newly introduced “Contenders Race.” The dedicated race is designed to provide rookies and developing drivers with the opportunity to compete for podium finishes and increased exposure through television coverage and media reporting.

 

New points system creates more balance and opportunities for rising drivers

The new Formula Winter Series points system will award points for positions 1 through 14 in both preliminary races as well as in the Masters Race. In addition, the top three finishers in the Contenders Race will score points on a 3-2-1 basis.

This means that developing drivers also have a strong incentive to finish on the podium in the Contenders Race and collect championship points. Stefan Lehner, Head of Race Series at GEDLICH Racing, explains:

“We believe this is a very fair approach because the Contenders Race effectively represents drivers performing from 15th place downward. Therefore, we are extending the points system from P15 onward and awarding points to the top three finishers.”
The new system rewards top drivers who consistently finish races and avoid costly retirements while also creating incentives for newcomers and rising talents to fight for podium finishes in the Contenders Race.

 

Jerez returns to the calendar – five events remain

For the 2027 season, Circuito de Jerez will return to the calendar. “The circuit is very popular with drivers because of its layout and, thanks to its location near the southernmost point of Europe, it offers excellent weather reliability. We are excited to race there again in 2027,” said Lehner.

The Formula Winter Series calendar will continue to feature five event locations. Aragón will be removed from the 2027 schedule, while Portimão, Estoril, Valencia, and Barcelona remain part of the championship as particularly popular venues.

 

Registration opens in June

Registration for the series will open June 1st, through the series promoter GEDLICH Racing. Teams that were already registered in the previous season will receive priority consideration, but new teams will also have the opportunity to participate thanks to the series’ increased overall capacity.