GEDLICH Racing proudly announces the next milestone in its continued growth and innovation within international motorsport. Building on the success of the renowned Winter Series, the company expands its portfolio with the launch of the GT Summer Series, marking its first-ever venture into summer racing for the 2026 season. This new championship promises to deliver the same level of excellence, competition, and passion that have become synonymous with the GEDLICH Racing name.
After the successful growth and expansion of the Winter Series concept, GEDLICH Racing will now organise its first Summer Series, catering for a broad variety of GT machinery. The GT Summer Series will welcome the fastest GT machinery onto the grid. GT3-, GT4-, as well as classes for single-make offerings like the Lamborghini Super Trofeo, Ferrari Challenge, Porsche Cup and McLaren Trophy will be eligible for the hot new racing series. The welcoming philosophy of the GT Winter Series will carry over to the GT Summer Series, as GTX and Cup X classes will also be established for cars that fit the series performance window beyond the main class structure.
The GT Summer Series race format will be similar to the format we know from the GT Winter Series and will feature a pair of 30-minute sprint races, as well as a 50-minute pitstop race. Prior to this, a pair of 15-minute qualifying sessions and free practice sessions will be held, while the option of test sessions ahead of the race weekend will also be available.
As with the GT Winter Series, the GT Summer Series will cater for leading teams and drivers of all experience levels. However, a particular focus is being placed on providing a platform where amateurs can fight for overall race victories in top-flight GT machinery.
Per-event entries will be available for € 4.000, marking the GT Summer Series as an affordable new option for GT teams across Europe. The calendar – to be revealed in the coming weeks – will focus on GEDLICH Racing’s home nation of Germany, as well as the best circuits in the surrounding Central- and Northern-European areas.
GEDLICH Racing intends to continue creating new options for teams across multiple disciplines in years to come, as was the case with their winter racing program.
The GT Summer Series is the first racing series of GEDLICH Racing’s „Summer Series“. Markus Gedlich, CEO and founder of GEDLICH Racing said: “The early success of the GT Winter Series spawned into a full package of Winter Series championships with different racing disciplines, and we aim to deliver a comparable package with the GT Summer Series project. We are excited to welcome teams familiar to GEDLICH Racing, as well as new competitors, into the inaugural GT Summer Series in 2026.”
Further details and official announcements regarding the GEDLICH Racing GT Summer Series will be released in the coming weeks, offering an in-depth look at what promises to be yet another highly anticipated addition to the international racing calendar.
GEDLICH Racing has announced the arrival of a new category, the PTWS Sports Prototypes, which will contest its inaugural season across a pair of events in Iberia.
The Sports Prototypes grid builds upon the success of the LMP3-based Prototype Winter Series, by creating a home for the broad array of bespoke sportscars built for other classes and single-make competitions. Cars from revered manufacturers such as Radical, Revolution, PRC, Nova, Wolf and Praga are among those eligible to take part.
A condensed series, held across consecutive weekends at Portimão and Valencia, will ensure a cost-effective travel itinerary for teams and drivers. The opening round of the PTWS Sports Prototypes will join the GEDLICH Racing 6H of Portimão at the Autodromo Internacional do Algarve from 6-7 February. The following week, the Sports Prototypes will have its second and final outing during the Winter Series event at Valencia’s Circuit Ricardo Tormo, from 13-14 February.
At both events, the PTWS Sports Prototypes grid will compete in a pair of 40-minute races with a mandatory pit window. Prior to this, the teams will receive a 55-minute practice session, and a pair of 15-minute qualifying sessions. Single and two-driver line-ups are welcome.
While Radical’s ever-popular SR3 model will compete in its own class, the bulk of the classes will be structured based on engine capacity.
Jann from GEDLICH Racing commented: “Sports Prototype racing is a broad and varied space within motorsport, and the GEDLICH Racing PTWS Sports Prototypes series is designed to put a spotlight on teams and manufacturers beyond the LMP umbrella. The race format and calendar has been designed to minimise cost, maximise enjoyment, and deliver an exciting new option for sportscar racers.
FRI 06 FEB – SAT 07 FEB PORTIMÃO
55 minutes private practice + 2*15 minutes qualifying + 2*40 minutes race
FRI 13 FEB – SAT 14 FEB VALENCIA
55 minutes private practice + 2*15 minutes qualifying + 2*40 minutes race
“We look forward to welcoming an exciting new range of competitors into the Winter Series paddock, and creating a compelling grid of teams from across Europe, who may otherwise not race head-to-head regularly.”
The PTWS Sports Prototypes adds yet more variety, speed and adrenaline to the 2026 Winter Series package, which features thrilling GT, Formula and Prototype racing action. GEDLICH Racing is excited to welcome fans, teams, racing stars and upcoming talents to Portugal and Spain’s greatest racing venues, from January-March.
Eligible cars & manufacturers
» CN Sports cars, Radical Motorsport, Revolution Race Cars, Wolf Racing Cars, PRC, e.g.
Provisional class system
» SR3 Exclusively for the Radical SR3
» Class A Over 3701cc naturally aspirated / over 2200cc forced induction
» Class B 2000cc – 3700cc naturally aspirated / 1175cc – 2199cc forced induction
» Class C 1501cc – 1999cc naturally aspirated / 883cc – 1174cc forced induction
» Class D up to 1500cc naturally aspirated / up to 882cc forced induction
» X Invitation class
Drivers & Licenses:
» Drive as a single driver or as a pair
» National license with starting permission OR international license
GEDLICH Racing GmbH, promoter of the renowned Winter Series racing championship, is delighted to announce the extension of its successful cooperation with UK-based broadcast experts Alpha Live Ltd. A new three-year contract has been signed, ensuring that fans and teams alike will continue to enjoy world-class live coverage of the Winter Series through to the 2026 season and beyond.
The Winter Series, held from January to March across premier circuits in Portugal and Spain, has established itself as the first to race in the new year – attracting professional teams, up-and-coming talents, and motorsport enthusiasts from around the globe. With racing action from sunrise to sunset, the series has become a fixture in the international motorsport calendar, combining competitive spirit with a unique summer racing atmosphere in winter.
Since the beginning of the partnership, Alpha Live has brought every thrilling moment of the Winter Series directly to fans’ screens. Known for their dynamic camera work, real-time coverage, and professional broadcasting expertise, Alpha Live has become an integral part of the series’ growth and global reach. Based in the United Kingdom, the company has built a reputation as professional motorsport broadcast providers, delivering high-quality broadcasts for karting, club racing, and international championships like the Winter Series by GEDLICH Racing.
The newly signed three-year agreement underlines the trust and strong cooperation between GEDLICH Racing and Alpha Live. Together, both partners will continue to expand the digital presence of the Winter Series, making the races more accessible to fans, sponsors, and the wider motorsport community.
“We are very proud to extend and strengthen our collaboration with Alpha Live,” said Mart Hilgenberg, Marketing Manager of GEDLICH Racing. “Their professionalism and passion for motorsport broadcasting are a perfect fit for the Winter Series. This new multi-year deal is not only a sign of our confidence in their expertise but also of our joint commitment to offering teams and fans the best possible racing experience. For GEDLICH Racing, loyalty and growing together with partners are two very important factors.” “Teamwork makes the dream work,” Hilgenberg adds.
Alpha Live Director, Luke Austin, added: “Our long-standing partnership with GEDLICH Racing has been an exciting journey, and we are thrilled to continue supporting the Winter Series with our broadcast services. The series has grown tremendously in recent years, and we look forward to showcasing even more spectacular racing moments in the seasons ahead. We are very proud to be a part of the Winter Series’ journey.”
With the extended partnership now in place, the anticipation for the 2026 Winter Series is already building. Motorsport fans worldwide can look forward to another season of exhilarating racing action.
The Winter Series takes place from January to March 2026 on the best circuits in Portugal and Spain;
The Trident’s racing super sports car is eligible for championships on five continents. The Winter Series by GEDLICH Racing is one of the series in which the Maserati GT2 can compete.
Maserati GT2 expands its scope of conquest. The racing super sports car – which has brought the Trident back to competing and winning in closed–wheel championships and is racking up wins in the GT2 European Series powered by Pirelli – is now eligible for a wide range of series on all five continents.
The car is suitable to take part in championships around the world, thus expanding the choice for gentleman drivers and teams who wish to get behind the wheel and compete alongside Maserati performance.
GT Winter Series (SPAIN/PORTUGAL)
A sprint race format for the fastest GT machinery. The GT Winter Series was the first series of the winter racing season. Now entering its seventh season, the GTWS delivers five fabulous racing weekends, each with three races, exclusively for the fastest and most extreme GT cars on the planet. GT2-spec, GT3-spec, and one-make cup and challenge cars are eligible for the fifteen sprint races held in Portugal and Spain over three months. The GT Winter Series uses Pirelli P Zero tyres and Balance of Performance, both managed by SRO.
6 Hours of Portimão (PORTUGAL)
The unparalleled thrill and challenge of endurance racing Now in its second year, promoter GEDLICH Racing continues to refine the concept of the 6 Hours of Portimão, an endurance race on the 4.6 km Algarve rollercoaster, also known as the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve near Portimão. Competitors can enter with up to five drivers in eligible GT machinery, such as the Maserati GT2, and race alongside GT3 and GT4 spec cars, as well as one-make cup and challenge cars. The 6 Hours of Portimão uses Pirelli P Zero tyres and Balance of Performance, both managed by SRO.
Maria Conti, Head of Maserati Corse: “We’re very proud we can further increase the range of competitions in which Maserati GT2 can participate. Our passionate customers are the focus of all our activities; as such, we are committed to accommodating their desires and needs, offering teams and gentleman drivers multiple opportunities to compete on the track.
We promised we would return to closed-wheel racing and we did so, reaping a season of great successes; now, not only are we continuing to rack up victories but – most of all driven by all the requests we receive every day – we are also extending the competitions to the ones we can take part in. Maserati is synonymous with the track, where it was founded almost 100 years ago.
The ‘defending champions’ from GEDLICH’s 6H of Portimão in February would face stern competition, including the BDR by Grupoprom Mercedes of Alfredo Hernandez, Michael Dörrbecker and Amaury Bonduel. Additionally, the GT3 class would feature the Thai outfit Star Performance, with driving duties performed by Milos Pavlovic, Sandro Mur, Aniwat Lommahadthai and Sanporn Jao-Javanil.
However, all eyes were placed firmly on the Milwaukee-backed Razoon Porsche 992 GT3 R, which was put on pole position by Thomas Andersen And Simon Birch.
As the race got underway, the Rossocorsa Ferrari 296 Challenge of Niccolo Schiro moved up from fourth to the lead, using the superior straight-line speed of his car to pass the GT3s.
Razoon’s Thomas Andersen followed him through in second place. And, as the early stages of the race unfolded, Schiro built a lead at the front. Meanwhile, Andersen found himself fighting with fellow GT3 class entrant Aniwat Lommahadthai (Star Performance Lamborghini), as well as the CMR Lamborghini Super Trofeo of Stephane Lemeret.
Lemeret, the Belgian veteran, navigated himself into second place at the expense of the GT3s, leaving Andersen in third.
It was a difficult first hour for SR Motorsport in the GT4 class. Their #111 entry, a relatively late addition to the grid, pulled in after just two laps with engine problems. Meanwhile, the #11 Mercedes led the GT4 category early on with Kenneth Heyer at the wheel. The experienced German had a great fight with Daniel Drexel and Guillaume Aso, which Drexel came out on top of in the Razoon – more than racing Porsche Cayman.
Meanwhile, spent the rest of his stint fighting NM Racing Team’s Aso for second, and came out on top of the battle. However, on the car’s first visit to the refuelling area, the crew could not get fuel into the car, as the valve was blocked. This cost the team over a dozen laps.
The Razoon Porsche 992 GT3 R was the first front-running car into the pits, and Andersen handed his car over to Simon Birch.
Immediately, Birch began setting his signature searing pace. During the pitstop cycle, he moved into a comfortable lead. However, the second hour did not pass by without incident. The PCR Sport Mercedes GT4 of Josep Parera approached turn 14 slower than Birch anticipated, which resulted in Parera being hooked into a spin.
This triggered the first safety car of the race, and the #14 was given a drive-through penalty for its role in the collision.
Shortly thereafter, a second Safety Car would also be caused by issues for the #4 PCR Mercedes. Vicente Dasi returned the car to the circuit after it was recovered from the turn 14 gravel. It was significantly wounded, missing much of the rear bodywork, including the diffuser.
Unfortunately, Dasi compounded a tough race for the team, spinning at turn 7, and hitting the wall front-first. The driver was okay, however, the car would go no further.
The race entered a familiar pattern during the middle phase of the race, with Birch and Andersen putting themselves into a strong position just as they had at the 6H of Portimão in February. The Austrian team did not lead for much of the race, however, the team was working towards burning away the 35 minutes of pitstop time mandated in the race’s regulations; in reality, it was clear that the team’s net advantage was measured in laps rather than minutes by the end of the fourth hour. The 35 minutes in the pits had to be completed before the final half-hour began, and Razoon’s GT3 rivals would have to serve long final stops.
The battle for second overall was considerably less clear than the lead as Amaury Bonduel (BDR by Grupoprom Mercedes) entered the final hour just eight seconds ahead of Milos Pavlovic from Star Performance. Both drivers had served their final pitstops, and were fuelled to the finish. However, with less than half an hour to go, the heavens opened.
Initially, the rainfall as gradual, and teams were largely hesitant to move to wet tyres. Pavlovic was among the first to visit the pits for treaded rubber in the Lamborghini, and this looked like it may backfire in the following laps. Initially, Pavlovic was only two seconds per lap faster on the greasy track, and the laptimes between the Serbian and the slick-shod Bonduel were soon even as the rain briefly subsided.
However, the rain quickly returned with greater intensity. Bonduel peeled in for wet tyres, and returned to the track ten seconds behind Pavlovic. The Belgian soon began closing in the gap, however, time would ultimately run out for the #28 BDR by Grupoprom team.
At the front, Simon Birch was two laps clear, and eased off to greet the GT4 Razoon entry, which was on its route to an even more dominant victory within its class. It was a perfect photograph for the Austrian team, as Simon Birch took the overall win side-by-side with Denny Berndt in the GT4 winner.
Pavlovic held onto second overall by just three seconds, alongside Aniwat Lommahadthai, Sanporn Jao-Javanil and Sandro Mur. Bonduel, Michael Dörrbecker and Alfredo Hernandez were still happy with third position overall, while the Cup 4 CMR Lamborghini of Lemeret, Rodrigue Gillion and Wilfried Cazalbon came fourth.
The MTech Competition Porsche 992 GT3 Cup of Gustav Soderberg Krogh, Thomas Karlsson and Mattias Astrand has a quiet final hour of the race, taking fifth overall and winning the Cup 2 class. The Swedish team has been having a compelling battle with GP Elite’s Peter and Koen Munnichs. However, the father-and-son duo’s Porsche had a driveshaft problem late in the race.
Rossocorsa’s Ferrari 296 Challenge finished sixth overall, despite suspension issues just after half-distance.
Razoon – more than racing’s Gregor Schneider, Denny Berndt and Daniel Drexel performed flawlessly in the GT4 class, ultimately winning by five laps. Late in the race, second place changed hands, as the recovering #11 SR Motorsport Mercedes closed in on the #15 NM Racing entry. Guillaume Aso was passed by Jay Mo Härtling with just five minutes left on the clock.
During the team’s earlier refuelling issues, Härtling was acting as a mechanic, and was one of the first team members investigating the problem under the bootlid.
With a clean sweep of overall victories at GEDLICH Racing’s inaugural six-hour races at Portimão and Barcelona, Razoon – more than racing, Simon Birch and Thomas Andersen have once again proved themselves to be endurance specialists. For Birch, who has been taking his first steps in a GT3 car in the GEDLICH Racing paddock, the future looks particularly bright. The young Dane set the fastest-ever GT3 race lap of the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya during his last stint, a 1:40.695.
GEDLICH Racing’s 6H races have been a resounding success in 2025, and will be an eagerly-anticipated part of the Winter Series tour in 2026. Barcelona and Portimão will once again play host to six-hour endurance racing from the GEDLICH organisation, next year.
Saturday’s 50-minute race saw a familiar pattern for Soufi, as he started the Ligier JSP320 from pole position, and led the early stages of the race. High Class Racing’s Phillip Lindberg settled into second place, ahead of CLX Motorsport’s Quentin Joseph.
Meanwhile, DKR Engineering’s Jon Brownson had a difficult stint. After spinning at turn one on the first lap, the American veteran closed in on Racing Experience’s Wolfgang Payr. The pair collided at turn 16, sending Payr into a spin just prior to the pit window.
A communication issue between High Class Racing and Lindberg cost the Danish team a podium, as they missed the pit window and received a penalty as a result. Before eventually heading to the pitlane, Lindberg found himself just ahead of Danny Soufi, and nearly caught out the American at turn three, as he braked harder than anticipated on corner entry. The pair barely managed to avoid contact, as Soufi locked the front axle.
After the pit window, Matthias Jakobsen found himself just ahead of DKR Engineering’s Laurents Hörr. The teenager performed magnificently, holding off the experienced prototype racer to secure the first podium of the season for Racing Experience.
CLX Motorsport’s David Droux brought the #87 Ligier home in second place after taking over from Quentin Joseph. Soufi took yet another win, further extending his championship lead over the CLX pair to 41 points.
Race 2:
The second race of the weekend was contested in slippery conditions on Sunday morning. DKR Engineering’s Laurents Hörr would drive solo, as Jon Brownson elected to sit out the race with illness.
David Droux started from pole position in the CLX Ligier, and led the first moments of the race despite pressure from Danny Soufi. As everyone struggled for traction, Laurents Hörr was making progress. He quickly found his way past Soufi, and dispatched Droux for the lead.
Hörr built his lead during the first stint, appearing perfectly in-tune with his Duqueine despite the treacherous weather.
Owing to the pitstop handicap system, the Gold-rated driver’s visit to pitlane was a few seconds longer than his rivals, but he still returned to the circuit in a strong position, just a few seconds behind Quentin Joseph. The CLX driver led the race momentarily, before Hörr and Soufi both powered by.
Despite the best efforts of Soufi, Hörr’s lead of a dozen seconds remained in-tact for the last phase of the race. The German took the chequered flag for DKR Engineering, marking the first victory for the team in the Prototype Winter Series. Danny Soufi finished second in his Konrad Ligier, extending his points lead over the CLX Motorsport pairing of Quentin Joseph and David Droux. Joseph drove the car home in third.
Phillip Lindberg came home in fourth for High Class Racing, ahead of Wolfgang Payr and Matthias Bjerre Jakobsen of Racing Experience.
Barcelona: Additional competition for the closer
With a 44-point advantage and just 50 left to score, Danny Soufi is in an immensely strong position heading into the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. The Konrad Motorsport driver’s closest rivals, Joseph and Droux of CLX Motorsport, will need to rely on misfortune for Soufi to secure the championship.
The pairing will also need a strong weekend to stay ahead of DKR Engineering in the points standings, after Laurents Hörr’s victory. The team remains optimistic that Jon Brownson will feel able to race again at Barcelona.
A second Konrad Motorsport car is set to take the start at Barcelona, while SPV Racing are also due to make an appearance for the last two races of the 2025 season.
For the first race of the weekend, SR Motorsport’s Moritz Wiskirchen led the race in the early stages, from pole position. Further back, Konrad Motorsport’s Carrie Schreiner and Juta Racing’s Eimantas Navikauskas collided, damaging the right-rear of Navikauskas’ Audi. Moments later, at turn 10, the Lithuanian racer spun on his own, seemingly because of damage including bodywork rubbing on the tyre.
At the front of the field, Moritz Wiskirchen led the way for SR Motorsport, while Jonas Karklys followed in second position for Liqui Moly Team Engstler. Charles Dawson was running in third for AKM Motorsport, making his GT3 debut in the team’s Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo.
Behind them, a fabulous battle for fourth took place between two GT3 cars – Thomas Andersen’s Razoon Porsche and Simon Orange’s JMH McLaren – and a pair of Cup 4 Lamborghinis. After plenty of dicing in the early stages, the Super Trofeo-spec Lamborghinis of Shota Abkhazava and Jerzy Spinkiewicz broke away from the GT3 cars, having a great tit-for-tat scrap for the class lead.
Eventually Spinkiewicz found his way past, and a couple of laps later, a late-braking Andersen collided with Abkhazava. The ART-Line driver would continue, but the chance to mount a further challenge to Spinkiewicz had passed. Andersen had to retired the 992 GT3 R due to suspension damage.
Charles Dawson challenged for second place towards the end of the race, however, an error at turn one on the final lap released Karklys from his clutches.
Wiskirchen crossed the line to win by nine seconds, scoring a maximum score of 20 points as the team looked to salvage its overall title defence. Karklys finished second ahead of Dawson, with Spinkiewicz finishing fourth and first within Cup 4 for UNIQ Racing. The Cup 1-winning Ferrari of Cristiano Maciel finished fifth overall, while Calle Bergman won the Cup 2 class for Porsche Cup machinery.
Race 2:
The second race of the weekend was held in the early afternoon of Sunday, and unfortunately, one car would not make it to the pre-grid. An issue with the right-front brake left Luca Engstler stranded on the sighting lap, and the Engstler Motorsport Lamborghini would have to wait until the pitstop race for more action.
This left the stage open for pole-sitter Simon Birch, who dominated proceedings from lights-to-flag. He eventually won the race by 22 seconds over Juta Racing’s Jonas Gelzinis, who celebrated his birthday with a visit to the overall podium. Cup 4’s victor Jerzy Spinkiewicz finished third overall.
The circuit was slippery after overnight rain, and while the top three had clean races, the same couldn’t be said for others. Ryan James had a moment under braking for turn 16, spinning and collecting Przemyslaw Bienkowski’s PTT Racing’s Porsche 992 GT3 Cup. Both cars suffered major damage, but the drivers walked away.
Cristiano Maciel won the Cup 1 class once more, while A-Workx Motorsport’s Ahmed Arif Alkhoori won the Cup 2 class. The Emirati driver was in the midst of his inaugural weekend in racing, meaning he had taken class honours in his second-ever motor race.
Race 3:
The 55-minute pitstop race was shortened to 50 minutes owing to timetable constraints, and Razoon – More than racing’s Thomas Andersen lined-up on pole position. The GT3 Pro class Engstler Lamborghini of Jonas Karklys lined-up second, and was this time able to take the start.
As the field ran towards the first corner on the opening lap, Cristiano Maciel mis-judged his braking. The Ferrari 296 Challenge made contact with Charles Dawson’s AKM Mercedes, damaging both cars and ending the race for both parties. The safety car was deployed to retrieve the Maciel Ferrari.
After the race restart, Karklys took the lead, and set about building a gap at the front.
As the race neared half-distance, it began to drizzle around the circuit. As tyre changes can’t be made during the mandatory stop, and a tyre swap must be part of a two-minute visit to the pits, it was not a straightforward decision to move to wets. Many of the cars on slicks struggled, barring Marcus Clutton, who took over the Orange by JMH McLaren and began lapping quicker than anyone else on the dry weather rubber. Soon, Clutton led the race.
Many, including the Engstler Motorsport team, elected to pit for wets. However, as the race entered its final minutes, the rain had stopped, and the slicks had once again become the tyre of choice. Clutton’s dominant drive allowed he and Simon Orange to secure the victory overall, ahead of Cup 1 winners Andreas Sorsensen and Mikkel Mac. Alessio Ruffini and Milos Pavlovic finished third overall and took the Cup 4 win, after an impressive final stint from Pavlovic.
Barcelona: Title to be decided as a deluxe field takes the start
At the finale, four teams from four classes enter the weekend with a significant opportunity to fight for the title. On 158 points, AF Corse’s Cristiano Maciel and Rui Aguas lead the overall standings from the Cup 1 class. With three Cup 4 podium finishes at Motorland, Auto Sport Racing’s Alessio Ruffini and Milos Pavlovic are in a strong second overall in the points on 150.
Defending champions SR Motorsport sit third overall on 144 points, and will hope for strong GT3 class results for Moritz Wiskirchen and Kenneth Heyer at Barcelona. Wileco Motorsport’s Calle Bergman and Manz Thalin, the Cup 2 leaders, are just two points adrift in fourth.
The likes of Schubert Motorsport, PROsport Racing and NM Racing Team join the grid, BDR Grupoprom and Araujo Competiciao will return, and the AF Corse ranks will once again expand in the Cup 1 and Cup 5 classes. Barcelona will – as always – be an unmissable weekend of GT Winter Series action on 8-9 March.
The primary goal for Elite Motorsport and overall points leader McKenzy Cresswell was increasing the championship advantage.
In the first race, the opposite occurred, as the SR Motorsport team claimed the first P1. Enrico Forderer drove a magnificent race in the Mercedes-AMG GT4, winning by just a second over McKenzy Cresswell. A 32-point deficit between the pair was now down to just 25.
The overall rostrum was rounded out by Baudouin Detout, as Racing Spirit of Leman finally claimed its first podium of the season in the Aston Martin Vantage AMR Evo.
Joachim Bolting won the PRO-AM class, as the eccentric German moved up from AM by dint of sharing with Plusline Racing Team’s Peter Terting. Michael Sander took the win in Cayman Trophy.
Race 2:
Race two was a markedly different race than the first, thanks in no small part to the heavens opening overnight above Motorland Aragon.
With a shift in conditions came a shift in the pecking order, as the SR Motorsport Mercedes looked far less compliant in the hands of Jay Mo Hartling. The opposite could be said for the W&S Motorsport Porsche Cayman of Alon Gabbay, who made short work of ascending from sixth on the grid to the race lead. Gabbay set about building a lead, driving away from all-comers including second-placed Tom Lebbon in the Elite McLaren Artura.
A late safety car was triggered to collect the AM class W&S Motorsport entry driven by Daniel Blickle. Thankfully, this did not cause an issue for Gabbay, who still secured his first win of the season. Tom Lebbon finished second ahead of Jay Mo Hartling, clawing back three points of the championship lead cushion for Elite.
SVG Motorsport’s Owen Hizzey thrived in the rain once again to take the PRO-AM win and fourth overall. He finished just ahead of Cedric Fuchs, who also used the tricky conditions to his advantage in the Cayman Trophy class.
Race 3:
In the 60-minute pitstop race, Elite Motorsport’s Cresswell and Lebbon started from pole position. Cresswell performed the opening stint, and despite an early challenge from RAFA Racing by Race Lab’s Callum Davies, he would soon drive away at the front.
Enrico Forderer, who shared the front row with Cresswell, found himself as low as sixth at the end of the first lap. With the conditions still somewhat greasy, and low ambient temperatures, the Mercedes appeared to struggle for grip early on. He would soon begin moving up the order, and handed the car over to Hartling in fourth place, behind the Race Lab McLaren of Charlie Hart, and second-placed Baudouin Detout (Racing Spirit of Leman).
The three would battle for much of the second stint. Shortly after losing two positions in the fight, Detout had a spin courtesy of what looked to be a small issue with the brakes. However, he gathered up the car and continued, finishing fourth.
Hart would settle for third after an intense sparring match with Hartling, who finished in second. At the front, Cresswell and Lebbon eventually held a 15-second lead, dominating the third race and extending Cresswell’s points advantage to 35.
Marc Elman and Owen Hizzey secured the PRO-AM victory after Joachim Bolting and Peter Terting amassed 45 seconds of track limit penalties, while Luisa Kahler claimed the Cayman Trophy win for herself and Michael Sander. Kahler fought throughout the final half of the race with fellow SR Motorsport driver Cedric Fuchs for the class win.
Barcelona: Largest entry of the season for the GT4s, as the title is decided
In the GT4 Winter Series, only SR Motorsport can dethrone Elite’s McKenzy Cresswell in the overall title fight. Forderer and Hartling will need a strong weekend, and a dip in fortunes for Cresswell and Elite, who are yet to finish off the podium this season.
Schubert Motorsport, PROsport Racing, NM Racing Team and Razoon – more than racing are among those joining the GT4 grid on 8-9 March, as over 25 cars will take the start at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya!
The grid for race one was led by a pair of US Racing cars; championship leader Gomez started from pole position, with Kabir Anurag behind him. In his second full season in the Formula Winter Series, the Singaporean had yet to finish on the podium, and finished fourth in all three races at Valencia.
As the race started, Gomez succeeded in retaining his lead, and Anurag remained hot on his heels.
Behind the front row starters, several cars ended up with damage and missing front wings. Leo Robinson, who started in in seventh, glanced the rear of his Hitech teammate Fionn McLaughlin at the first turn, and ripped the front wing from his car in the process.
At turn five, US Racing’s Maxim Rehm moved around the outside for third position, at the expense of his second row neighbour Bart Harrison (Jenzer). However, Harrison clipped the rear-left tyre of Rehm as they exited the left-hander, puncturing Rehm’s tyre and dislodging Harrison’s front wing. By the end of the first lap, Dante Vinci had also lost his front wing, while Simon Schranz missed his braking point at the turn 16 hairpin. The Renauer driver collected Chloe Chambers and Sebastian Bach in the ensuing collision.
At the first corner on lap two, Anurag managed to find his way past Gomez. Despite immediate attempts from the Brazilian to find his way back past, Anurag did not offer up an opportunity for his teammate, and soon began building a lead.
By the race’s end, Anurag was three seconds clear of Gomez, and secured his first victory in the Formula Winter Series. Fionn McLaughlin finished in a well-earned third overall, while also taking Rookie Trophy honours. The Irishman in his Red Bull-liveried Hitech machine spent the entire race under scrutiny from Maximilian Popov, with Andrija Kostic also close behind.
Nina Gademan once again took her Hitech machine into the overall points, finishing ninth and securing the Female Trophy award.
Race 2:
After overnight rain, Sunday morning’s race would be held in greasy conditions. Gabriel Gomez and Kabir Anurag once again formed the front row of the grid, however, it was their US Racing teammate Maxim Rehm who got the best start from third. By the first corner, Rehm was in the lead, while Anurag moved into second place.
Rehm, who expressed confidence in his wet weather abilities prior to the race on the broadcast, fought valiantly against Anurag. The Singaporean made his intentions clear with a dive to the inside at turn 16 on the second lap. However, Anurag went deep into the corner, allowing Rehm to cut back to the lead. Just a lap later, Anurag again saw an opportunity to lunge, and the second attempt was successful.
As Anurag and Rehm fought, Gomez brought himself into contention. And, while the three US Racing drivers began to squabble among themselves, Hitech’s Fionn McLaughlin was closing in. Soon, McLaughlin began picking up podium spots. With just over 20 minutes left in the 30-minute +1 lap race, he eased past Rehm at the turn 16 hairpin. Less than a lap later, Gomez also fell behind the #5 car.
In order to challenge for the lead, McLaughlin had to erode a 2.7-second deficit to the race leader. In clean air, McLaughlin soon began setting fastest laps, and with ten minutes of the race left to go, Anurag was now under immense pressure from his Irish adversary. A good run out of turn 15 bore fruit for McLaughlin, as the inside beckoned at the end of the long back straight, and he moved into the lead.
A late safety car was triggered by contact between Mathilda Paatz (AS Motorsport) and Payton Westcott (Van Amersfoort Racing). The race would eventually resume with just one lap left to go. McLaughlin was fast out of the blocks, and ensured a victory with a measured final tour, ahead of Kabir Anurag and Gabriel Gomez, who continued to extend his championship lead over Leo Robinson. The Anglo-Algerian driver was classified sixth, after a five-second penalty for Maxim Rehm dropped the #71 car to seventh.
Nina Gademan once again won the Female Trophy, her seventh triumph in the category during 2025.
Race 3:
As the third and final race drew closer, the circuit had dried out, and almost all teams opted for slicks. However, moments before the formation lap, rain started to fall around the circuit. The rainfall was heavy enough for three drivers to head to the pitlane rather than their grid slots; Jenzer Motorsport’s Artem Severiukhin and Bart Harrison, and Van Amersfoort’s Payton Westcott.
Meanwhile, the lights went out and the race began. Once again, Maxim Rehm had a magnificent launch, this time from fifth on the grid. Pole-sitter Kabir Anurag and fellow front row starter Thomas Bearman both had a tough time getting the power down, allowing both Rehm and Fionn McLaughlin to streak by.
Rehm took a wide approach to the first corner, and struggled to turn in on the slippery paint, allowing McLaughlin to assume an early race lead as the entire field searched for grip to little success. At turn seven, Rehm found the inside line and took first position back, while Simon Schranz of Renauer Motorsport was ascending rapidly through the pack. Renauer had been the only team to send a car to the grid with wet tyres on, and Schranz moved from 20th on the grid to sixth position on the first lap alone.
Less than a lap later, Schranz had moved into the race lead, taking full advantage of the superior grip from his wet tyres. However, this lead was to be short-lived, as Schranz had a spin at the first corner at the start of lap three. This dropped him down to fifth; critically, Bart Harrison was now ahead of the Austrian, having started from the pits after switching to wets post-formation lap. As the slick-shod drivers continued to struggle and lose time, Harrison and Schranz completed the third lap in first and second place.
Gradually, many teams and drivers elected to pit for wet tyres. However, some stayed committed to negotiating the greasy circuit on slicks. Among them was Hitech’s Fionn McLaughlin. By half-distance, McLaughlin was running third, leading those on the slick tyres, but running 24 seconds back from Bart Harrison.
However, McLaughlin began matching and then surpassing the lap times of the two cars ahead, as the circuit continued drying and the pendulum swung away from those with wet tyres. Soon, McLaughlin began pumping in fastest laps, and made short work of Simon Schranz. And, within ten minutes, the near half-minute gap between the leader and McLaughlin disappeared; with six minutes left to go, McLaughlin breezed past Harrison on the exit of turn seven to take the lead.
McLaughlin held the top spot for the remainder of the race, performing a sweep of Sunday at Motorland Aragon, and taking his third victory of the season. Maxim Rehm’s impressive start proved to be a little too fast, as he was handed a five-second jump start penalty. However, due to the spread out nature of the race, he remained second in the final results. Championship leader Gabriel Gomez kept his 100 per cent podium record alive in third, ahead of Maksimilian Popov and Kabir Anurag. Eventually, everyone in the top five remained on slicks throughout the race. Having led the middle portion of the race, Bart Harrison eventually had to settle for sixth place on his wet tyres.
Payton Westcott won the Female Trophy in 13th overall, having fought within the top ten following Van Amersfoort Racing’s decision to call the American in for wets before the race start.
Barcelona: A finale likely to yield glory for Gomez
Gabriel Gomez’s stunning consistency has put him in a strong position heading into the Formula Winter Series season finale at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.
With 182 points to his name, Gomez holds a 68-point advantage over his closest competitor. And, while Leo Robinson had often looked like the strongest adversary for Gomez, it is now Fionn McLaughlin who sits second in the standings. However, with just 82 points left to score, any title aspirations for Hitech’s Red Bull Junior come attached to remarkably long odds.
Leo Robinson scored just eight points at Aragon, which leaves him third in the points on 106. He is now mathematically out of contention for the overall title, but could still regain second position from McLaughlin on 114.
Kabir Anurag sits fourth in the standings on 97 points.
Fionn McLaughlin also leads the Rookie Trophy by an impressive 80 points. His closest competition in the class comes in the form of Thomas Bearman, who sits 11th in the overall standings on 34 points. A score of just two points will sew up the season-long Rookie accolade for McLaughlin.
New drivers and determined full-season entrants will clash in Barcelona, as the Formula Winter Series will end on a high on 8-9 March at the home of the Spanish Grand Prix.
The first-ever six-hour race organised by GEDLICH featured a 35-minute minimum combined pitstop time in the first five hours and 30 minutes, across at least five pitstops. Teams took unique approaches to serving the minimum time, and the race proved to be strategically compelling throughout.
As the race began at 11:30am local time, the pole-sitting Razoon Porsche held the early lead with Thomas Andersen at the wheel. However, just minutes into the race, Greystone GT’s Oliver Webb arrived in the Porsche’s wing mirrors, and quickly found a way by. Webb proceeded to fortify an early lead in the McLaren 720S GT3 Evo. Meanwhile, Andersen was being hounded by the Landgraf Mercedes of Jörg Viebahn, the similar car driven by AKM Motorsport’s Marco Antonelli, and the Cup 2-leading A-Workx Porsche 992 GT3 Cup driven by Nico Menzel.
As the race approached the conclusion of the first half-hour, Antonelli started to move forward rapidly. The AKM team boss dispatched both Viebahn and Andersen, only to pit two laps later. The Mercedes idled past its garage and into the refuelling area at the end of the pits, marking the first of what would prove to be several shorter, more frequent pitstops.
For the first two hours, AKM’s Mercedes would pit approximately every 30 minutes, while most other teams would pit closer to the end of the hour. Oliver Webb was one of the last to make his first pitstop, handing over to Andrey Borodin with just over an hour and ten minutes in the books.
With Borodin at the wheel, the Greystone GT team’s lead was quickly eroded and nullified by Simon Birch, who had taken over the Razoon Porsche. Soon, the McLaren would be demoted to third, after a spin for Borodin. Tom Kalendar had taken over the Landgraf Mercedes, and charged by Borodin shortly after recovering from the moment.
With that, the story of the race lead was established. Over the next several hours, Landgraf’s pairing would match Birch and Andersen, but the gap remained at roughly a minute throughout the race. This distance was established in the second hour, after Viebahn remained in the car for longer than Andersen, and Birch took full advantage in the Razoon Porsche.
Andersen and Birch would ultimately win by one minute and 23 seconds, after the Landgraf Mercedes received 20 seconds worth of track limits penalties. Viebahn and Kalendar finished second, while the AKM Motorsport entry rounded out the overall podium. Antonelli, along with Raffaele Giammaria and Aaron Farhadi, drove a trouble-free race, and were able to beat the Greystone GT McLaren to the podium thanks to greater consistency.
In the Cup 2 class for Porsche 992 Cup cars, the A-Workx team controlled much of the race, courtesy of particularly rapid stints from Nico Menzel, and faultless running from Rodriguez Menzl. The Mtech Competition team from Sweden put in a good effort, with particular heroics from Gustav Soderberg Krogh during his stints.
A-Workx ultimately won the class, taking fifth overall and finishing a lap clear of the Mtech car. Steiner Racing rounded out the Cup 2 podium.
Lionspeed GP were victorious in the GT4 category, despite a race that started with a brief visit to the pits. The line-up of Damian Freda, Steven Berndtson and Patrick Kolb were only 35 seconds clear of the NM Racing Team Mercedes at the end of the race, but this was extended by 20 seconds after late track limits penalties accrued by NM’s Ian loggie. The Spanish team had the strongest pace in the GT4 class, but a slew of bad luck befell the AMG GT4. This included a shock absorber failure in the first hour and a puncture in hour four.
Monteiros Competições finished tenth overall, and won the TCX class. Henrique Oliveira started the F82-spec BMW M4 GT4, and led all of the newer GT4 machines in the overall standings during the first hour.
The Team MJC Bentley failed to finish, after a late driveshaft failure put paid to Matthew Graham and Witt Gamski’s progress in the final hour. The East Racing Motorsport Porsche Cayman GT4 RS CS also fell by the wayside late in the race, due to a toe-link failure. The car had been crabbing for several hours, after contact with the Lionspeed Porsche, and sadly the team’s effort to persevere did not allow them to reach the flag.
14-16 March: The 6H Barcelona will conclude the GEDLICH Racing Winter Series
The first-ever GEDLICH Racing Portimão 6H was well-received by its competitors, with many expected to return for the 6H Barcelona at the famed Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.
From the 14-16 March, endurance racing teams from across Europe will look to become the first to etch their names into the 6H Barcelona record books, and greater competition is expected across the classes.
As with the 6H Portimão, GT2, GT3 and GT4 cars are eligible, alongside single-make machines from Porsche, Ferrari, Lamborghini and McLaren in the Cup classes. The Cup X and TCX classes will be deployed for cars that do not fit within the boundaries of those categories, but match the performance window of the event.
The 6H Barcelona will be streamed live on the Winter Series YouTube channel, and act as a fitting conclusion to GEDLICH Racing’s biggest ever winter racing calendar.
30 JAN – 02 FEB 6h of PORTIMÃO /P
13 MAR – 16 MAR 6h of BARCELONA /E
