• Sprint Cup finale culminates in drivers’ title for Feller/Buus, WRT retains teams’ crown
• AF Corse and Ziggo Sport Tempesta Racing also celebrate title triumphs in Spain
• Busy weekend on and off the circuit despite challenging weather conditions on Saturday
• Excitement builds for season-closing Endurance Cup race at Portimão on 16–18 October
Rain or shine, GT World delivered at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. There were spectacular scenes as the Spanish venue played host to a packed weekend of action on and off the track, culminating in the coronation of this year’s Sprint Cup champions.
The rain played a role on Saturday, though it did not prevent plenty of wheel-to-wheel competition – including a thrilling GT World Challenge battle contested by 44 GT3 cars. Fans were rewarded with sunshine and a full programme of racing on Sunday, as well as a bustling open paddock and an autograph session with the drivers.
Tresor Attempto Racing Audi secured victory in Saturday's main event, which saw some truly virtuoso performances on a drenched circuit. A runner-up finish for Lionspeed GP Porsche sealed the overall Sprint Cup drivers' title for Ricardo Feller and Bastian Buus, while AF Corse Ferrari duo Tommaso Mosca and Matias Zagazeta captured the Gold Cup crown with a race to spare.
With the Silver Cup sealed by Team WRT BMW’s Matisse Lismont and Ignacio Montenegro last time out at Zandvoort, this just left the Bronze Cup to be decided on Sunday. Peter Dempsey and Eddie Cheever began the day as heavy favourites and finished the job in style, securing a fourth successive class win aboard their Ziggo Sport Tempesta Racing Porsche.
Race 2 victory went to Emil Frey Racing drivers Ben Green and Thierry Vermeulen, who led a Ferrari one-two ahead of the AF Corse machine of Arthur Leclerc and Thomas Neubauer. There was one more title settled on Sunday, with BMW squad WRT earning a record-extending 12th Sprint Cup teams’ crown ahead of Lionspeed GP.
A series of heavy rain showers on Saturday required local government safety measures to be put in place, but the weekend still produced the goods both on and off the track. Guests at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya included stars from the hit Spanish television series La Casa de Papel, who were on the grid soaking up the atmosphere ahead of Race 1.
For the fans, there was plenty to see and do in the open paddock. An exhibition of ultracars featured some truly incredible machinery, such as the Mercedes-AMG One, Lamborghini Temerario, Ferrari 812 Competizione Aperta, and McLaren Barquetta. The new McLaren W1 high-performance hypercar and a selection of Lamborghini models also drew plenty of attention. There was also a dedicated Tesla display which included the unmistakable Cybertruck.
This event introduced a brand-new initiative on Friday evening when pit crews engaged in a series of head-to-head battles. Mechanics faced off against their rival teams, allowing the watching fans to see the anatomy of a Sprint Cup pit stop.
Barcelona was a special weekend for Christopher Haase. The Eastalent Racing Audi driver contested his 100th GT World event, becoming the first person to reach this milestone. Endurance Cup champion in 2012, 24 Hours of Spa winner in 2017 – and always behind the controls of an Audi R8 – Haase is among the most respected members of the grid.
In addition to the Sprint Cup action there were more thrills on the circuit courtesy of Lamborghini Super Trofeo, McLaren Trophy Europe and the GT3 Revival Series. The latter saw Stéphane Oretlli and David Halliday reunited, the old friends sharing the same Audi R8 LMS in which legendary racer Ortelli scored GT World victories more than 10 years ago.
With the Barcelona weekend complete, just one event remains on the 2026 calendar, and it promises to be a very special one. A 60-car grid is expected to tackle the concluding Endurance Cup round at Portimão on 16–18 October – including the series debut of Max Verstappen, who will take on the best GT drivers in the world with his own Mercedes-AMG Team Verstappen Racing squad.
For more information on the season finale and to purchase tickets for the event, please click here.