Only a handful of rounds have taken place in the 2026 GT World Challenge (GTWC) Global Manufacturers Championship, yet the fight between leading brands is already beginning to intensify, as following the American season opener at Sonoma Raceway, Mercedes-AMG has surged into an early lead. The reigning champions sit atop the standings with 111 points, opening a gap to Ferrari on 82. Meanwhile, Audi Sport and Porsche remain closely matched on 67 and 60 points respectively.
Although the season is still in its infancy, the early order hints at a fiercely competitive campaign ahead.
Mercedes-AMG picks up where it left off to take early lead of 2026 Manufacturers Championship
Mercedes-AMG wasted no time reasserting its authority, scoring an impressive 54 points at Sonoma. This success came courtesy of Michai Stephens and Mikaël Grenier, who delivered a commanding performance for JMF Motorsports.
Driving the No. 34 Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO, the pair secured victory in the opening race of the GT World Challenge America season. After claiming pole position, they controlled proceedings throughout the three-hour contest, showcasing composure and consistency.
Having finished runner-up in the Pro class standings last year, the duo has already signalled strong intent to challenge for the title in 2026.
Ferrari shows strong early promise as Porsche closes in
Ferrari also made a competitive start, with AF Corse USA contributing 36 valuable points to the manufacturer’s tally. In the Pro class, Matias Perez Companc and Frederik Schandorff impressed on their debut as teammates in the No. 12 Ferrari 296 GT3 EVO. Despite qualifying third in class, they quickly advanced during the race and ultimately finished second, crossing the line less than a second behind the leaders.
Meanwhile, in the Am category, Jay Schreibman and Oswaldo Negri dominated proceedings in the No. 163 entry, securing a commanding class victory.
Meanwhile, although Porsche currently sits fourth overall, just behind Audi Sport, its performance at Sonoma suggests a strong upward trajectory. The charge was led by Tom Sargent and Kyle Washington, who claimed a dominant Pro-Am victory in the No. 32 Porsche 911 GT3-R (992) EVO for GMG Racing.
Moreover, Porsche swept the entire Pro-Am podium. Dave Musial Jr. and Ryan Yardley secured second place for Wright Motorsports, while JP Martinez and Jan Heylen completed the top three for RS1.
In total, Porsche collected 54 points at Sonoma—accounting for the majority of its current tally—and now trails Audi by just seven points.
Key rounds ahead across continents
Looking ahead, the championship battle is set to expand across multiple regions. The next action comes from GT World Challenge Asia, which begins its season with a doubleheader at Sepang International Circuit on 4–5 April.
Shortly after, GT World Challenge Europe will host its opening Endurance Cup round—a six-hour race at Circuit Paul Ricard on 12 April.
Meanwhile, the American championship resumes at Circuit of The Americas from 24–26 April, where teams will continue their fight for both domestic and global honours.
Despite Mercedes-AMG’s early advantage, the championship remains wide open. With multiple rounds across different continents still to come, the standings are likely to shift as each manufacturer builds momentum. For now, however, Mercedes-AMG has laid down an early marker—one that its rivals will be eager to challenge in the races ahead.
