2026 | GTWC Europe | Endurance | Circuit Paul Ricard | Bronze Test & Free Practice | Mercedes-AMG leads the way after busy opening day

The opening day of 2026 GTWC Europe track action at Circuit Paul Ricard delivered three distinct but closely connected sessions, each offering valuable insight into the competitive order ahead of race day.

Firstly, Giacomo Petrobelli led the Bronze Test with a narrow margin, setting the tone for a tightly packed field. Subsequently, Jules Gounon placed Mercedes-AMG Team Verstappen Racing on top in Free Practice 1 with a late improvement. Finally, Fabian Schiller ensured Mercedes-AMG remained the benchmark by topping Free Practice 2 under more representative evening conditions.

Together, the sessions highlighted both the strength of Mercedes-AMG machinery and the depth of competition across all classes, setting up an intriguing battle for qualifying and the six-hour race.

2026 GTWC Europe Endurance Cup: Circuit Paul Ricard: Bronze Test: Petrobelli edges tight field

Giacomo Petrobelli delivered a decisive performance in the Bronze Test, setting a 1m55.065s lap in the #56 Ecurie Ecosse Blackthorn Aston Martin. Crucially, his time proved just enough to hold off Charles Dawson in the #222 2 Seas Motorsport Mercedes-AMG, underlining the fine margins at play.

Behind them, Bashar Mardini secured third in the #89 Lionspeed GP Porsche, followed by Rinat Salikhov for Winward Racing and Ahmad Al-Harthy in the #42 Oman Racing by Century Motorsport BMW. As a result, multiple manufacturers featured prominently at the front.

However, the session also brought an early setback. The #34 Walkenhorst Motorsport Aston Martin withdrew after Jamie Day’s crash in the Prologue, reducing the field to 58 cars. Despite this, the Bronze Test provided a competitive and informative start to the weekend.

Bronze Test: Top 5

1. G. Petrobelli – Ecurie Ecosse Blackthorn: 1:55.055
2. C. Dawson – 2 Seas Motorsport: 1:55.216
3. B. Mardini – Lionspeed GP: 1:55.531
4. R. Salikhov – Winward Racing: 1:55.552
5. A. Al Harthy – Oman Racing by Century Motorsport: 1:55.569

Full results

2026 GTWC Europe Endurance Cup: Circuit Paul Ricard: Free Practice 1: Gounon strikes late to top timesheets

Free Practice 1 saw a dramatic late shift in the order as Jules Gounon surged to the top in the closing minutes. His 1m54.690s lap placed the #3 Mercedes-AMG Team Verstappen Racing entry firmly at the head of the field.

For much of the session, however, Christopher Haase had controlled proceedings in the #84 Eastalent Racing Audi. Ultimately, he slipped to second, just 0.064s adrift, demonstrating how competitive the session remained throughout.

Meanwhile, Max Hofer secured third overall and topped the Silver Cup for Pure Rxcing. Notably, Benjamin Paque continued to impress with fourth overall for Razoon, marking a strong showing for a newcomer.

Importantly, the session ran without significant interruption, allowing all 56 cars on track to complete meaningful running and gather crucial data ahead of the evening.

Free Practice 1: Top 5

Overall

1. #3 Mercedes-AMG Team Verstappen Racing (Pro) – D. Juncadella/C. Lulham/J. Gounon: 1:54.690
2. #84 Eastalent Racing (Pro) – C. Haase/S. Reicher/M. Winkelhock: 1:54754
3. #9 Pure Rxcing (Silver) – A. Nesov/A. Malykhin/M. Hofer: 1:54.959
4. #914 Razoon – more than racing (Bronze) – G. Tweraser/D. Olbert/B. Paque: 1:55.092
5. #32 Team WRT (Pro) – K. van der Linde/J. Pepper/C. Weerts: 1:55.124

Pro Class

1. #3 Mercedes-AMG Team Verstappen Racing – D. Juncadella/C. Lulham/J. Gounon: 1:54.690
   Overall: P1
2. #84 Eastalent Racing – C. Haase/S. Reicher/M. Winkelhock: 1:54754
   Overall: P2
3. #32 Team WRT – K. van der Linde/J. Pepper/C. Weerts: 1:55.124
   Overall: P5
4. #7 Comtoyou Racing – M. Drudi/M. Sorensen/N. Thiim: 1:55.132
   Overall: P6
5. #17 Mercedes-AMG Team GetSpeed – M. Martin/M. Götz/F. Schiller: 1:55.213
   Overall: P7

Gold Class

1. #4 Optimum Motorsport – A. Smalley/F. Tomlinson/H. George: 1:55.259
   Overall: P8
2. #99 Tesor Attempto Racing – D. Pereira/A. Frassinet/A. Aka: 1:55.273
   Overall: P9
3. #24 Stellar Motorsport – A. Doquin/L. Fluxa/D. Lind: 1:55.323
   Overall: P12
4. #10 Boutsen VDS – G. Magnus/R. Knuttsson/A. Ghiretti: 1:55.415
   Overall: P16
5. #111 CSA Racing – J. Kell/A. Rougier/S. Gachet: 1:55.424
   Overall: P17

Silver Class

1. #9 Pure Rxcing – A. Nesov/A. Malykhin/M. Hofer: 1:54.959
   Overall: P3
2. #30 Team WRT – I. Montenegro/M. Lismont/A. Cordeel: 1:55.353
   Overall: P14
3. #23 Team RJN – H. Fitz-Simon/M.Lynn/B. Dörr: 1:55.409
   Overall: P15
4. #6 GetSpeed Team BartoneBros – A. Panis/A. Bartone/C. Gazeau: 1:55.429
   Overall: P18
5. #555 CSA Racing – B. Moulin/R. Andriolo/L. Lecertua: 1:55.443
   Overall: P19

Bronze Class

1. #914 Razoon – more than racing – G. Tweraser/D. Olbert/B. Paque: 1:55.092
   Overall: P4
2. #97 Rutronik Racing – R. Pera/A. Au/L. Hartog: 1:55.454
   Overall: P22
3. #87 Winward Racing – M. Dienst/G. Piana/R. Salikhov: 1:55.510
   Overall: P27
4. #91 Herberth Motorsport – R. Bohn/H. van Eijndhoven/R. Renauer: 1:55.573
   Overall: P30
5. #22 2 Seas Motorsport – R. Barr/C. Dawson/K. Jewiss: 1:55.583
   Overall: P32

Full results

2026 GTWC Europe Endurance Cup: Circuit Paul Ricard: Free Practice 2: Schiller keeps Mercedes-AMG ahead

As conditions shifted towards sunset, Free Practice 2 offered a more accurate preview of race pace. Once again, Mercedes-AMG led the way, with Fabian Schiller setting a 1m54.624s in the #17 GetSpeed entry. Consequently, he finished 0.216 seconds clear of the field.

Behind him, Porsche machinery showed strong pace, particularly in the Bronze Cup. Benjamin Paque topped his class again, ahead of Ricardo Pera for Rutronik Racing.

Elsewhere, Tommaso Mosca placed fourth overall in the #51 AF Corse Ferrari, while Aurélien Panis led the Silver Cup for GetSpeed Team BartoneBros. In addition, Louis Prette topped the Gold Cup for Garage 59 McLaren.

Although the session featured three stoppages—including issues for Lance Stroll and a late crash for Alex Fontana—all 58 cars completed valuable laps, ensuring teams head into qualifying well-prepared.

Free Practice 2: Top 5

Overall

1. #17 Mercedes-AMG Team GetSpeed (Pro) – M. Martin/M. Götz/F. Schiller: 1:54.624
2. #914 Razoon – more than racing (Bronze) – G. Tweraser/D. Olbert/B. Paque: 1:54.840
3. #97 Rutronik Racing (Bronze) – R. Pera/A. Au/L. Hartog: 1:55.149
4. #80 Lionspeed GP (Pro) – B. Buus/T. Preining/R. Feller: 1:55.168
5. #51 AF Corse (Pro) – A. Rovera/N. Nielsen/ T. Mosca: 155.199

Pro Class

1. #17 Mercedes-AMG Team GetSpeed – M. Martin/M. Götz/F. Schiller: 1:54.624
   Overall: P1
2. #80 Lionspeed GP – B. Buus/T. Preining/R. Feller: 1:55.168
   Overall: P4
3. #51 AF Corse  – A. Rovera/N. Nielsen/ T. Mosca: 155.199
   Overall: P5
4. #59 Garage 59 – J. Loake/D. Macdonald/M. Kirchöfer: 1:55.438
   Overall: P11
5. #50 AF Corse – L. Wadoux/A. Leclerc/S. Geleal: 1:55.543
   Overall: P13

Gold Class

1. #58 Garage 59 – T. Flemming/L. Prette/ B. Goethe: 1:55.371
   Overall: P8
2. #111 CSA Racing – J. Kell/A. Rougier/S. Gachet: 1:55.424
   Overall: P9
3. #24 Stellar Motorsport – A. Doquin/L. Fluxa/D. Lind: 1:55.812
   Overall: P32
4. #992 Paradine Competition – C. Hahn/A. Sutton/R. De Haan: 1:55.877
   Overall: 34
5. #4 Optimum Motorsport – A. Smalley/F. Tomlinson/H. George: 1:55.888
   Overall: P36

Silver Class

1. #6 GetSpeed Team BartoneBros – A. Panis/A. Bartone/C. Gazeau: 1:55.274
   Overall: P6
2. #21 Comtoyou Racing – O. Söderström/S. Baud/K. Pauwels: 1:55.354
   Overall: P7
3. #5 Optimum Motorsport – M. Porter/D. Rappange/G. Oliveira: 1:55.478
   Overall: P12
4. #66 Tresor Attempto Racing – R. Mazzola/S. Øgaard/A. Levi: 1:55.675
   Overall: P23
5. #30 Team WRT – I. Montenegro/M. Lismont/A. Cordeel: 1:55.685
   Overall: P24

Bronze Class

1. #914 Razoon – more than racing – G. Tweraser/D. Olbert/B. Paque: 1:54.840
   Overall: P2
2. #97 Rutronik Racing – R. Pera/A. Au/L. Hartog: 1:55.149
   Overall: P3
3. #87 Winward Racing – M. Dienst/G. Piana/R. Salikhov: 1:55.407
   Overall: P10
4. #67 GetSpeed Team Noble Racing – S. Noble/J. Hart/P. Ellis: 1:55.569
   Overall: P14
5. #991 Paradine Competition – D. Vanthoor/J. Kellett/D. Leung: 1:55.616
   Overall: P19

Full results

All to play for ahead of race day

Overall, the opening day at Circuit Paul Ricard has provided a clear yet intriguing picture of the competitive landscape. While Mercedes-AMG entries have consistently set the pace across both practice sessions, the margins remain exceptionally tight, with Audi, Porsche, Ferrari and McLaren all demonstrating the potential to challenge.

Moreover, the standout performances from drivers such as Benjamin Paque highlight the depth of talent across the grid, particularly among emerging contenders. At the same time, experienced names continue to deliver consistency, ensuring a balanced and unpredictable field.

Crucially, the mix of clean running and minor interruptions has allowed teams to gather essential data without compromising preparation. Therefore, as the focus shifts to qualifying and the six-hour race, no single manufacturer holds a decisive advantage.

Instead, the stage is set for a fiercely contested battle, where strategy, execution and consistency will likely prove just as important as outright pace.