The 2026 GT World Challenge (GTWC) Europe powered by AWS heads to Autodromo Nazionale Monza next weekend for one of the biggest events on the calendar.
A massive 57-car Endurance Cup grid representing 10 manufacturers will tackle the famous three-hour race at the Temple of Speed from 29-31 May. Meanwhile, support categories will push the total entry beyond 130 cars, ensuring non-stop action throughout the weekend.
In addition, fans can expect far more than racing. Organisers have prepared a full entertainment programme featuring an open paddock, autograph sessions, live music and family attractions inside one of motorsport’s most iconic venues.
Early championship rivals prepare for another fight
The Endurance Cup season exploded into life at Circuit Paul Ricard, where Mercedes-AMG Team Mann-Filter controlled much of the six-hour contest before Comtoyou Racing stole victory with a dramatic late charge in its #7 Aston Martin Vantage GT3.
Consequently, both teams arrive at Monza with strong momentum and realistic hopes of another podium finish.
However, several other contenders could shape the outcome. BMW traditionally performs well at Monza, which places the #32 Team WRT and #98 ROWE Racing entries firmly among the favourites.
At the same time, home fans will focus closely on Valentino Rossi, who will aim to secure a breakthrough victory on Italian soil aboard the #46 Team WRT BMW.
Meanwhile, Garage 59 should not be overlooked. The British squad finished runner-up at Monza last year and previously won at the circuit in 2016 with its McLaren machinery.
Ferrari and Porsche chase a strong response
While many leading teams collected valuable points at Paul Ricard, several major names left France disappointed. As a result, Monza presents an immediate opportunity to recover lost ground.
Most notably, AF Corse endured a difficult opener and failed to finish inside the top 10. Nevertheless, the #51 Ferrari 296 GT3 possesses enormous potential with Alessio Rovera, Tommaso Mosca and Nicklas Nielsen sharing driving duties.
Similarly, Porsche squads will seek redemption after technical issues denied them strong results at Paul Ricard. Lionspeed GP displayed impressive speed before reliability problems ended its race early, while Boutsen VDS also demonstrated front-running pace.
Furthermore, the #34 Walkenhorst Motorsport Aston Martin Vantage GT3 enters the weekend highly motivated after a Prologue accident prevented the team from starting the opening round altogether.
Garage 59 leads the Gold Cup charge
The Gold Cup battle has quickly developed into one of the season’s most compelling contests. Currently, Garage 59 leads the way after securing back-to-back class victories stretching from the end of 2025 into the opening round of 2026.
The McLaren crew of Benji Goethe, Tom Fleming and Louis Prette therefore arrives at Monza as the benchmark entry.
Even so, rivals continue to close in. CSA Racing and ROWE Racing both secured top-10 finishes overall at Paul Ricard, while the Selected Car Racing Ferrari showed impressive pace throughout the event.
Additionally, many fans will support the #9 Boutsen VDS Porsche after the Belgian squad suffered major accidents at both Paul Ricard and Brands Hatch earlier this season.
Silver Cup battle carries added importance
History suggests that the Silver Cup race at Monza could prove decisive for the championship battle. Remarkably, five of the previous six class winners at Monza eventually captured the season title.
That statistic increases the pressure on current contenders such as Pure Rxcing, which won at Paul Ricard with its Porsche entry. Meanwhile, Team WRT’s BMW operation also demonstrated excellent pace during both the Endurance and Sprint Cup events.
McLaren could also dominate the category with entries from Optimum Motorsport, Team RJN, Greystone GT and CSA Racing.
Italian hopes, however, rest heavily on the #52 AF Corse Ferrari and the #54 Dinamic GT Porsche. Importantly, Dinamic GT already owns two overall Monza victories from 2019 and 2021.
Rutronik targets another Bronze Cup triumph
The Bronze Cup field also arrives at Monza with a clear favourite. Rutronik Racing has produced outstanding form after winning the final race of 2025, claiming victory at Paul Ricard and securing last year’s Monza success.
As a result, the #97 Porsche 911 GT3 R driven by Antares Au, Ricardo Pera and Sven Müller enters the weekend as the car to beat.
Nevertheless, strong opposition awaits. Winward Racing and Paradine Competition both reached the podium at Paul Ricard and should challenge again in Italy.
In addition, Oman Racing by Century Motorsport could emerge as a serious contender after previous Monza success. The team won Silver Cup honours at the venue last year, while Ahmad Al Harthy secured a landmark overall victory at Monza in 2024.
Monza offers fans a full motorsport festival
Beyond the racing itself, Monza promises a complete motorsport festival atmosphere. Located inside the largest walled park in Europe, the historic Italian venue provides a spectacular setting for GT competition.
Importantly, every ticket includes paddock access, allowing spectators to experience the championship from inside the teams’ working areas. Organisers will also open a dedicated Fan Zone featuring DJs, food and drink stalls, giant screens and activities for younger visitors.
Meanwhile, autograph sessions on both Saturday and Sunday will give fans opportunities to meet drivers throughout the weekend. Supercar displays and merchandise stands will further add to the festival atmosphere.
Support races from the McLaren Trophy Europe, GT2 European Series powered by Pirelli and GT4 European Series will ensure constant on-track action across the three days.
Weekend schedule builds towards Sunday showpiece
The event follows the traditional Endurance Cup format and begins on Thursday with the Bronze Test session. Afterwards, teams will complete a two-hour Paid Test on Friday afternoon.
Saturday then features two 90-minute Free Practice sessions before attention shifts fully to Sunday’s competitive action.
Qualifying begins at 09:50 local time, while the prestigious three-hour race starts at 15:30. Fans around the world will also be able to follow every moment live through the championship’s official YouTube coverage.
By the time the chequered flag falls on Sunday evening, Monza could dramatically reshape the 2026 GTWC Europe title fight.
Monza Entry List
