The 2026 International GT Open returns to action at the Hungaroring this weekend, with 28 cars set to contest increasingly close championship battles across the Pro, Pro-Am and Am categories.
The popular summer round traditionally attracts one of the championship’s largest crowds, while its location near Budapest adds to its appeal for teams, drivers and travelling supporters. Fans will also experience the Hungaroring’s completed facilities after the circuit continued its redevelopment following last year’s event. Cooler conditions should provide further relief after the recent heat wave across Europe.
The International GT Open will headline a busy programme that also includes the Euroformula Open, Formula Regional European Championship, GB3 Championship and TCR Europe.
However, attention will centre on the GT Open title fights, with four manufacturers involved at the front of the Pro category, a dominant Porsche leading Pro-Am and two crews sharing the Am championship lead.
Emson and Lebbon take control after Misano double
Tom Emson and Tom Lebbon arrive in Hungary at the top of the overall standings after transforming the championship picture at Misano. The Elite Motorsport pairing won both races during the series’ first visit to the Italian circuit, moving their yellow Ferrari 296 GT3 into a 16-point championship lead.
Emson and Lebbon now head Christian Mansell and Maxi Götz, who share the Motopark Mercedes-AMG GT3. The second-placed crew will aim to reduce that deficit after losing ground during the previous round.
Zac Meakin and Dean Macdonald remain firmly involved in third. The Greystone GT McLaren 720S GT3 Evo pairing trails the leaders by 17 points and sits only one point behind Mansell and Götz.
Meanwhile, Pietro Armanni and Alex Fontana continue to represent Porsche in the leading group. The ZRS Motorsport drivers won the opening race of the season in Portugal and remain within reach of the championship contenders.
Consequently, Ferrari, Mercedes, McLaren and Porsche all enter the Hungaroring with realistic ambitions at the front.
Pro field contains several potential winners
Although the leading four crews occupy the strongest championship positions, the eight-car Pro field includes several other combinations capable of fighting for victory.
Leonardo Moncini and Rodrigo Testa have produced encouraging performances in the Villorba Corse Lamborghini Huracán GT3. The pair will now target their first win after demonstrating competitive pace during the opening rounds.
AF Corse strengthens the Ferrari challenge with two cars. Rafael Durán shares one entry with Tommaso Mosca, while Yaroslav Veselaho partners Thomas Neubauer in the second.
Motopark also fields another Mercedes-AMG for Marcelo Ramírez and Dominik Baumann, giving the manufacturer two opportunities to challenge Elite Motorsport’s championship-leading Ferrari.
With only 17 points separating the leading three crews, each result at the Hungaroring could significantly reshape the order.
Fach carries commanding Pro-Am lead into Hungary
Alexander Fach has established a clearer advantage in the 11-car Pro-Am category.
The Fach Auto Tech Porsche driver has won four of the opening five races and leads the standings by 20 points. Alexander Schwarzer rejoins Fach at the Hungaroring after missing the Spa round, which explains the difference between their individual points totals.
Charlie Bateman represents the closest challenge in the Blackthorn Aston Martin Vantage GT3. Belgian prospect Kobe Pauwels will partner Bateman as he makes his International GT Open debut.
Pauwels adds further speed to a crew that will attempt to halt Fach’s winning run and reduce Porsche’s advantage at the top of the class.
Marcin Jedliński and Karol Basz also remain among the leading contenders in the Olimp Racing Ferrari. Their experience and consistency should make them a factor throughout the weekend.
Saintéloc Racing completes the leading Pro-Am quartet with its Audi R8 LMS GT3, driven by Michaël Blanchemain and Jim Pla.
Central European teams target strong regional showing
The Hungaroring provides several Czech and Polish competitors with their closest event to a home race.
Libor Milota and Filip Salaquarda will continue their campaign in the ISR Racing Audi, which has regularly challenged near the front of the Pro-Am category.
PTT Racing adds another Polish-supported entry with its BMW M4 GT3 for Hubert Darmetko and Fabian Dybionka. Both drivers can expect considerable backing from supporters making the relatively short journey to Hungary.
Ferrari also maintains a strong presence in the class. Laurent De Meeus and Vincent Abril will share the AF Corse entry, while Xolile Letlaka and Stuart White continue with Into Africa Racing by Dragon.
McLaren can rely on two Pro-Am crews. The Kell family will represent Track Focused, while Andrey Borodin and Oliver Webb drive Greystone GT’s second car.
Dexter Müller and Yannick Müller complete the category in the CBRX by SPS Mercedes. The Swiss pairing brings extensive Pro-Am experience and will aim to challenge the established leaders.
Monegro and Lewandowskis share Am lead
The Am championship reaches the Hungaroring with a tie at the top and nine cars on the entry list.
Joel Monegro has emerged as one of the season’s surprise performers in the Fach Auto Tech Porsche. The Dominican Republic driver has claimed two victories and accumulated 44 points.
Andrzej and Adrian Lewandowski match Monegro’s total in the Baron Motorsport Ferrari. The Polish father-and-son pairing has one victory and will receive strong regional support during the Hungarian weekend.
Only eight points separate the leaders from Marcelo Hahn and Alline Cipriani? No—Galid Osman partners Hahn in the AF Corse Ferrari. The Brazilian pairing sits third after securing one race victory during the opening rounds.
Piotr Wira and Tomasz Magdziarz follow in the GoodSpeed Racing Mercedes after earning their first win of the season at Misano. That result brought them closer to the leaders and added another crew to the developing title contest.
Polish crews strengthen competitive Am field
Several other Polish drivers will contest the Am category.
Stanisław Jedliński and Krystian Korzeniowski continue in the Olimp Racing Ferrari, while Seweryn Mazur drives the Sendom Racing Team Lamborghini Huracán.
Alfredo Hernández will represent Grupo Prom RT in its Mercedes-AMG. The Mexican competes as one of the category’s solo Bronze drivers.
With several race winners already occupying the leading positions, consistency could prove decisive. A retirement or low score at the Hungaroring could allow multiple rivals to make substantial championship gains.
Gamota Racing and AF Corse add new entries
Two additional crews will join the Am grid in Hungary.
Newly formed Slovak team Gamota Racing will enter a BMW M4 GT3 for Antal Zsigó and Csaba Walter. Both drivers have previously competed at the Hungaroring and will bring valuable circuit experience to the new programme.
AF Corse will also add a Ferrari 296 GT3 for Rey Acosta and Marco Bonanomi.
The pair already compete together in the Michelin Le Mans Cup, while Bonanomi brings extensive experience from international GT and prototype competition.
Their arrival expands the Am field and strengthens Ferrari’s representation across the International GT Open entry.
Close title fights set stage for pivotal round
The Hungaroring round arrives at an important point in the championship.
Emson and Lebbon hold the overall lead, but three rival manufacturers remain close enough to challenge the Elite Motorsport Ferrari. Meanwhile, Fach will attempt to preserve his commanding Pro-Am advantage against a large and competitive field.
The Am category presents an even tighter picture, with Monegro and the Lewandowskis level on points and several race-winning crews close behind.
Therefore, the Hungarian weekend could either strengthen the existing championship leaders or create another major shift before the season enters its next phase.
