Garage 59 has underlined its title ambitions by confirming formidable driver line-ups for both its Pro and Gold Cup entries in the upcoming 2026 GTWC Europe season. Building on its most successful campaign in a decade, the British squad has opted for continuity, confidence and proven pace. All six drivers return from last year’s programme, reinforcing stability as the team prepares to fight across Sprint and Endurance formats.
Pro Class: Garage 59 opt for proven speed and growing momentum for 2026 GTWC Europe campaign
The #59 McLaren Automotive entry will once again compete in the Pro class. Marvin Kirchhöfer and Dean Macdonald will tackle the full 10-round campaign, while Joseph Loake joins for the Endurance Cup races.
Kirchhöfer delivered a standout 2025 season. He secured two Sprint victories and claimed a sensational pole position at the 24 Hours of Spa, firmly establishing himself as one of the championship’s leading performers.
Meanwhile, Loake continues his rapid rise. After graduating from single-seaters, he impressed during his rookie GT3 season with consistent speed and maturity. Recently, McLaren elevated him to its factory driver roster, strengthening the team’s works-backed credentials.
At the same time, Macdonald shifts from the #58 crew after closing last season with victory in Barcelona. His experience and familiarity with the team add further depth to an already potent line-up.
“It feels great to go into the new GT World Challenge season with a full McLaren factory driver line-up,” said Kirchhöfer. “Both Dean and Joseph were outstanding last year. Considering Joseph was in his rookie season of GT3 racing he was very fast and super consistent so I’m excited to see his progression continue.
“Dean is a good friend of mine so I’m very happy to finally be sharing a car with him. I think we have an exciting season ahead of us. We have a strong car and I firmly believe this is the strongest McLaren line-up we have seen for a long time. Let’s see what we can do!”
Gold Cup: Continuity and confidence in the #58
In the Gold Cup class, the #58 entry maintains strong foundations. Louis Prette and Tom Fleming will contest the full season together, while Benjamin Goethe joins for the Endurance rounds.
Notably, Fleming made an immediate impact after joining midway through last year’s Sprint campaign. Together, he and Prette claimed three Gold Cup wins, signalling their credentials as serious contenders.
Furthermore, Goethe’s addition for longer races strengthens the endurance package. His swap with Macdonald ensures both entries benefit from experienced, race-winning talent.
“I’m really looking forward to getting back in the Garage 59 McLaren this year,” said Prette. “We finished last season on a high with several class wins and an overall victory in Barcelona, so the momentum is definitely there.
“Teaming up with Tom across both Sprint and Endurance looks very promising – we already showed strong pace together in Sprint – and having Benji join us for the Endurance rounds makes it feel like we’ve got a really strong lineup. I can’t wait to get the season started at Paul Ricard.”
Stability as the foundation for 2026 GTWC Europe success for Garage 59
Crucially, Garage 59 enters the new campaign with rare stability. Every driver returns, and each pairing already understands the team’s systems, expectations and competitive demands. As a result, the squad can focus fully on performance rather than adaptation.
With factory backing, proven race winners and emerging talent in both cars, Garage 59 has assembled one of its strongest overall packages in years. Consequently, expectations will run high when the season begins at Circuit Paul Ricard.
If momentum carries forward from last season’s breakthrough results, Garage 59 will not simply chase podiums. Instead, it will aim squarely at titles on multiple fronts.
