SRO Motorsports Group will elevate its talent pathway in 2026 as SRO GT Academy offers six drivers from six different series career-defining opportunities for 2027.
The expanded initiative creates a structured route for emerging talent to reach the summit of global GT racing. Rather than simply identifying promising drivers, the Academy will actively position them on the world stage, providing tangible opportunities to prove themselves at the highest level.
Open to FIA Silver-graded drivers under the age of 30, the Academy will adopt a holistic evaluation model. Officials will assess speed, race craft and professionalism both on and off the circuit. Importantly, drivers must contest a full season in their chosen series, and they may not compete for the Academy prize in more than one championship.
SRO GT Academy builds on strong foundations in FFSA GT
The Academy began in 2025 within the Championnat de France FFSA GT. Nineteen-year-old Gaspard Simon secured the inaugural title thanks to consistently impressive performances across the campaign.
He earned €150,000 towards a 2027 seat in GT World Challenge Europe, alongside mentoring and support. The FFSA GT component remains central to the programme in 2026, with another €150,000 contribution available for the next standout performer. Competing in closely matched GT4 machinery, the French championship provides an accessible yet highly competitive proving ground.
GT2 Europe adds fully funded AMG prize
For 2026, the Academy will expand into the GT2 European Series powered by Pirelli. Drivers racing Ginetta, Ligier, Maserati or Mercedes-AMG machinery will be eligible, with further manufacturers potentially joining.
The winner will secure a fully funded Mercedes-AMG seat—excluding crash damage—with an AMG Customer Racing Team in the 2027 GT World Europe Endurance Cup. This prize represents a direct pathway into elite GT3 competition.
SRO GT Academy offers global 2027 Spa opportunity across four continents
Meanwhile, a third Academy strand will unite four drivers from British GT Championship, GT World America, GT World Asia and GT World Australia. One driver from each series will earn a fully funded entry to the 2027 CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa.
The quartet will combine in a dedicated SRO GT Academy entry at the biggest GT race in the world. Therefore, the initiative will not only nurture regional talent but also foster international collaboration at a blue-riband event.
Clear criteria and fair assessment underline SRO GT Academy prize
Across all three elements, the Academy will apply common regulations. Drivers must hold FIA Silver status and remain under 30 years of age on 31 December 2026. Additionally, entrants may not have contested more than one GT World Europe event.
Points allocation will reflect both objective performance metrics—such as 10-lap average pace and fastest times—and continent-specific measures including qualifying results and race position at the pit window. Conversely, stewards’ findings of responsibility for incidents or race-ending accidents will trigger deductions.
Ultimately, SRO GT Academy aims to measure individual performance regardless of co-driver influence, ensuring a fair and accurate evaluation process.
A vision for the future
SRO founder and CEO Stéphane Ratel underlined the initiative’s long-term purpose:
“Having spent more than 30 years in motor racing, I fully understand the hard work and commitment required for a young driver to establish a professional career in the sport. This is the motivation behind the SRO GT Academy. We want to identify the brightest young talents and, just as importantly, provide them with a platform to demonstrate their abilities to the world. The expansion for 2026 is very significant and would not have been possible without a great deal of support. In particular, I must express my gratitude to Pirelli, our longstanding and trusted tyre supplier, for lending its support to the project, and to the manufacturers that are backing our GT2 Europe prize: Ginetta, Ligier, Maserati, and Mercedes-AMG. The latter will also provide a GT World Europe seat for 2027.”
With new global opportunities and clearly defined rewards, SRO GT Academy now stands as one of the most structured and ambitious development platforms in international GT racing.
