The International GT Open now moves from its lively season opener in Portugal to one of the championship’s standout fixtures: the GT Open 500 at Spa-Francorchamps. After an exciting first round at Portimão, teams and drivers head to the Ardennes for the season’s first endurance challenge.
This year, Spa brings extra intensity. The race runs over 500 kilometres, or a maximum of 2 hours and 55 minutes, and it awards double points. As a result, every strategy call, pit stop and stint could reshape the early championship picture.
Moreover, the event continues to grow in appeal. Thirty-two cars will line up in Belgium, while eight different manufacturers add depth and variety to the grid. That mix creates a strong platform for battles across Pro, Pro-Am and Am.
Pro Class: Four brands chasing early control of the 2026 International GT Open title ahead of Spa
The Pro category already carries a fierce edge despite the early stage of the campaign. Greystone GT arrive at Spa with the championship lead after Zac Meakin and Dean Macdonald won Race 2 in Portugal in their McLaren 720S. Meakin also reached a notable milestone there, as he became the 200th driver to win an International GT Open race.
However, Greystone GT will not rely on one car alone. The British team adds a second Pro McLaren for McKenzy Cresswell and Jayden Kelly, strengthening its attack for the endurance round.
Close behind, Team Motopark bring serious momentum with Christian Mansell and Maxi Götz. The pair scored two second-place finishes at Portimão and sit only one point off the lead. In addition, Motopark enters another Mercedes-AMG for Marcelo Ramírez and Dominik Baumann, giving the German squad two strong cards to play.
Meanwhile, ZRS Motorsport remain firmly in contention. Pietro Armanni and Alex Fontana sit just two points from the top after winning outright on their series debut in Portugal with the Porsche 911 GT3R. Their early pace suggests they can challenge again on Spa’s demanding layout.
Ferrari also joins the front-running conversation through Elite Motorsport. Tom Lebbon and Tom Emson have kept the 296 close to the leaders, while AF Corse adds further strength with Tommaso Mosca, Rafael Durán, Yaroslav Vaselaho and Yifei Ye. Finally, Villorba Corse will aim to rebound, as Rodrigo Testa and Leonardo Moncini seek a cleaner weekend after a difficult start in the Algarve.
Pro-Am Class: Depth, experience and new arrivals set to feature at the 2026 GT Open 500 in Spa
The Pro-Am field once again delivers the largest and most competitive class. Blackthorn lead the standings with their Aston Martin, and Charlie Bateman now teams up with returning GT ace Johnny Adam as they chase another win.
Yet the margin at the top remains slim. Saintéloc Racing sit just one point behind with Michaël Blanchemain and Jim Pla in the Audi R8 LMS Evo2, while CBRX by SPS hold the same points position with Dexter Müller and Yannick Mettler in a Mercedes. Fach Race Tech also remain close after Alexander Fach and Alexander Schwarzer won on their series debut in Portugal.
Furthermore, the class contains a long list of proven contenders. ISR Racing brings another Audi for Libor Milota and Filip Salaquarda. Ferrari power comes through Olimp Racing, AF Corse and Into Africa Racing by Dragon, while Greystone GT and Track Focused add McLaren firepower.
New and returning names also raise the stakes. Optimum Motorsport returns for a one-off entry with Morgan Tillbrook and Ben Barnicoat in a McLaren. Iron Lynx also joins the Spa event with a Mercedes for Ameerh Naran and Theodor Jensen. In addition, 2Seas Motorsport enters a Mercedes for Scott Noble and Jason Hart.
Two squads also begin their season at Spa. PTT Racing introduces its BMW M4 GT3 EVO with Hubert Dermetko and Fabian Dybionka, while Mikkel Pedersen Racing starts a planned four-round programme with Mikkel Pedersen and Lars Pedersen in a Porsche 911 GT3R.
Am Class: Ferrari leads, rivals close in
The Am class has already produced a lively contest. Andrzej and Adrian Lewandowski lead the standings after taking victory in Portugal with the Baron Motorsport Ferrari 296. The father-and-son pairing hold a narrow two-point advantage over Marcelo Hahn and Galid Osman, who also claimed a race win in the Algarve with AF Corse.
Behind them, the class continues to show strong variety. Stanislaw Jedlinski and Krystian Korzeniowski add another Ferrari for Olimp Racing, while Piotr Wira and Tomasz Magdziarz carry Aston Martin hopes with Good Speed Racing Team.
Elsewhere, André Fernandes and Angelo Fontana compete in the AF Motorsport Porsche. The endurance format also reshapes two solo-driver efforts, as Alfredo Hernández partners Stéphane Tribaudini in the Grupo Prom Mercedes, while Joel Monegro joins forces with Lucas Wolf in the Fach Auto Tech Porsche.
Spa could redefine the early championship
Spa-Francorchamps rarely rewards caution, and this weekend’s format should push every crew into sharp decisions. The long race distance, double-points reward and large grid create a major opportunity for teams that combine pace with discipline.
Therefore, the GT Open 500 could change the tone of the season. Greystone GT, Motopark, ZRS Motorsport and Elite Motorsport all have a chance to seize Pro momentum. Meanwhile, Pro-Am looks wide open, and Am already carries a close Ferrari-led fight.
After Portimão set the championship in motion, Spa now offers the first real endurance test. The teams that master traffic, tyre wear, pit timing and pressure will leave Belgium with far more than a strong result; they may leave with early control of the season.
