The 2026 International GT Open will begin the second half of its season with a 30-car field at Circuit Paul Ricard, where increasingly close championship battles promise an important weekend across all three classes.
The traditional mid-July event represents the final commitment before the championship begins its summer break. Although the circuit’s location near the Mediterranean coast gives the meeting a relaxed holiday atmosphere, the teams and drivers will face a demanding sporting challenge at a crucial stage of the campaign.
Circuit Paul Ricard combines high-speed sections with technical corners across its 5.842-kilometre layout. Therefore, teams must balance straight-line performance, aerodynamic efficiency and tyre management while also contending with the expected summer heat.
Race 1 will start late on Saturday afternoon to avoid the hottest part of the day. The action will then lead directly into the traditional Rooftop Party, which brings teams, fans and visitors together after the opening contest.
However, before the celebrations begin, the leading contenders must navigate two races that could reshape each championship battle.
Elite Motorsport leads 2026 International GT Open four-manufacturer Pro contest at Paul Ricard
Ten cars will compete in the Pro class, where four pairings representing Ferrari, Mercedes-AMG, McLaren and Porsche remain firmly involved in the title fight.
Tom Emson and Tom Lebbon lead the standings for Elite Motorsport after taking their third victory of the season at the Hungaroring. The British pairing has built a 13-point advantage in the Ferrari 296 GT3 and enters Paul Ricard as the benchmark combination.
Nevertheless, Christian Mansell and Maxi Götz continue to apply pressure in the Motopark Mercedes-AMG. The Spa endurance race winners have combined outright speed with consistent results and remain the closest challengers to the Elite Motorsport duo.
Zac Meakin and Dean Macdonald sit another three points behind for Greystone GT. The McLaren pairing has regularly featured on the podium and already holds one victory this season.
However, Macdonald will miss the Paul Ricard event because of another commitment. McLaren factory driver Joseph Loake will replace him alongside Meakin. The 21-year-old will therefore join the championship fight during one of the season’s most important weekends.
Pietro Armanni and Alex Fontana remain fourth in contention with ZRS Motorsport. The Porsche drivers have won twice but trail Emson and Lebbon by 22 points, leaving them with an opportunity to reduce the deficit before the summer break.
Villorba Corse targets breakthrough victory
Several other Pro entries could disrupt the championship contenders at Paul Ricard.
Villorba Corse will arrive with a Lamborghini that should suit the circuit’s fast layout. Leonardo Moncini and Rodrigo Testa have shown promising pace during the season and will target their first victory of the campaign.
Motopark will also field a second Mercedes-AMG for Marcelo Ramírez and Dominik Baumann, giving the team another opportunity to challenge near the front.
Meanwhile, Ferrari will hold a significant presence in the class. Al Manar by Dragon returns for its second appearance of the season with Al Faisal Al Zubair and Ben Tuck.
AF Corse will enter two cars. Rafael Durán will share one Ferrari with the returning David Perel, while Yaroslav Veselaho will again partner Lorenzo Ferrari.
Rinaldi Racing will also return to International GT Open competition at Paul Ricard. The former regular plans two appearances during the season and will begin that programme with Dylan Medler and Alessandro Balzan in a Ferrari 296 GT3.
Consequently, the Pro field combines championship contenders, factory-supported talent and returning teams capable of influencing the fight at the front.
Fach holds reduced Pro-Am advantage
Pro-Am again provides the largest class, with 13 cars entered for the French event.
Alexander Fach remains at the top of the standings despite enduring a difficult weekend in Hungary. The Swiss driver has won four times in the Fach Auto Tech Porsche and will again share the car with Alexander Schwarzer.
However, Fach’s advantage has fallen to 15 points. Marcin Jedlinski and Karol Basz now lead the pursuit in the Olimp Racing Ferrari after steadily building their championship challenge.
Charlie Bateman sits a further two points behind and will once again partner Jonny Adam in the Blackthorn Aston Martin. Their combination gives Blackthorn an experienced line-up capable of adding to the pressure on Fach.
Libor Milota and Filip Salaquarda complete the leading quartet for ISR Racing. The Audi pairing claimed its first victory of the season at the Hungaroring and now enters Paul Ricard with renewed momentum.
As a result, four different manufacturers occupy the leading championship positions in a class that has produced frequent changes of fortune throughout the season.
French contenders seek home success
Laurent De Meeus and Vincent Abril will carry strong momentum into Paul Ricard after winning in Hungary for AF Corse.
Abril’s French background will give the Ferrari crew additional local interest, while AF Corse will also enter a second 296 GT3 under the Norik Racing banner for Norikazu Shibata and Charlie Fagg.
Into Africa Racing by Dragon completes the Ferrari representation with Xolile Letlaka and Stuart White.
Meanwhile, Saintéloc Racing will contest its home event with Michaël Blanchemain and Jim Pla. The Audi crew has produced a consistent run of competitive results and will aim to continue that form in front of the French team’s supporters.
McLaren will feature through two regular entries. The Kell family will continue with Track Focused, while Andrey Borodin and Ollie Webb represent Greystone GT.
Dexter Müller and Yannick Mettler will again challenge near the front in the CBRX by SPS Mercedes-AMG.
BMW will also double its presence at Paul Ricard. Hubert Demetko and Fabian Dybionka continue with 4F PTT Racing Team, while Pedersen Racing returns for its second appearance of the season with Lars Pedersen and Mikkel Pedersen.
The class therefore features a wide variety of manufacturers and experienced driver combinations, increasing the likelihood of another unpredictable contest.
Five points separate leading Am contenders
The Am championship arrives at Paul Ricard with the three leading entries separated by only five points.
Adrian Lewandowski regained the standings lead at the Hungaroring in the Baron Motorsport Ferrari. His father, Andrzej Lewandowski, missed the Hungarian event but will return to share the car in France.
The Polish pairing currently holds the advantage over Joel Monegro, who has already claimed two victories in the Fach Auto Tech Porsche.
Marcelo Hahn and Alline Cipriani’s regular campaign has also placed the AF Corse Ferrari firmly in contention. Hahn and Galid Osman, entered together for Paul Ricard, sit only five points from the championship lead after recording two wins.
Therefore, no member of the leading trio can afford a difficult weekend as the campaign moves into its second half.
Polish teams strengthen Am field
GoodSpeed and Olimp Racing will lead the opposition to the three championship front-runners.
Piotr Wira and Tomasz Magdziarz have already secured one victory with the GoodSpeed Aston Martin and will look to add another strong result in France.
Olimp Racing will field an all-Polish Ferrari line-up for Stanislaw Jedlinski and Krystian Korzeniowski. They also hold one class win and remain capable of moving closer to the championship leaders.
Two solo drivers complete the seven-car Am entry.
Alfredo Hernández will represent Grupo Prom RT in a Mercedes-AMG, while Seweryn Mazur will drive the Sendom Racing Team Lamborghini.
With several proven race winners and only small points gaps at the top, the Am category could produce some of the weekend’s most consequential results.
Paul Ricard opens decisive second half of 2026 International GT Open
The International GT Open reaches Paul Ricard with close battles across every category and no clear favourite for the second half of the season.
Elite Motorsport holds the Pro advantage, but Motopark, Greystone GT and ZRS Motorsport remain within striking distance. Fach leads Pro-Am, although Olimp Racing, Blackthorn and ISR Racing continue to reduce the margin.
Meanwhile, only five points cover the leading three Am contenders.
The circuit’s demanding layout, warm conditions and contrasting driver combinations should test every team’s preparation. Moreover, the large 30-car field will place additional importance on traffic management and pit-stop execution.
Paul Ricard may carry the atmosphere of a summer celebration, but the championship contenders will approach the weekend with much more at stake than a final event before the break.
