Audi Sport Asia has confirmed Earl Bamber and Joel Eriksson for its two-car entry in the 2026 FIA GT World Cup, with the pair set to compete at Macau’s Guia Circuit from 19–22 November.
Bamber will make his return to the event for the first time since 2023, switching from Porsche to an Audi R8 LMS GT3 evo II prepared by Absolute Racing. Meanwhile, Eriksson will return with Phantom Global Racing following a competitive 2025 appearance, during which he secured fifth place in the Main Race.
The German manufacturer enters the event targeting its first FIA GT World Cup victory in a decade, having last won with Laurens Vanthoor in 2016. With two experienced international sportscar drivers confirmed, Audi will aim to build on its previous success at Macau and challenge for a fifth GT Cup victory.
Audi confirms two-car entry for 2026 FIA GT World Cup
Audi Sport Asia will return to the Guia Circuit with two R8 LMS GT3 evo II entries, combining the experience of Absolute Racing and Phantom Global Racing in its latest attempt to secure victory.
The manufacturer has selected two FIA Platinum-rated drivers for the event, with Bamber bringing extensive international endurance racing experience and Eriksson returning following an encouraging performance in 2025.
Both teams have previous experience competing at Macau, providing a foundation for Audi’s preparations. Absolute Racing will oversee Bamber’s entry, while Phantom Global Racing will continue its association with Eriksson after running the Swedish driver last year.
The official Audi Sport Asia announcement confirms the manufacturer’s ambitions to secure a fifth Macau GT Cup victory and its second FIA GT World Cup crown.
Although Audi has enjoyed considerable success at the venue, the manufacturer has not won the World Cup since 2016. Its latest two-car entry therefore represents another opportunity to challenge at the front against several leading international GT3 manufacturers.
Bamber makes surprise return to Macau with Audi
Bamber’s inclusion marks an unexpected return to the FIA GT World Cup, with the New Zealander set to compete at Macau for the first time since 2023.
The 36-year-old has previously represented Porsche at the event, making his most recent appearance with D2 Racing Team in a Porsche 911 GT3 R. However, he will switch manufacturers for the 2026 edition, making his debut in the Audi R8 LMS GT3 evo II.
Bamber arrives with extensive experience across international endurance racing, having established himself among the leading drivers in the FIA World Endurance Championship and IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.
His career highlights include two overall victories at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2015 and 2017, alongside the 2017 FIA World Endurance Drivers’ Championship. He also claimed the IMSA GTLM title in 2019 and added further endurance racing success at the Nürburgring 24 Hours in 2023.
Bamber currently competes in Cadillac’s Hypercar programme, representing Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA in the WEC alongside his commitments in North American sportscar racing. His Macau appearance will therefore see him return to GT3 machinery for a standalone event outside his regular prototype racing programme.
Previous Macau podium provides motivation for Bamber
Although Bamber has never won the FIA GT World Cup, he has previously demonstrated his competitiveness at the demanding Guia Circuit.
The New Zealander first competed at Macau in 2013, before the GT Cup received FIA World Cup status. He subsequently returned on several occasions, with his strongest FIA GT World Cup result coming in 2019.
Competing for ROWE Racing in a Porsche 911 GT3 R, Bamber secured third place in the Main Race behind Raffaele Marciello and Laurens Vanthoor. The result followed an equally competitive Qualification Race, in which he finished second behind Marciello.
The 2019 FIA GT World Cup saw Bamber challenge near the front throughout the weekend, although he ultimately missed out on victory as Marciello secured his first title at the event.
Bamber returned in 2023 with D2 Racing Team, finishing ninth after an eventful Main Race that included contact with fellow Porsche driver Kévin Estre.
His 2026 appearance will provide another opportunity to challenge for a first GT World Cup victory. However, the switch to Audi introduces a new element, as Bamber must adapt to different machinery while competing on one of motorsport’s most demanding street circuits.
Eriksson returns following impressive 2025 performance
Eriksson will complete Audi’s two-driver line-up, returning to Macau with Phantom Global Racing for the second consecutive year.
The 28-year-old Swedish driver made his Macau debut in 2019 before returning in 2025, when he competed in the Audi R8 LMS GT3 evo II for the first time at the event.
He quickly established himself among the leading contenders, delivering a competitive qualifying performance during the weekend’s newly introduced Super Pole format. Eriksson secured a place near the front of the field before finishing fourth in the Qualification Race.
His strong pace continued into the Main Race, where he competed among the leading drivers throughout the 16-lap contest.
Although he initially crossed the line in fourth, Eriksson received a ten-second post-race penalty following an incident at Turn 3, dropping him to fifth in the final classification.
Nevertheless, the 2025 FIA GT World Cup result made Eriksson Audi’s highest-finishing driver, demonstrating his ability to challenge established international GT3 competitors.
His return with Phantom Global Racing will provide continuity as he attempts to improve on that performance in 2026. Having already gained experience with the Audi around Macau, the Swedish driver will look to convert his competitive pace into another strong result.
Audi targets first Macau GT World Cup victory since 2016
Audi enters the 2026 event aiming to end a ten-year wait for another FIA GT World Cup victory.
The manufacturer previously enjoyed considerable success at Macau, particularly during the early years of the modern GT Cup. Edoardo Mortara secured three consecutive victories between 2011 and 2013, establishing Audi as one of the event’s leading manufacturers.
However, its most recent victory came in 2016, when Laurens Vanthoor claimed the FIA GT World Cup crown in unusual circumstances.
The Belgian was declared the winner after the race was stopped following an accident in which his Audi R8 LMS overturned. With the event unable to restart, the final classification was determined using the positions from the previous completed laps.
The 2016 victory marked Audi’s fourth Macau GT Cup triumph, adding to Mortara’s earlier successes and giving the manufacturer its first FIA GT World Cup title.
Audi has remained competitive in subsequent editions, with several drivers securing podium finishes. However, the manufacturer has been unable to return to the top step of the podium, making victory a central objective for its 2026 campaign.
Audi Sport Asia confident in Bamber and Eriksson
Audi Sport customer racing Asia Head Alexander Blackie believes the combination of Bamber and Eriksson provides the manufacturer with a competitive opportunity to challenge for victory.
Bamber’s extensive endurance racing achievements and previous Macau performances make him a significant addition to the line-up, while Eriksson’s strong showing in 2025 provides encouragement ahead of his return.
“We believe we have assembled our strongest possible line-up to compete for a fifth GT Cup crown for Audi on the legendary downtown streets of Macau,” Blackie said.
“With multiple 24 Hours of Le Mans winner Earl Bamber, we have a driver who has unfinished business at the Guia Circuit. He can count himself unlucky on a couple of occasions not to have won the event, and he possesses the talent to finally bring it home.
“Meanwhile Joel Eriksson was absolutely superb in the Audi R8 LMS last year and is hungry to build on that showing. We can’t wait to get started at this year’s Macau Grand Prix.”
Blackie’s comments underline Audi’s ambitions for the event, particularly after several seasons without victory. With both drivers bringing previous Macau experience, the manufacturer will aim to challenge near the front throughout the weekend.
Demanding Guia Circuit awaits Audi’s two-car challenge
The FIA GT World Cup presents a distinctive challenge compared with the international endurance racing events regularly contested by Bamber and Eriksson.
The 6.2-kilometre Guia Circuit combines high-speed sections with narrow streets and tight corners, leaving little margin for error. Its layout places considerable emphasis on qualifying performance, particularly because overtaking opportunities are limited throughout much of the lap.
The event will feature a qualifying session followed by a Super Pole shootout for the eight fastest drivers. A 12-lap Qualification Race will then determine the starting order for the 16-lap Main Race.
Consequently, both Audi drivers will need to establish competitive pace early in the weekend while avoiding the incidents that have frequently influenced the outcome at Macau.
Eriksson’s previous experience in the R8 LMS GT3 evo II could provide an advantage, particularly after his competitive qualifying performance in 2025. Meanwhile, Bamber’s experience at the circuit should help him adapt to the Audi despite having previously competed there with Porsche machinery.
Their performances will also depend on effective preparation from Absolute Racing and Phantom Global Racing, with both teams aiming to provide competitive cars for the event.
Audi faces strong competition in bid for fifth Macau victory
Audi’s latest FIA GT World Cup challenge will take place against several established international GT3 manufacturers, many of which have already confirmed competitive driver line-ups.
BMW will field three cars for Raffaele Marciello, Kelvin van der Linde and Augusto Farfus, while Porsche has confirmed a four-car entry featuring Laurin Heinrich, Thomas Preining, Alessio Picariello and Dorian Boccolacci.
Both manufacturers bring previous Macau podium finishers and drivers with recent success across major international GT3 competitions, creating a competitive field for Audi’s returning pair.
Nevertheless, Audi’s history at the event provides encouragement. Its four previous Macau GT Cup victories demonstrate the manufacturer’s potential at the circuit, while Eriksson’s 2025 performance suggests the R8 LMS GT3 evo II remains capable of challenging near the front.
Bamber’s arrival adds further experience to the programme as he attempts to secure the FIA GT World Cup victory that has previously eluded him. Eriksson, meanwhile, will aim to build on his fifth-place finish and establish himself among the podium contenders.
With two experienced drivers and two established racing operations, Audi will target a return to the top step of the podium when the FIA GT World Cup takes place from 19–22 November.
