The 2026 Michelin 24H Series European season is almost here, and the driver line-ups for the opening round, the Michelin 12H Mugello, are now finalised. A competitive grid of 30 cars will battle it out at the iconic Mugello Circuit in Tuscany, Italy, where teams representing some of the biggest names in motorsport are ready to kick off the season in style. With a mix of returning champions, newcomers, and household names, the event promises to be one of the most exciting of the year.
Proton Competition leads the GT3 field at 12H Mugello in 2026 24H Series European opener
Reigning European Series Team Champions Proton Competition will field a star-studded line-up in their Porsche 911 GT3 R (992) EVO. The team will be represented by 2025 European Series Drivers’ Champions Manuel Lauck and Jörg Dreisow, joined by Constantin Dressler and Dennis Marschall. This team has proven their prowess in previous seasons, and they will be among the favourites for the GT3 class victory.
Herberth Motorsport, another Porsche powerhouse, is bringing two cars to Mugello. The No.269 entry will see Max Moritz, Vincent Kolb, and Robert Renauer at the wheel, while the No.91 entry will feature Ralf Bohn, Rolf Ineichen, and Alfred Renauer. The team has been a consistent performer, and their lineup is sure to be a strong contender for the podium.
A strong challenge from Audi and Ferrari; Mercedes-AMG teams make strong showing
The Audi R8 LMS GT3 EVO II will also be well-represented at Mugello. Continental Racing by Simpson Motorsport, who finished on the GT3-AM podium last year, will field Vasily Vladykin in the No.27 entry. The ever-competitive HAAS RT squad will feature the father-and-son duo of Peter and Nicolas Guelinckx in their Audi. Sainteloc Junior Team will enter with an impressive five-driver line-up, including Pierre Kaffer, Michael Doppelmayr, Elia Erhart, Ernst Inderbitzin, and Stéphane Tribaudini.
In the Ferrari camp, Era Motorsport, which made a strong impression last season with podium finishes in both the overall and GT3 PRO-AM class, will field a familiar quartet. Dwight Merriman, Oliver Bryant, Ryan Dalziel, and Jake Hill will race the No.81 Ferrari 296 GT3, continuing their successful partnership.
Meanwhile, Mercedes-AMG teams will be in full force at Mugello. Italy’s MP Racing will field its Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO, with siblings David, Corinna, and Manuela Gostner alongside their father Thomas. HOFOR Racing, another family-oriented team, will compete with Alexander and Chantal Prinz, joined by Chantal’s father Michael Kroll, Maximilian Partl, and Torsten Kratz in their Mercedes-AMG.
Viper Niza Racing, one of the perennial contenders in the Michelin 24H Series, will field a familiar trio of drivers—Douglas Khoo, Melvin Moh, and Dominic Ang—in their No.65 Mercedes-AMG. Ajith RedAnt Racing will bring an exciting mix to the grid, with world-famous Tamil actor Ajith Kumar alongside Kobe de Breucker and brothers Ayrton and Yannick Redant.
Getspeed will field two Mercedes-AMGs. The No.28 car, running under the Getspeed Team PCX Racing banner, will be piloted by Maro Engel, Benjamin Paque, Jordan Boisson, and Patrick Charlaix. In the sister car, Getspeed Team JR286, Patrick Liddy, Jonathan Hirshberg, Andres Latorre, and Adam Osieka will be racing.
E2P Racing and ARC Bratislava add extra flavour
E2P Racing will return to the 2026 Michelin 24H Series with its Aston Martin AMR GT3 EVO. The driving trio of Oliver Campos, Antonio Sainero, and Pablo Burguera will be at the wheel of the No.97 car. Meanwhile, ARC Bratislava, a team with a strong pedigree, will enter a Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVO, driven by brothers Matej and Adam Konopka, alongside their father Miroslav.
992 Class: A fierce battle among Porsche teams
The 992 class will see fierce competition between top Porsche teams. Red Camel-Jordans.nl, last year’s 992 class winners at Mugello, have confirmed their regular drivers—Ivo Breukers, his sons Rik and Luc Breukers, and Fabian Danz. RPM Racing, who finished second in 992 last season and won the 992-AM class, will field Niclas Jönsson, Tracy Krohn, and Philip Hamprecht.
SebLajoux Racing, third in 992 overall in the 2025 edition, will enter two Porsches. The No.888 car will feature Sebastien Lajoux, Louis Perrot, Stéphane Perrin, and Anthony Vince, while the No.910 entry will have Lionel Amrouche, Rhys Lloyd, and Yannick Mettler behind the wheel. HRT Performance has three entries in the 992 class, including the No.928 car with Steven Gambrell, Jonathan Kearney, and Igor Sorokin.
GTX Class: Maserati and Lotus join the action
In the GTX class, Dinamic Motorsport will bring a Maserati MC20 GT2, driven by Mauro Calamia, Amedeo Pampanini, and Roberto Pampanini. PB Racing will compete with a Lotus Exige V6 Cup R, with Stefano d’Aste confirmed in the driver line-up. Vortex V8 will also return to the grid with its Vortex 2.0 car, driven by Philippe Bonnel and team owners Arnaud and Olivier Gomez.
TCE-TCX Class: Exciting entries from Italy
In the TCE-TCX class, the Ligier JS2 R from Italian team Not Only Motorsport will be raced by Filippo Tornaghi, Gino Rocchio, and Alberto Antonucci. Class stalwarts asBest Racing will field their trusty SEAT Leon Cup Racer, with Pia Ohlsson confirmed in the driver line-up.
Schedule and live coverage
The Michelin 12H Mugello will kick off with two CR Track Days on Wednesday, 18 March, and Thursday, 19 March, followed by free practice and qualifying on Friday, 20 March. The race will begin on Saturday, 21 March, with the first five and a half hours of action starting at 12:10 local time. After a break, the concluding six and a half hours will commence on Sunday, 22 March, at 12:00 local time.
Fans can watch all qualifying and race sessions live on Creventic Motorsports TV on YouTube. Full live timing and event details will be available at www.24hseries.com.
12H Mugello to be a stellar start to the 2026 24H Series European season
With a star-studded line-up across multiple classes, the Michelin 12H Mugello promises to be an exciting season opener for the Michelin 24H Series. Teams representing the best brands in endurance racing, including Porsche, Audi, Mercedes-AMG, Ferrari, and Lamborghini, will provide thrilling action as they compete for victory in the picturesque surroundings of Tuscany. Fans and competitors alike are in for an unforgettable race.
