Sportscar & Endurance News
Monday, April 13, 2026 · Samwise Agency
Next Race: 6 Hours of Imola — April 17–19, 2026Professional Series — WEC & IMSA
WEC 2026 Season Rescheduled — Qatar Postponed, Imola Opens the Year
The FIA WEC 2026 season has been reshuffled after the Qatar 1812km was postponed due to conflict in the Middle East, with the 6 Hours of Imola (April 17-19) now serving as the season opener. The change gives teams additional preparation time as 17 Hypercar entries from eight manufacturers — including new arrivals Genesis and a returning Alpine — prepare to take the green flag in Italy. The WEC Prologue test runs at Imola on April 14, just days before the race.
Sources: Motorsport.com, Autosport, FIA WEC
Toyota Retains All Six Hypercar Drivers for 2026 WEC Season
Toyota Gazoo Racing carries forward an unchanged driver lineup for 2026, with the #7 GR010 Hybrid piloted by Mike Conway, Kamui Kobayashi, and Nyck de Vries, while the #8 car continues with Sebastien Buemi, Brendon Hartley, and Ryo Hirakawa. The continuity reflects Toyota’s confidence in its squad as they look to reclaim championship honours against the most diverse Hypercar field in series history. All six drivers are proven Le Mans winners.
Sources: Motorsport.com, Toyota Gazoo Racing
Porsche Penske Wins Sebring 12 Hours GTP Battle
The #7 Porsche 963 of Felipe Nasr, Julien Andlauer, and Laurin Heinrich claimed the 2026 Sebring 12 Hours GTP class win for Porsche Penske Motorsport, fending off a late challenge to record a statement victory at the season’s marquee endurance event. The trio now lead the IMSA GTP drivers’ standings with 380 points each, level at the top of the championship as the series heads into its next rounds.
Sources: Motorsport.com, IMSA
Sebring GT Classes: Manthey Wins GTD Pro, AF Corse Claims GTD in Last-Lap Drama
Thomas Preining took GTD Pro honours in the #911 Manthey Porsche 911 GT3 R, continuing the German squad’s strong form in American GT racing. The GTD category went to a last-lap shoot-out with Antonio Fuoco driving the #21 AF Corse Ferrari to victory by just 0.824 seconds, making a decisive pass in the final moments to secure the class win. Both results set the stage for compelling season-long battles across IMSA’s GT classes.
Sources: Motorsport.com, IMSA
GT Racing — World Challenge & Le Mans
Lance Stroll Makes GT3 Racing Debut in GT World Challenge Europe at Paul Ricard
Aston Martin F1 team co-owner Lance Stroll stepped into the cockpit for the GT World Challenge Europe’s Paul Ricard round, entering the #18 Comtoyou Racing Aston Martin Vantage GT3. The Canadian showed promising pace on occasion before a technical retirement classified the entry 48th overall. The outing underscores Aston Martin’s expanding commitment to GT racing at all levels, from the grassroots to the Hypercar class at Le Mans.
Sources: Motorsport.com, GT World Challenge Europe
2026 Le Mans 24h Entry List: 62 Cars and Eight Hypercar Manufacturers
The ACO has confirmed a 62-car entry list for the 2026 24 Hours of Le Mans, featuring 18 Hypercars from eight manufacturers (Aston Martin, Toyota, Cadillac, BMW, Genesis, Ferrari, Alpine, and Peugeot), 19 LMP2 entries, and 25 LMGT3 cars. The Hypercar class is slightly smaller than 2025 following Porsche’s departure, but the diversity of marques — mixing LMH and LMDh philosophies — promises intense technical and strategic battles at the Circuit de la Sarthe in June.
Sources: Motorsport.com, Autosport, ACO
Semi-Pro & Development Series
Panis Racing Defends ELMS Title with Barcelona Season Opener Victory
Panis Racing wasted no time signalling its title ambitions, kicking off 2026 with victory at the Barcelona ELMS season opener (April 10-12). Oliver Gray, Esteban Masson, and Louis Rousset combined immediately as a new-look lineup, taking a convincing LMP2 class win. The result suggests the reigning champions remain the benchmark in the category heading into the 2026 ELMS campaign.
Sources: Dailysportscar.com
ACO Confirms Next-Generation LMP2 for 2028 Season Debut
The Automobile Club de l’Ouest has officially reaffirmed that the next-generation LMP2 prototype will debut in 2028, providing long-term certainty to teams in ELMS, the Asian Le Mans Series, and the Michelin Le Mans Cup. The timeline gives teams a clear window for vehicle development and investment. The new platform is expected to bring improved performance alongside cost controls, ensuring LMP2 remains a strong pathway to the Hypercar ranks.
Sources: Dailysportscar.com, ACO
Record 45-Car Grid Confirmed for 2026 Michelin Le Mans Cup
The Michelin Le Mans Cup will run its largest-ever field in 2026, with 45 cars headlined by a significant Pro LMP3 class expansion (up from 18 to 24 entries). Among the newcomers is Ajith Redant Racing, with Bollywood star Ajith Kumar partnering former Formula 1 driver Narain Karthikeyan — highlighting the series’ growing international appeal and the health of the wider Le Mans endurance ecosystem.
Sources: Dailysportscar.com
WEC Hypercar — Drivers
Season begins April 17 — 6 Hours of Imola
Standings pending after Round 1
WEC Hypercar — Teams
Standings pending after Round 1
IMSA GTP — Drivers (after Sebring)
1. Julien Andlauer — 380 pts
1. Laurin Heinrich — 380 pts
1. Felipe Nasr — 380 pts
4. Jack Aitken — 340 pts
4. Earl Bamber — 340 pts
4. Frederik Vesti — 340 pts