GT4 European Series

Sports car championship
GT4 European Series
GT4 European Series logo
CategorySports car racing
RegionEurope
Inaugural season2007
ClassesSilver • Pro-Am • Am
ManufacturersAston Martin • Audi • BMW • Ford • Ginetta • Lotus • McLaren • Mercedes-AMG • Porsche • Toyota
Tyre suppliersPirelli
Current championsFrance Robert Consani
France Benjamin Lariche
Teams' championFrance Team Speedcar
Official websitewww.gt4europeanseries.com
Current season

The GT4 European Series is a sports car championship featuring production-based GT4 vehicles, organised by the SRO Motorsports Group. It is a Pro/Am series and serves as a primary support series for the GT World Challenge Europe.

History

The GT4 European Series, organized by SRO Motorsports Group, is a sports car championship launched in 2007 as an affordable, amateur-oriented alternative to GT3 racing.[1] Since its inception, it has undergone several format changes and rebrandings, and now serves as a prominent support series for the GT World Challenge Europe.

Founded by the Stéphane Ratel Organisation (SRO), the GT4 category debuted with the GT4 European Cup in 2007, aiming to create a competitive platform for true amateur drivers. The series features production-based GT cars with tightly regulated specifications, managed through a Balance of Performance (BoP) system to control costs and ensure parity.

Between 2008 and 2013, the GT4 class was incorporated into various national championships, including the British GT Championship. In 2013, after an expansion effort, the original GT4 European Cup evolved into the GT4 European Trophy, integrating several rounds from existing European series. The following year, the Trophy merged with the Dutch GT4 Championship, resulting in the current GT4 European Series.

Growing interest prompted SRO to split the series into the GT4 European Series Northern Cup and Southern Cup in 2017, the latter aligned with the FFSA GT Championship. This period also saw the introduction of the Silver Cup, Pro-Am, and Am classes to better categorize competitors. By 2018, the Northern Cup was consolidated back into a single GT4 European Series, while the Southern Cup continued as FFSA GT – GT4 France.[2]

Since 2019, the GT4 European Series has seen significant growth in grid sizes and manufacturer involvement, running alongside the GT World Challenge Europe events. It has become a key development path for aspiring GT3 drivers. From the 2025 season, the series is officially named the GT4 European Series powered by RAFA Racing Club. The championship continues to focus on amateur (Bronze) and semi-professional (Silver) participants, with strict entry criteria. Cars, such as the BMW M4 GT4, Ford Mustang GT4, and Audi R8 LMS GT4, are production-based and subject to a rigorous Balance of Performance process to maintain fair competition. Race weekends typically include two one-hour races, often as support events for major fixtures like the CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa.[3][4][5]

Format

The GT4 European Series features two 60-minute sprint races per event, each requiring a mandatory mid-race driver change and a regulated pit stop. The championship spans six race weekends annually, mainly supporting the GT World Challenge Europe.[6]

Each weekend includes two qualifying sessions—Q1 and Q2—to set the grids for Races 1 and 2. Driver 1 competes in Q1 and starts Race 1, while Driver 2 takes part in Q2 and begins Race 2. Races are typically held on separate days, with a compulsory pit stop in each race for a driver swap within a designated time window. Pit stop durations are strictly controlled (for example, 98 seconds pit-in to pit-out), with penalties for non-compliance to maintain competitive balance. All races use a rolling start format.

Organized by SRO Motorsport Group, the series is a pro/am championship for emerging talent and amateur racers. Competition is divided into three main categories: Silver Cup (both drivers classified as 'Silver' by the FIA, usually young professionals or semi-pros), Pro-Am Cup (pairings of a higher-graded driver—Gold or Silver—with a lower-graded Bronze driver), and Am Cup (exclusively for Bronze-graded amateurs).[7]

To ensure fair racing among the diverse range of eligible GT4 cars—including those from Audi, BMW, Ford, McLaren, Mercedes-AMG, Porsche, and Toyota—the SRO enforces a Balance of Performance (BoP) system that regulates speed and technical parameters across manufacturers.[8][9]

Champions

Drivers

Year GT4 Light Supersport
2007 Belgium Eric De Doncker Not awarded Not awarded
2008 Belgium Eric De Doncker Germany Christopher Haase
2009 United Kingdom Joe Osborne Not awarded Austria Augustin Eder
2010 Netherlands Paul Meijer Italy Gianni Giudici
2011 Netherlands Ricardo van der Ende Italy Gianni Giudici
Year Silver Cup Pro Am
2013 Not awarded Netherlands Ricardo van der Ende Germany Jörg Viehbahn
2014 Netherlands Bernhard van Oranje
Netherlands Ricardo van der Ende
France André Grammatico
2015 Netherlands Jelle Beelen
Netherlands Marcel Nooren
Austria Daniel Uckermann
2016 Germany Peter Terting
Germany Jörg Viebahn
France Jérôme Demay
Year Silver Cup Pro-Am Cup Am Cup
2017 Netherlands Ricardo van der Ende
Netherlands Max Koebolt
Netherlands Luc Braams
Netherlands Duncan Huisman
Italy Giuseppe Ghezzi
2018 Netherlands Milan Dontje
Denmark Nicolaj Møller Madsen
Germany Markus Lungstrass Switzerland Niki Leutwiler
2019 Netherlands Simon Knap
United States Alec Udell
Norway Marcus Påverud
Germany Luca Trefz
Switzerland Pascal Bachmann
Luxembourg Clément Seyler
2020 France Valentin Hasse-Clot
France Théo Nouet
Denmark Bastian Buus
Germany Jan Kasperlik
France Nicolas Gomar
France Gilles Vannelet
2021 United Kingdom Charlie Fagg
United Kingdom Bailey Voisin
France Grégory Guilvert
France Fabien Michal
France Michael Blanchemain
France Christophe Hamon
2022 Israel Roee Meyuhas
France Erwan Bastard
France Jean-Luc Beaubelique
France Jim Pla
Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile Mikhail Loboda
Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile Andrey Solukvtsev
2023 Germany Michael Schrey
Italy Gabriele Piana
France Grégory Guilvert
France Christophe Hamon
France Alban Varutti
2024 United Kingdom Tom Lebbon
United Kingdom Josh Rattican
Germany Max Kronberg
Germany Finn Zulauf
France Pascal Huteau
France Laurent Hurgon
2025 France Robert Consani
France Benjamin Lariche
Stanislav Safronov
Aleksandr Vaintrub
Germany Daniel Blickle
Germany Max Kronberg

Teams

Year Overall
2007 Not awarded
2008 Belgium Motorsport98
2009 United Kingdom RJN Motorsport
2010 Netherlands Rhesus Racing
2011 Netherlands Ekris BMW/Racing Team Holland by Ekris Motorsport
2013 Netherlands Ekris Motorsport
2014 Netherlands Racing Team Holland by Ekris Motorsport
2015 Netherlands V8 Racing
2016 Germany PROsport Performance
Year Silver Cup Pro-Am Cup Am Cup
2017 Netherlands Ekris Motorsport Netherlands Las Moras Racing Italy Autorlando Sport
2018 Germany Phoenix Racing Germany Racing One France TFT Racing
2019 Netherlands MDM Motorsport Germany Leipert Motorsport [de] Belgium Street Art Racing
Year Overall
2018 Germany Racing One
2019 Germany Leipert Motorsport [de]
2020 France AGS Events
Year Silver Cup Pro-Am Cup Am Cup
2021 United Kingdom United Autosports France Saintéloc Racing France Team Fullmotorsport
2022 France Saintéloc Racing France AKKodis ASP Team France AKKodis ASP Team
2023 Switzerland Hofor Racing by Bonk Motorsport France Saintéloc Junior Team France AVR-Avvatar
2024 United Kingdom Elite Motorsport with Entire RE Germany W&S Motorsport France Schumacher CLRT
2025 France Team Speedcar Spain Mirage Racing Germany W&S Motorsport

Circuits

  • Bold denotes a circuit will be used in the 2026 season.
Circuit Location Country Last length used Turns Season(s) Races held
Adria International Raceway Veneto Italy Italy 2.702 km (1.679 mi) 17 2009 1
Algarve International Circuit Portimão Portugal Portugal 4.653 km (2.891 mi) 15 20092010, 2026 3
Anderstorp Raceway Anderstorp Sweden Sweden 4.025 km (2.501 mi) 8 2013 1
Brands Hatch Kent United Kingdom United Kingdom 3.916 km (2.433 mi) 9 20172019 3
Brno Circuit Brno Czech Republic Czech Republic 5.403 km (3.357 mi) 14 2008 1
Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya Montmeló Spain Spain 4.657 km (2.894 mi) 14 20212023, 2025 4
Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours Magny-Cours France France 4.411 km (2.741 mi) 17 2007, 2010 2
Circuit de Pau-Ville Pau France France 2.760 km (1.715 mi) 15 2016 1
Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps Stavelot Belgium Belgium 7.004 km (4.352 mi) 19 2007–2011, 20132016, 2018, 2020–2026 17
Circuit Paul Armagnac Nogaro France France 3.636 km (2.259 mi) 14 2007–2008, 2015 3
Circuit Paul Ricard Le Castellet France France 5.842 km (3.630 mi) 15 2010, 2014, 2019–2026 10
Circuit Ricardo Tormo Valencia Spain Spain 4.005 km (2.489 mi) 14 20222023 2
Circuit Zandvoort Zandvoort Netherlands Netherlands 4.259 km (2.646 mi) 14 2011, 20132017, 20192021, 2025—2026 11
Circuit Zolder Heusden-Zolder Belgium Belgium 4.010 km (2.492 mi) 10 2009, 2011, 2018 3
Hockenheimring Hockenheim Germany Germany 4.574 km (2.842 mi) 17 20222024 3
Hungaroring Mogyoród Hungary Hungary 4.381 km (2.722 mi) 14 2016, 2018 2
Imola Circuit Emilia-Romagna Italy Italy 4.909 km (3.050 mi) 19 2020, 2022 2
Jeddah Corniche Circuit Jeddah Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia 6.174 km (3.836 mi) 27 2024 1
Misano World Circuit Misano Adriatico' Italy Italy 4.226 km (2.626 mi) 16 20142015, 20172020, 2022–2026 11
Monza Circuit Monza Italy Italy 5.793 km (3.600 mi) 11 2008, 2014, 2016, 2019, 2021, 20232024, 2026 8
Motorsport Arena Oschersleben Oschersleben Germany Germany 3.696 km (2.297 mi) 15 2007–2009 3
Nürburgring Nürburg Germany Germany 5.148 km (3.199 mi) 15 2010, 20142015, 20172021, 2025 9
Red Bull Ring Spielberg Austria Austria 4.326 km (2.688 mi) 10 2015, 2017 2
Silverstone Circuit Silverstone United Kingdom United Kingdom 5.891 km (3.660 mi) 18 2007–2011, 2013, 2016 7
Slovakia Ring Orechová Potôň Slovakia Slovakia 5.922 km (3.680 mi) 14 2017 1
TT Circuit Assen Assen Netherlands Netherlands 4.555 km (2.830 mi) 18 2011, 2013 2

References

  1. ^ "GT4 In Project Motor Racing: The global Gateway To GT Racing". Project Motor Racing Official. 2025-06-30. Retrieved 2025-12-13.
  2. ^ "GT4 European Series Splits; Extended Schedule for 2017 – Sportscar365". 2016-07-29. Retrieved 2025-12-13.
  3. ^ "GT4 European Series powered by RAFA Racing Club, SRO Motorsports Group". SRO Motorsports Group. Retrieved 2025-12-13.
  4. ^ "GT4 European Series set for annual highlight at the CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa | CrowdStrike 24 hours of Spa". GT4 European Series set for annual highlight at the CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa | CrowdStrike 24 hours of Spa. 2025-06-12. Retrieved 2025-12-13.
  5. ^ "GT4 Manufacturer Ranking". GT4 Manufacturer Ranking. 2025-12-05. Retrieved 2025-12-13.
  6. ^ "New South European GT4 Series Launched – Sportscar365". 2018-12-12. Retrieved 2025-12-13.
  7. ^ "GT4 In Project Motor Racing: The global Gateway To GT Racing". Project Motor Racing Official. 2025-06-30. Retrieved 2025-12-13.
  8. ^ "Cars 2025". GT4 European Series. Retrieved 2025-12-13.
  9. ^ Autosports, United. "GT4 European Series". United Autosports. Retrieved 2025-12-13.
  • Official website
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