GT Cup
ABOUT THE GT CUP CHAMPIONSHIP
The GT Cup Championship is a firmly established part of the UK motorsport calendar and continues to grow in both stature and popularity. Founded in 2007 by Marc Haynes, the series has become the premier destination for drivers seeking a competitive yet welcoming environment for GT racing. Built on a philosophy of sportsmanship, professionalism, and accessibility, the GT Cup has earned a reputation as the championship of choice for passionate, sporting drivers.
What sets the GT Cup apart is its genuine driver-focused experience, shaped by real-world racing knowledge and our founder’s core values. We offer unrivalled access to the UK’s most prestigious race circuits, first-class hospitality, and a friendly paddock atmosphere—all at an exceptional price point. The championship promotes a relaxed yet professional environment where drivers, teams, families, and supporters are all part of a supportive motorsport community.
With a reputation for clean, hard-fought racing, the GT Cup is proud to uphold high standards of driving behaviour and respect on track. These values have attracted support from leading manufacturers and have seen a growing number of teams utilise the series for professional driver development. It is now one of the most diverse GT grids in the UK, featuring an exciting array of machinery spanning multiple generations of GT race cars.
FORMAT
The 2026 GT Cup Championship continues to deliver exceptional value with a compelling mix of sprint and endurance-style racing, giving drivers and teams the opportunity to develop strategy, consistency, and pace across different race formats.
Each event typically includes a 15-minute warm-up followed by a 30-minute qualifying session (run as two back-to-back 15-minute split sessions for each half of the grid). These are followed by a 25-minute Sprint Race and a 50-minute Pit Stop Race—offering a balanced and competitive race day for solo drivers and two-driver teams alike.
Format Changes for 2026
To keep the series dynamic and engaging, we’re introducing exciting updates to the race format at select events:
Traditional Format (4 Events)
Standard structure of:
Saturday – 1 x 25-minute Sprint Race
Sunday – 1 x 50-minute Pit Stop Race
(This format is repeated on both days)
Revised Format (2 Events)
At Donington Park (April) and Silverstone GP (August), the schedule will feature an enhanced endurance focus:
Saturday – 1 x 50 Minute Pit-Stop Race
Sunday – 1 x 100-minute Endurance Race (including mid-race refuelling using approved dump churns)
These changes are designed to add variety, challenge strategy, and provide a true test for both amateur and professional drivers in longer-distance conditions.
DRIVERS
The GT Cup Championship welcomes a broad mix of competitors, from first-season drivers to highly experienced professionals. For 2026, all drivers are placed into one of the championship’s updated driver categories to ensure balanced, fair and enjoyable racing throughout the grid.
The championship remains centred around the Sporting driver, with professionals and coaches able to join as part of two-driver entries. The updated structure ensures every competitor is placed appropriately based on their experience and performance, with simple performance-balancing measures applied where required.
Whether racing solo or as part of a pairing, drivers enjoy a relaxed, friendly and highly professional paddock environment — a hallmark of the GT Cup experience. The championship continues to offer a welcoming route into GT racing while also supporting driver development at every level.
The minimum licence requirement is an Interclub licence, making the championship accessible while maintaining high standards. Former GT Cup competitors have progressed to British GT, GT World Challenge (formerly Blancpain), and the FIA World Endurance Championship, demonstrating the value and pedigree of the GT Cup platform.
CARS & GROUP STRUCTURE
The GT Cup grid is split into six performance-based Groups:
GTO – Open-specification GTs, including modified challenge cars, GT2/GTE models, and low-volume production vehicles.
GT3 – FIA-homologated GT3 cars built to original manufacturer specifications.
GTC – Current and recent manufacturer Challenge/Cup cars (up to 5 years after final official championship appearance).
GTB – Older generation Cup/Challenge cars and modified GT-based saloon cars (over 5 years since final official use).
GTH – For cars built to current GT4 manufacturer homologation for the specific make and model entered.
GTA – Lower-specification Cup, Challenge, and one-make GT cars as defined by the organisers.
All vehicles must comply with Group-specific power-to-weight ratios and are subject to a Balance of Performance (BoP) adjustment issued ahead of each event to ensure fair and competitive racing across the grid.
TYRES
Pirelli continues its long-standing partnership with the GT Cup into its Seventeen consecutive season, supplying both slick and wet weather tyres to suit the full spectrum of GT machinery on the grid. Tyres may be pre-heated, with a limit of three slick sets per car per weekend to help manage costs.
POINTS & AWARDS
The GT Cup’s group-based points system means any driver, regardless of class, has a shot at the overall championship title. Each group also has its own fiercely contested honours, ensuring competitive action throughout the field.
Race winners receive podium presentations, Pirelli winner’s caps, and bottles of bubbly. End-of-day awards are presented in our hospitality centre, where drivers and teams gather to celebrate, network, and unwind. Recognition is also given to Driver of the Day and Team of the Weekend.
The season culminates in the GT Cup Championship Awards Night at the Royal Automobile Club in London. A highlight of the calendar. The evening features a celebration of the season’s standout performances. Alongside championship trophies, special awards are presented, including:
Sprint Challenge Cup – for the top-performing amateur driver in Sprint Races.
Sparkie’s Cup – named in honour of founder Marc Haynes, recognising a driver or team who embodies the true spirit of the GT Cup.
JOIN THE GRID
Whether you're an aspiring amateur or a seasoned racer, the GT Cup offers one of the most competitive, supportive, and enjoyable GT racing experiences in the UK.
To avoid disappointment, we recommend registering your interest early.
