The British GT Championship has officially launched its 34th season in style, with a packed and vibrant media day at Silverstone providing the first real glimpse of what lies ahead in 2026. Teams, drivers and manufacturers assembled in large numbers for the traditional curtain-raiser, joined this year by an expanded supporting cast. Notably, Ginetta’s domestic championships now fall under the stewardship of SRO Motorsports Group, bringing the GT Academy, GT Championship and the renowned Junior programme into closer alignment with British GT. Their presence significantly bolsters the depth of the paddock, with those series beginning their campaigns alongside media day before racing proper kicks off at Donington Park later this month.
In total, more than 75 cars are represented across the combined categories, underlining the strength of the UK’s national GT and junior racing ladder. When factoring in the already healthy grids expected from GB3 and GB4—each anticipated to feature more than 20 cars apiece—the overall race weekend package continues to offer exceptional value and variety. That strength has not gone unnoticed by fans: all 3,000 media day tickets were reserved well in advance, a notable increase on 2025 and a clear indicator of sustained interest in the championship.
Optimum Motorsport McLaren 720S GT3 Evo (Left) and Beechdean Motorsport Ltd Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3 Evo (Right) | Sam Whitworth
Focusing on British GT itself, the provisional full-season entry list currently stands at 26 cars. GT3 remains the headline category, accounting for 15 of those entries and once again forming the backbone of the fight for outright victories. Its continued popularity reflects a well-balanced mix of amateur drivers, semi-professionals and emerging talent looking to establish themselves on a larger stage.
GT4, meanwhile, shows clear signs of resurgence. After a relatively lean campaign by its own standards last year, the class returns with 11 entries split almost evenly between Pro-Am and Silver pairings. This improved balance, combined with an influx of new teams, suggests that recent adjustments made over the winter have had the desired effect. Newcomers such as Grange Racing with FSR, GBR Stratton, Innovation Racing and WSR Flexifly join the grid, while returning outfits including Fox Motorsport and Toro Verde GT add further depth.
Only a handful of entries remained unconfirmed prior to media day, all of which have now been revealed. Among the most eye-catching is GT4 Endurance Cup champion Ed McDermott’s step up to GT3 machinery, where he partners Luke Garlick in Mahiki’s second McLaren 720S. Toro Verde also finalised its line-ups, combining experience and youth across both its Porsche GT3 entry and Ginetta G56 programme. As ever, the possibility of additional guest entries remains, particularly with the Silverstone 500 traditionally attracting extra interest.
One of the most encouraging developments within GT3 is the strength of the Silver-Am class, which features seven full-season pairings. This not only enhances the competitive landscape but also feeds directly into SRO’s GT Academy initiative. Six drivers—Charles Clark, Hugo Cook, Luke Garlick, Josh Rowledge, Jarrod Waberski and Aaron Walker—are eligible for the programme’s headline prize: a funded entry to the 2027 CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa. Crucially, the scheme is designed to identify standout talent beyond headline results alone, taking into account performance relative to circumstances.
The competitive picture has also shifted slightly at the top. Reigning champions Charles Dawson and Kiern Jewiss have graduated to international competition within SRO’s global ladder, leaving the domestic title race wide open. However, experience remains in abundance. Former champions Andrew Howard and Rob Collard return, both aiming to add a third title to their records, while GT4 champions Marc Warren and Jack Brown also make the step up to GT3. Alongside them is 2015 overall winner Ross Gunn, ensuring that proven pedigree remains firmly embedded within the field.
At the same time, a number of last season’s front-runners are back to build on unfinished business. Hugo Cook, last year’s runner-up, continues alongside Collard at Barwell, while Kevin Tse links up with Ben Green in 2 Seas Motorsport’s lead Mercedes-AMG. Elsewhere, Alex Martin returns to Lamborghini machinery, further strengthening a highly competitive GT3 grid.
GT4’s driver line-up is equally compelling, blending established names with rising prospects. The category’s growth is not just numerical but qualitative, with a healthy mix of Silver and Pro-Am crews creating multiple layers of competition within the same class structure.
One storyline that adds particular intrigue is the presence of Colin Turkington. A multiple champion in the British Touring Car Championship, he now has a rare opportunity to join an exclusive group of drivers to have claimed titles in both disciplines. Should he succeed, he would become only the second driver in more than three decades to achieve that feat, underlining both the scale of the challenge and the significance of his participation. His transition from tin-top dominance to GT competition will be closely watched throughout the season.
Beyond Turkington, crossover appeal adds another dimension. Fellow touring car race winners and experienced GT competitors populate the grid, while factory connections remain strong—particularly through Aston Martin’s presence, which extends into Formula 1 affiliations via development drivers such as Jessica Hawkins. Her participation places her among a small but growing group of women aiming to challenge for overall or class honours in the championship.
There are also compelling personal narratives throughout the field. Several drivers are targeting career milestones, whether that be stepping up from class success to outright contention or building on previous championship campaigns. The diversity of experience—from seasoned professionals to ambitious newcomers—continues to be one of British GT’s defining strengths.
All of this sets the stage for what promises to be an unpredictable and closely fought season. The championship’s eight-round calendar begins in earnest with the traditional three-hour Silverstone 500, a race that often provides an early benchmark for both pace and consistency. With additional entries expected for that event, the opening round could offer an even clearer indication of the competitive order.
For now, though, media day has confirmed one thing above all else: British GT enters 2026 in robust health, with strong grids, engaged fans and a depth of talent that ensures the season ahead will be anything but straightforward.
