GT World Challenge powered by AWS heads to Magny-Cours on 1–3 August for one of its busiest events of the season. Europe’s most competitive GT series will share headline status with the FFSA French GT Championship and FFSA French Touring Car Championship, while there’s even more on-track action in store thanks to the FFSA F4, Alpine Elf Cup Series and Clio Cup Series.
The event will also feature a range of fan activations, including pit and track walks, activities for kids, food and drinks stalls, a full-service restaurant and fireworks. Fans can even attend the podium ceremonies in the paddock, and there is a good chance that they will see a French driver spraying champagne after the weekend’s two 60-minute races (starting at 20:45 on Saturday and at 15:15 on Sunday).
Ahead of Magny-Cours, the best-placed French driver in the Sprint Cup standings is Thomas Neubauer, who drives the #50 AF Corse – Francorchamps Motors Ferrari. The Parisian exploded on to the scene as a teenager, winning on debut at Brands Hatch in 2019. This marked him out as a special talent, though it took a further four years of work to earn his stripes as a factory driver.
After building his experience with Mercedes-AMG, Lexus, Audi and BMW machinery, his big chance came with Ferrari in 2024. He competed in Endurance last term and is now contesting the Sprint Cup alongside series newcomer Arthur Leclerc. They are coming off the back of a disappointing weekend at Misano and will be keen to make a strong return at Magny-Cours.
Leclerc should also be very popular among French fans. The Monegasque rose up the single-seater ranks, reaching FIA Formula 2 before switching his attention to sportscar racing in 2024. He won the Italian GT Endurance Championship, after which the natural next step was GT World Challenge. He has shown real promise, notably finishing fourth overall in his first attempt at the CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa.
There is another Monegasque on the opposite side of the garage. Born in France, the vastly experienced Vincent Abril has usually competed with the flag of Monaco on his overalls. Sharing the #51 AF Corse entry with Alessio Rovera, he won the opening Brands Hatch round and scored a pair of strong results last time out at Misano, helping to keep the pair in the title fight.
Simon Gachet and Jim Pla form an all-French line-up in the #111 CSA Racing McLaren. The season has not gone to plan, with no points on the board after six races, though they were on the cusp of the top 10 at Misano. Gachet won the Silver Cup title in Sprint in 2020, scoring an impressive overall victory at Magny-Cours along the way. This helped him to earn a factory Audi deal in 2023 and he's now an official McLaren driver.
Pla made his GT World Challenge debut in 2019 and became a regular in Mercedes-AMG machinery, often driving for Akkodis ASP. He also found success in the GT4 European Series, winning the Pro-Am title alongside his frequent teammate Jean-Luc Beaubelique in 2022. Last year he switched to Audi squad Saintéloc Racing and won the Gold Cup Endurance title.
The other French interest among the Pro crews comes from Romain Andriolo. Still a few weeks shy of his 19th birthday, Andriolo is the youngest member of the French contingent and is new to GT racing this year. It's been a tough learning experience – his HRT squad is also adapting to the Ford Mustang GT3 – but Andriolo is completing his education at the highest possible level.
There are also a number of Frenchmen vying for class wins at Magny-Cours. Among them is Paul Evrard, who takes the wheel of the #25 Saintéloc Racing Audi in the Gold Cup. He was class champion in Endurance last term (part of the same crew as fellow countryman Pla) and also won the combined title. Paired with Belgian ace Gilles Magnus, he forms a competitive duo and bagged a first win of the season at Zandvoort.
In the Silver Cup, Aurélien Panis and César Gazeau form an all-French duo aboard the #10 Boutsen VDS Mercedes-AMG. This is a firmly established line-up and should be a serious contender for class wins at Magny-Cours. They are well balanced in terms of pace: Panis is the more experienced, though Gazeau has quickly established himself as a skilled GT driver. Indeed, they will be disappointed if they leave Magny-Cours without a win.
Finally, Arthur Rougier is the professional driver in CSA Racing’s Bronze Cup line-up, sharing with Isaac Tutumlu López. The 25-year-old from Limoges won the French F4 title in 2017 and has been a GT World Challenge regular since 2020. He first linked up with CSA Racing in 2023 and has remained with the team for its switch to McLaren, while also joining the British marque’s list of factory drivers.
This event will provide plenty of extra activities for fans. There will be five pit walks during the weekend, allowing fans to take a stroll down the pit lane and see the teams at work. The first (at midday on Friday) will be an opportunity to watch the mechanics undertake pit stop practice, while the second takes place that night (from 21:50 to 22:50) after track action is complete. Two more pit walks will be organised during the lunch breaks on Saturday (from 12:40, with an autograph session) and on Sunday (from 13:30). Finally, a night pit walk will take place on Saturday after the first GT World Challenge race (from 22:00).
Want to get closer to the action and cheer on your favourite driver at Magny-Cours? A weekend ticket costs just 25€ for adults and 10€ for 10–17-year-olds. This includes access to the paddock and grandstands, no fewer than 15 races, plus a chance to experience the behind-the-scenes atmosphere and take part in the pit walks. You can also choose to attend Sunday only and enjoy seven races – including GT World Challenge, FFSA GT and FFSA TC – for just 15€. This price includes access to the paddock and grandstands.