• Record grid set to tackle Sprint Cup doubleheader in France
• Fan activities include pit walks, simulators, camping, and more
• Full line-up of on-track action includes FFSA French GT, TC and F4 Championships
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A record 45-car Sprint Cup field will descend on Magny-Cours this weekend (31 July–2 August) for the sixth event on the GT World Challenge powered by AWS schedule.
The French round promises action from start to finish as the FFSA French GT, TC and F4 Championships share headline billing with GT World Challenge. A further two support series, Porsche Carrera Cup France and MitJet Trophy France, will bring the total to 17 races, while the opening Sprint Cup contest takes place under the lights from 21:05 on Saturday evening.
Magny-Cours will also feature the familiar catalogue of fan activities, from pit walks and autograph sessions to simulators, camping and a new nocturnal garden party. All told, it promises to be a spectacular start to the summer holiday season.
The trip to Magny-Cours comes just two weeks after the previous Sprint Cup outing at Misano, which saw Team WRT sweep both race victories with its #32 BMW. Charles Weerts and Kelvin van der Linde are now hot favourites to retain their drivers' title and will look to solidify that status at Magny-Cours.
The main opposition is likely to come from a pair of Mercedes-AMG teams – Verstappen Racing and Winward Racing – as well as the CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa winner Lionspeed GP with its Porsche, and Ferrari squad AF Corse. The latter should be especially popular with its line-up comprising Frenchman Thomas Neubauer and Monegasque racer Arthur Leclerc.
There are plenty more French contenders to cheer for. CSA Racing has Arthur Rougier, Simon Gachet and Romain Andriolo spread across two cars, while Dorian Boccolacci is a contender for overall victory in his Boutsen VDS Porsche and Aurélien Panis (GetSpeed Mercedes-AMG) is always strong in the Silver Cup.
There’s young French talent such as SRO GT Academy winner Gaspard Simon, who shares his Walkenhorst Motorsport Aston Martin with fellow countryman Maxime Robin, as well as Arthur Dorison (Comtoyou Racing Aston Martin) and Loris Cabirou (Dinamic GT Porsche). There’s also an additional French entry for Magny-Cours as Saintéloc Racing fields its Audi for Jim Pla and Michael Blanchemain.
Click here to view the full entry list
Visit a GT World Challenge event and the first thing you’ll notice is how much there is to see and do. There will be four pit walks at Magny-Cours, allowing you to take a stroll down the pit lane and see the teams at work. They take place during the lunch break on Friday (from 12:15), Saturday (from 13:00) and Sunday (from 13:50), while a special nighttime pit walk and track walk will be organised on Saturday after the opening race (from 22:10).
Speaking of the night, there’s a new addition for 2026 with a Garden Party on Saturday evening. Taking place on the infield at the final corner between 20:30 and 23:30, this includes a DJ, an open bar serving beer and soft drinks, and a fire pit. This is a supplementary ticket available for €80 and offers the very best seats in the house.
There will also be a DJ set during the pit walk, fireworks shortly before the end of Saturday’s race, giant screens on which to watch the action, food and drinks stalls, and a photobooth in which to grab a souvenir snap. Fans can also attend the podium ceremony, which takes place in the paddock, bringing the public closer than ever to this moment of celebration.
Aspiring racers can try their hand at an E-MOTION simulator – and perhaps return to Magny-Cours next year in a real GT car. Open to those aged 16 and over, THE GRID On Tour is a virtual contest from which one winner will earn the chance to race in the 2027 FFSA French GT Championship. Head to the fan zone and give it a try.
You may also wish to visit the circuit museum, the Conservatoire de la Monoplace Française, which is open all weekend from 10:00–17:00 and costs 10€ to enter. This impressive 1,400 square metre space is dedicated to French single-seater machinery, with close to 50 cars on display. The Magny-Cours kart circuit and mini-golf course will also be open during the event.
Click here to watch the 2025 Magny-Cours postcard
When it comes to track action, Magny-Cours is among the busiest weekends of the entire season. GT World Challenge shares headline status with three other series – the FFSA French GT, TC and F4 Championships – all of which are highly competitive. Keep an eye on the FFSA GT race, because one of its young drivers will follow in Gaspard Simon’s footsteps by winning this year’s SRO GT Academy.
And that’s not all: Porsche Carrera Cup France and MitJet Trophy France are also part of this packed line-up. Indeed, there will be 17 races totalling almost 10 hours of action from Saturday morning until Sunday evening, and a remarkable 20 hours of track time across the full event. With GTs, touring cars and single-seaters competing, there’s plenty of variety.
Click here to view the full timetable
Tickets start at 10€ and a full weekend pass covering Friday, Saturday and Sunday costs just 25€ per adult. Attendees aged 16 and under can take advantage of a reduced rate, while under 10s go free with a paying adult. Further supplementary tickets are also available, such as the garden party and track tours during sessions.
Another of the special aspects of Magny-Cours is that the venue includes a campsite, which is fully equipped with water and electricity points. While the internal sites have sold out, spaces are still available at the Parking EST site and cost just 10€ per vehicle for the full weekend.
Click here for the full range of tickets
If you can’t make it to the track, GT World Challenge races are streamed live around the world on the GT World YouTube channel. This is entirely free, allowing fans to experience every second of the action no matter where they are. Live coverage from Magny-Cours begins on Saturday afternoon with Qualifying 1 at 14:55 and continues for Race 1 (21:05). Sunday is live too, with Qualifying 2 at 10:50 and Race 2 at 15:30. FFSA GT and FFSA Tourisme will also air live on GT World.