GT World Challenge Europe - Round 6

Round 6 of the GT World Challenge Europe takes place at Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli in Italy. This race forms part of the Sprint Cup format, bringing together GT3 cars from various manufacturers for competition on the Italian coast. The Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli hosts two one-hour races during this weekend, with both professional and amateur drivers competing across multiple classes.

Sprint Cup Race Format

The GT World Challenge Europe Sprint Cup format features two separate races. Each race lasts one hour and requires two drivers per car. Teams must complete a mandatory pit stop during each race to change drivers and tires. The format creates fast-paced racing with qualifying sessions determining the grid positions for both races.

Saturday evening features a night race under the circuit's lighting system. The second race takes place during daylight hours. This combination tests teams and drivers under different conditions and adds variety to the weekend's competition.

Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli Details

Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli sits in Misano Adriatico in the Province of Rimini. The circuit opened in August 1972 and received major redesigns in 1993 and again between 2006 and 2007. The track was renamed in 2011 to honor Marco Simoncelli, a local MotoGP rider.

The circuit measures 4.226 kilometers in length and features 16 turns, with 10 right-hand corners and 6 left-hand corners. Cars travel clockwise around the track, a configuration adopted in 2007. The layout combines high-speed straights with technical corner sections, testing both car performance and driver skill.

Circuit Facilities and Features

The Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli has a capacity of 60,000 spectators. Full lighting coverage allows racing at any time, which enables the night race during the GT World Challenge Europe weekend. The facility hosts multiple motorsport series throughout the year, including MotoGP and World Superbike Championship events. Teams also use the circuit for testing and track days outside of race weekends.

GT3 Cars and Participants

The GT World Challenge Europe fields grand touring cars built to FIA GT3 regulations. Manufacturers modify production road cars to meet these specifications. Multiple manufacturers participate in the series, including Aston Martin, Audi, BMW, Ferrari, Ford, Lamborghini, McLaren, Mercedes-AMG, Porsche, and Corvette.

Teams compete across different classes: Pro, Gold, Silver, and Bronze. The FIA driver ranking system uses categories of Platinum, Gold, Silver, and Bronze to determine which class each driver pairing can enter. This system allows both professional racers and amateur competitors to race in appropriate categories.

Teams and Driver Lineups

Numerous teams enter the GT World Challenge Europe series. Notable teams include Comtoyou Racing, Garage 59, AF Corse, Rutronik Racing, and WRT. Each team fields one or more cars with two-driver lineups for the Sprint Cup races. The driver pairings must comply with class regulations based on their individual FIA driver rankings.

Technical Specifications and Regulations

All cars in the GT World Challenge Europe must receive FIA GT3 homologation. The series organizer SRO applies Balance of Performance (BoP) adjustments to ensure fair competition between different car models. These adjustments modify engine power, vehicle weight, and aerodynamic elements.

GT3 cars use various engine configurations, including turbocharged V6 units and naturally aspirated V8, V10, and V12 engines. Power output is limited to approximately 500-600 horsepower. Vehicle weight ranges from 1,200 to 1,350 kilograms depending on the car model and BoP adjustments.

Technical Components

The regulations permit ABS and traction control systems, but active aerodynamics are banned. Pirelli serves as the official tire supplier for the series, providing all teams with the same tire specifications. All teams use identical 102 RON racing fuel to ensure consistency across the field.

Series Background and Context

The GT World Challenge Europe evolved from earlier GT racing series. The championship began in 2011 as the Blancpain Endurance Series. A sprint format series was added in 2014 to complement the endurance races. The series adopted its current GT World Challenge Europe name in 2019.

Amazon Web Services (AWS) serves as the title sponsor, with the series officially named GT World Challenge Europe Powered by AWS. The championship forms part of a global GT World Challenge platform that includes series in Asia, America, and Australia.

Championship Structure

The GT World Challenge Europe runs two separate championships: the Sprint Cup and the Endurance Cup. Round 6 at Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli counts toward the Sprint Cup standings. The series awards points in each class, creating multiple championship battles throughout the season.

The Bronze Cup winner receives an automatic invitation to compete in the LMGT3 class at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. This prize provides amateur drivers with an opportunity to race at one of motorsport's most prestigious events.

What Makes This Round Notable

The Misano round stands out for its night race format on Saturday evening. The fully lit circuit allows for racing after sunset, creating a different atmosphere and visual spectacle. The coastal Italian location near Rimini, Riccione, and Cattolica adds to the setting.

Support races often accompany the GT World Challenge Europe at Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli. These may include the GT2 European Series, GT4 European Series, Porsche Carrera Cup France, and Clio Cup Series. The full weekend provides multiple racing categories for fans following the event.

The combination of the technical circuit layout, the night race element, and the strong manufacturer and team presence makes this round a significant part of the Sprint Cup calendar. The race tests teams on a circuit that hosts major international motorsport series throughout the year.