Porsche Carrera Cup Benelux Calendar 2026

The Porsche Carrera Cup Benelux is a premier one-make racing series that brings together drivers across Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg to compete in identical Porsche 911 GT3 Cup cars. Entering its 14th season in 2026, the championship has established itself as a proving ground for both emerging talent and experienced competitors, with success determined primarily by driver skill rather than technical advantages. The series runs six rounds throughout the season, each featuring two races for a total of 12 competitive events held at iconic European circuits.

Championship Classes and Structure

The Porsche Carrera Cup Benelux divides its competitors into three distinct classes to ensure fair competition across different experience levels. The PRO class features seasoned professional drivers competing at the highest level of the series. The Rookie class welcomes young talents typically under 24 years old who have competed in no more than four Carrera Cup or Porsche Mobil Supercup races, with these cars distinguished by an orange cross on their headlights. The PRO-AM class caters to gentleman drivers aged 30 or older who have not competed as professional drivers in any series within the past five years, identifiable by a blue cross on their headlights. This structure allows drivers of varying backgrounds to compete for class honors while sharing the same track.

Race Weekend Format

A typical Porsche Carrera Cup Benelux weekend follows a clear sprint racing format. The schedule includes two free practice sessions of 40 minutes each, allowing teams to dial in their setups and drivers to learn the circuit. This is followed by a single 35-minute qualifying session that determines the starting grids for both races. Each round features two 30-minute races plus one additional lap, delivering intense wheel-to-wheel competition in compact timeframes. The series operates as a support championship, appearing alongside major international motorsport events that draw substantial crowds and television coverage.

2026 Calendar and Featured Events

The 2026 season commenced on May 7-9 at Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium and concludes on October 16-18 at Circuit Zolder. The six-round calendar strategically pairs the Porsche Carrera Cup Benelux with high-profile championships, enhancing visibility for teams and drivers. Round 1 at Spa-Francorchamps supported the FIA World Endurance Championship, while Round 2 on May 22-24 visits Circuit Zandvoort alongside the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters (DTM). The series then travels to Italy for Round 3 at Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari in Imola on July 3-5, supporting the European Le Mans Series. Round 4 takes place at TT Circuit Assen on July 31-August 2 during JACK'S CASINO RACING DAY, followed by Round 5 at Hockenheimring on September 11-13 with GT OPEN, before the season finale at Zolder supporting the NASCAR Euro Series.

Technical Specifications and Competition

All competitors drive technically identical Porsche 911 GT3 Cup (Type 992.1) cars, ensuring parity across the field. For the 2026 season, these vehicles are equipped with ABS braking systems for all drivers. This one-make formula places emphasis on driver ability, racecraft, and team strategy rather than engineering advantages. The 2026 season opener at Spa-Francorchamps attracted a strong field of 27 cars across all three classes, featuring reigning champion Jaap van Lagen and Belgian guest driver Bertrand Baguette among the PRO class entries, ten young talents in the Rookie category, and several gentleman drivers competing in PRO-AM. Teams such as Team RaceArt, NGT Racing, Team GP Elite, and PG Motorsport provide professional operations supporting their drivers throughout the season.