WEC Barcelona 6 Hours, LMGT3s

As in Hypercar, the start of the LMGT3s on a wet track was chaotic, with a Ford struggling and a Lexus in the gravel trap.

Story and photos by Hugues Vanhoolandt

We continue with a look at the LM GT3 category at Barcelona.

The McLaren 720S #10, driven by Au/Fleming/Kirchhöfer, started from pole position. It quickly relinquished its lead to finish in second place.

Thanks to a superb first stint in the wet by Australian gentleman driver Shahin, the #92 Manthey Porsche quickly took the lead and held it until the finish, with Pera and Lietz completing the job. This first victory of 2026 keeps the Manthey team in contention for the title.

As with every race in 2026, the #69 BMW M4 WRT sported a new livery, this time evoking a famous audio cassette brand seen on BMW M1s in the 80s. The performance was also there with a third step of the podium for McIntosh, Thompson and Harper.

In fourth place is the Corvette Z06 of Racing Team Turkey by TF driven by Yoluc/Dempsey/Eastwood. They will arrive at Monza as title contenders.

The leader, in fact, is the other Corvette entered by TF Sport for Keating, Catsburg, and Edgar. Only Johnny Edgar can realistically contend for the championship, as his teammates missed one or more races. While awaiting Monza, the #34 has scored valuable points with a 6th place finish in its class.

The two AF Corse Ferrari 296 GT3s in formation. While the #21 of Hériau/Mann/Rovera takes a respectable 5th place, the #54 of Flohr/Castellacci/Rigon only manages 12th in class after going off the track on the formation lap. With one round remaining, Ferrari still has no LMGT3 victories to its name in 2026.

Mercedes, which entered LMGT3 last year, is still not challenging at the front. The #61 car of Berry/Andrade/Martin finishes in 6th place here.

Meanwhile, the other Iron Lynx team car, the #69 of Zelger/Cressoni/Hodenius, takes 8th place after a comeback from second-to-last place on the starting grid.

The Ford Mustangs had a cruel race in Barcelona. The #88 of Gattuso, Levorato, and former US F1 driver Logan Sargeant was initially involved in the first-corner crash. After a strong recovery, it crossed the finish line in 8th position before running out of fuel on the victory lap and being disqualified.

Even worse for the other Mustang #77 of Powell/Tuck/Priaulx, which ran out of fuel just a few meters from the checkered flag. Unable to cross the finish line, it was not classified.

The race was not without its challenges for the Aston Martins, with the #23 of Newell/Barrichello/Adam being hit by the #88 Mustang. However, it managed to secure 10th place in its class.

The #27 car of The Heart of Racing team owner Ian James, Drudi, and Robichon got stuck in a gravel trap where it lost considerable time. As a result, it finished only 15th, five laps behind the winners, ending its title hopes.

Setting the fastest time in Free Practice 2, the second McLaren entered by Garage 59, the #58 driven by West, Gehrsitz, and Goethe, had a difficult weekend, starting far back on the grid and receiving a penalty for low tire pressure. It finished with the point for 10th place.

Winner of the previous round at Fuji, the #32 BMW of Farfus/Gelael/Leung suffered a collision and penalties which relegated it to 11th place in the final.

The Ferrari 296 LMGT3 Evo #54 attacking the first corners during free practice on a dry track.

Despite good practice sessions, the #87 Lexus RC F of Umbrarescu/Schmid/Lopez finished in 13th place, delayed by two penalties and changing race conditions.

The other Lexus, number 78, driven by Van Rompuy, David and Masson, saw its race ruined at the first corner, being pushed into the gravel trap by the #91 Porsche. Relegated to the back of the pack, it finished four laps behind the leader, in 14th position.

While the sister car won with ease, the #91 Manthey team Porsche suffered a nightmare from the start, involved in the first-corner collision. A further collision later in the race required extensive repairs, explaining its 16th-place finish, nine laps behind the #92 Porsche.