GT World Challenge classes explained: Pro, Gold, Silver and Bronze
Every car in GT World Challenge Europe is entered in one of four classes: Pro, Gold, Silver or Bronze. The class decides which drivers a team may use, and each class except Pro has its own title. Here is how it works under the 2026 Sporting Regulations.
How are drivers graded?
Every driver must hold an FIA grading of Platinum, Gold, Silver or Bronze, based on their record (article 12.1). Drivers without one cannot race. Drivers new to SRO racing in the last two seasons are also assessed by SRO’s Sporting Board before their first event (article 11.4). How the FIA sets those gradings is explained in our guide to FIA driver ratings.
Which drivers may race in each class?
The regulations set a maximum grading for each seat. In the Endurance Cup a car has three drivers (articles 111 and 311):
| Class | Endurance line-up (3 drivers) | Sprint line-up (2 drivers) |
|---|---|---|
| Pro | Any grading | Any grading |
| Gold Cup | Gold, Gold, Silver | Gold, Silver |
| Silver Cup | Silver, Silver, Silver | Silver, Silver |
| Bronze Cup | Platinum, Silver, Bronze | Platinum, Bronze |
The Sprint Cup line-ups come from article 411. At the 24 Hours of Spa, teams outside Pro may add a fourth driver, and a Pro-Am class is added that scores no championship points (article 211).
Who counts as a Bronze driver?
The Bronze Cup is meant for amateurs. Its Bronze driver may not be a former professional, meaning someone who was or would have been graded Gold or Platinum, unless they have shown in recent seasons that they race at Bronze level. Every Bronze Cup line-up must be approved by SRO’s Sporting Board (article 11.3.1). In the Sprint Cup the Bronze driver is always Driver 2 (article 412).
Is there a Pro title?
No. The Pro cars race for the overall win and the overall title. The drivers’ and teams’ championships are awarded overall and in the Gold, Silver and Bronze categories (article 5.1), and each class has its own podium after an Endurance race (article 145.1). A class only opens if at least three full-season entries are received (article 5.2).
What does the Bronze Cup winner get?
The leading full-season Bronze Cup car, counting Sprint and Endurance together, earns an invitation to the 2027 24 Hours of Le Mans. Line-ups that race with a grading derogation are not eligible (article 5.5).
Do driver weights matter?
Yes. The average weight of a car’s drivers, in full kit, must be at least 85 kg. A car whose drivers are lighter carries extra ballast to make up the difference, and a car whose drivers average more than 85 kg may remove up to 5 kg from its minimum weight (article 505.7).
More guides: GT World Challenge explained · points and titles · qualifying
Source: 2026 GT World Challenge Europe Sporting Regulations.