2026 International GT Open Finale: Meakin and Macdonald Capture Race Victory; Lebbon and Emson Secure Championship
In a thrilling conclusion to the 2026 International GT Open season, Zac Meakin and Dean Macdonald of Greystone GT triumphed in the final race, while Tom Lebbon and Tom Emson from Elite Motorsport clinched the championship title.
The #33 Greystone GT McLaren 720S GT3 Evo showcased dominant performance throughout the 60-minute sprint at Barcelona, leading from the outset. Macdonald’s exceptional pace during his initial stint was pivotal, allowing Meakin to maintain the front position with a flawless run.
Meakin ended the season with 147 points, just one shy of the championship-winning #17 Elite Ferrari duo, who totaled 148 points after a remarkable comeback from eighth place that enabled them to secure the series title.
“Thanks to Dean and the team for their incredible support,” Meakin stated. “It was a close battle until the end.”
Lebbon faced a challenging race, initially running fourth but needing a podium finish to secure the title. After a brief tussle for third position—requiring him to yield it due to an inadvertent track limit infringement—he eventually succeeded in reclaiming third place with just 13 minutes remaining.
His effort paid off as he fended off pressure from McKenzy Cresswell, who also had a stellar race in the #44 Greystone McLaren, finishing fourth.
“The battle was tight,” Lebbon remarked post-race. “I’m grateful to my team for their unwavering support throughout the season.”
In terms of race results, Meakin captured victory by 4.626 seconds over 2024 GT4 European Series champion Pietro Armanni and Alex Fontana in the #911 ZRS Motorsport Porsche 911 GT3 R Evo. The Elite Ferrari of Lebbon and Emson rounded out the podium, finishing third.
Notably, the race was marked by significant competition, with the #44 Greystone McLaren overcoming a 12th-place start to finish fourth, while the AF Corse #51 Ferrari of Rafael Durán and Tommaso Mosca delivered a strong performance for fifth despite serving a time penalty.
In the Pro-Am category, Olimp Racing’s Marcin Jedliński and Karol Basz secured victory in the #777 Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo, capitalizing on early misfortunes for other competitors to lead following their pit stops. Meanwhile, the #97 Blackthorn Aston Martin of Henrique Chaves and Charles Bateman managed to finish sixth in class, enough to secure the Pro-Am championship title for Bateman.
Overall, the season culminated with vibrant displays of skill and strategy, reinforcing the competitive spirit of the International GT Open, while setting the stage for an exciting future race calendar.
