2025 International GT Open Season Opener at Portimao: Key Insights
The 20th season of the International GT Open kicks off this weekend at Portimao, featuring a strong grid of 32 GT3 cars. Notably, 30 of these entries are for the full season, indicating a robust competitive landscape with increasing participation from additional entries at selected races. Six manufacturers are represented: Audi, Ferrari, Lamborghini, McLaren, Mercedes, and Porsche.
Jesús Pareja, CEO of GT Sport, remarked, "It is rewarding to see that the trend initiated in the last couple of years is confirmed. We have a great grid with new entrants and young drivers, enhancing competition and entertaining fans."
Pro Class Highlights
The Pro class sees 13 entries from various teams, showcasing the dominance of established brands. Reigning champions Simon Reicher and Christopher Haase return, piloting the #1 Audi R8 LMS for Eastalent Racing. Mercedes teams feature prominently with GetSpeed fielding two AMGs for veteran drivers Anthony Bartone and Fabian Schiller, alongside newcomers Marcelo Ramírez and Ralf Aron.
Motopark introduces promising line-ups, pairing GT rookie Levente Révész with Matteo Cairoli, while Robert Viseiu and Niklas Krütten share the second car. Oregon Team aims to defend its team title with two Lamborghinis.
McLaren is represented by Optimum Motorsport and Greystone GT, the latter fielding last year’s Monza GT Open 500 winners Dean Macdonald and James Kell.
Pro-Am Class Developments
The Pro-Am category is the largest, featuring 14 cars from 12 teams. Mercedes stands out, with SPS Automotive fielding two cars. Key pairings include reigning champions Dexter Müller and Yannick Metller, alongside Valentin Pierburg and Dominik Baumann. Notably, Team Motopark enters a third AMG for Heiko Neumann and Lukas Dunner.
Iron Lynx makes a series debut with a single entry for the Australian duo Stephen and Brenton Grove, preparing for a joint Le Mans effort. Car Collection Motorsport and Tsunami RT complete the Porsche entries, while Mertel Motorsport introduces a Ferrari 488 GT3 Evo for reigning GT Cup Europe champions.
Am Class Dynamics
The Am class welcomes new competitors due to regulatory changes allowing mixed pairings of Bronze and Silver drivers over 40. AF Corse fields Gino Forgione and Michele Rugolo, while Olimp Racing enters another Ferrari with Stanislaw Jedlinski and Krystian Korzeniowski. Team Thor will become the first all-Icelandic entry with its Porsche.
Mexican driver Alfredo Hernández headlines the solo entries, while Garage 59 returns with a McLaren 720S for the experienced Mark Sansom and Miguel Ramos. Ramos, a record-holder in series history, aims to enhance his legacy with his expected participation.
All races will be live-streamed on gtopen.net and the GT Open YouTube channel, featuring commentary from Chris Stevens and George Morgan.
Conclusion
As the International GT Open launches its 2025 season, the combination of returning champions, promising new talent, and a diverse range of marques sets the stage for a competitive and exciting championship.
