The 2026 Intercontinental GT Challenge (IGTC) begins in emphatic style this weekend as the Meguiar’s Bathurst 12 Hour hosts its largest IGTC field since 2020.
Six manufacturers, 23 IGTC-registered cars and a record six Independent Cup contenders headline a 35-car grid at the daunting Mount Panorama Circuit. The season opener immediately underlines the championship’s global strength and Bathurst’s enduring pull.
Reigning champion Kelvin van der Linde arrives eager to defend the crown he secured in 2025, while the Independent Cup entry reaches unprecedented depth.
From production roots to global enduro
The Bathurst 12 Hour first ran in 1991 as a production car race before organisers revived it in 2007 and introduced GT3 machinery in 2011. That pivotal move transformed the event into an international endurance spectacle and later secured its place on the Intercontinental GT Challenge calendar in 2016.
Inspired by the original spirit of the Bathurst 1000, the 12 Hour created a longer-format endurance test while retaining Mount Panorama’s unique character. The evolution from Series Production regulations to global GT3 competition elevated the race into one of the southern hemisphere’s premier endurance contests.
2025 champions BMW targets back-to-back glory in 2026 IGTC Bathurst 12 Hours
Reigning champions BMW return with three M4 GT3 EVOs and clear ambition. The German marque aims to become only the third manufacturer to win Australia’s International Enduro consecutively.
Team WRT masterminded three IGTC victories in 2025 and continues with renewed strength. However, Augusto Farfus and Kelvin van der Linde no longer share a cockpit. Farfus teams with Raffaele Marciello and Valentino Rossi, who claimed his maiden Intercontinental win at Indianapolis last year. Meanwhile, Jordan Pepper joins van der Linde and Charles Weerts in another formidable Pro entry.
A third BMW entry blends factory talent Max Hesse with GT World Challenge Asia class champions Tony Ruan and Maxime Oosten. Its Australian-themed livery should capture fans’ attention throughout the weekend.
Chevrolet and Ford ignite a classic rivalry as Chevrolet debuts two Corvettes in 2026 IGTC Bathurst 12 Hours
For the first time, Chevrolet and Ford carry their historic Australian rivalry into GT3 competition at Bathurst.
Chevrolet debuts two Corvette Z06 GT3.Rs. JMR fields a Pro combination of Nicky Catsburg, Alexander Sims and Earl Bamber — a trio capable of challenging for outright honours. A second Corvette sees brothers Jefri and Abu Bakar Ibrahim combine with Ben Green and Jordan Love.
Ford enters a single Mustang GT3, but its quality demands attention. HRT operates the car, with Bathurst winners Christopher Mies and Dennis Olsen joined by Supercars ace Broc Feeney. Larger front-engined machines have dominated four of the last five editions, strengthening Ford’s case for success.
Ferrari, Mercedes-AMG and Porsche stack the odds
Ferrari returns with two 296 GT3s after narrowly missing the podium last year. Arise Racing reshuffles its Pro line-up, pairing Jaxon Evans with Daniel Serra and Davide Rigon. A Bronze entry under the Ziggo Sport Tempesta banner also aims high.
Mercedes-AMG mounts the largest assault with ten GT3 entries, six of them Pro. Affalterbach seeks a first Bathurst victory since back-to-back triumphs in 2022 and 2023. SunEnergy1 reunites Kenny Habul, Luca Stolz and Jules Gounon in pursuit of a fifth straight podium, while factory-supported GMR and Craft-Bamboo return with proven combinations. An all-Supercars line-up at STM — Thomas Randle, Cameron Waters and reigning champion Chaz Mostert — adds domestic firepower.
Porsche fields five 911 GT3 Rs, including Pro efforts from Absolute and Earl Bamber Motorsport. EBM revives its iconic silver fern livery, recalling its 2019 victory. Matt Campbell, a two-time winner, instead races for Absolute, adding intrigue to Porsche’s internal battle.
Independent Cup reaches record heights at 2026 IGTC Bathurst 12 Hours
The Independent Cup attracts its strongest roster yet. Six Bronze-graded drivers contest the season opener, led by Kenny Habul. Ralf Bohn, Jonathan Hui, Prince Jefri Ibrahim, Kerong Li and Johannes Zelger complete the Bathurst line-up, while Adrian D’Silva joins later in the year.
Bronze drivers may drop one score across the five-round season, ensuring consistent participation across the globe-spanning calendar.
Star power and history converge
Nine former Bathurst winners account for 15 victories between them on this year’s grid. At least one winner from each of the last six races returns, underscoring the depth of experience assembled.
The Allan Simonsen Pole Position Trophy again rewards outright qualifying pace, while manufacturers score points from their top two finishers and drivers collect points based on the final top-10 IGTC classification.
A worldwide audience awaits the 2026 IGTC Meguiar’s Bathurst 12 Hours
Every session streams live on SRO’s GT World and the Bathurst 12 Hour YouTube channels, subject to geo restrictions. Australian fans can watch via Kayo Sports and Fox Sports, while viewers in New Zealand tune in through Sky Sport NZ.
The biggest Intercontinental GT Challenge season in six years begins at dawn on Sunday. Mount Panorama will once again test the world’s finest GT drivers across 12 relentless hours — and it promises to set the tone for a fiercely contested global campaign.
