GIANFRANCO MOTORSPORT TARGETS GTX DIVISION WITH TWO ROOKIES

Gianfranco Motorsport will line up on the Supercars Endurance grids in 2026 after investing in a Porsche Cayman 981 MR GT4, entered in the GTX division, strengthening a field that has been steadily growing within the championship.

The increasing demand for cars in this division comes in a particularly dynamic competitive context, as this year the series introduces separate grids for GT4 machinery and the Touring Car and GTC categories, a move that has contributed to renewed interest across different areas of the championship.

The team led by Carlos “Ginho” Rodrigues will entrust the Weissach-built car to Portuguese rookies Bruno Salgado and Rodrigo Pires. Salgado arrives in the GT ranks after competing last season in a single-make trophy, now embarking on a new chapter of his career in the Iberian motorsport scene. Pires, meanwhile, will make his car racing debut after a successful spell in karting, where he built the foundations of his competitive development.

Following a particularly successful 2025 season, the Portuguese outfit returns to the Iberian Supercars, Campeonato de Portuga de Velocidade, and Campeonato de España de Supercars with strong ambitions. Last year, Gianfranco Motorsport fielded two Toyota Gazoo Racing Supra GT4 EVO2s and an Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT4, securing the Iberian Supercars GT4 Pro Bronze title with Alexandre Areia and Nuno Afonso, as well as the GT4 Am crown across the three championships that make up the Supercars Endurance with Rubén Vaquinhas and Pedro Bastos Rezende.

For “Ginho” Rodrigues, Team Principal of Gianfranco Motorsport, this new project represents both a challenge and an opportunity for two drivers at the beginning of their careers. He acknowledges that the objective is to develop throughout the season and gradually move closer to the front of the field.

“We have two drivers with limited experience in this type of car, but we strongly believe in their potential. We know the level of the field will be very high and that, at least initially, it will naturally be difficult to fight for wins. However, we are ready to work hard, complete a significant amount of testing, and help the drivers progress. As the season unfolds, I believe they can take important steps forward and move closer to the fight at the front,” he said.

The 2026 Supercars Endurance season will begin on 16–17 May at the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve, following the official pre-season test scheduled for 21 March at the Autódromo do Estoril.