GTC & TOURING CARS: TITLE CONTENDERS IN SUPERCARS ESPAÑA

The Supercars Endurance season is heading towards its climax and, at Jerez, the next round will decide the Supercars España titles. With numerous contenders still in play, the weekend of 31 October to 2 November promises high drama.

In Andalusia, the field of the Iberian Peninsula’s premier GT series will be split across two grids: the GT4s will have one all to themselves, while GTC and Touring Cars share the other - a format that should make the title battles even more compelling.

Here we look at the current points situation in the GTC and Touring Car championships, where the prospect of strategic battles and intense on-track duels is mouth-watering.

GTC Championship – All to Play For, Few Certainties

The fight for the GTC crown has narrowed to three leading protagonists, though there are outsiders waiting for the leaders to slip.

At the top sits Rui Miritta (Monteiros Competições, Porsche 911 Cup) on 94 points, bolstered by a win at Portimão. In Jerez, the Portuguese driver could play the risk-management game — defending his points cushion rather than overreaching — but knowing Miritta, he is unlikely to hold back from chasing more wins to seal what would be a second Supercars España title.

Just 12 points behind on 82 are Alba Vázquez / Alfonso Colomina (McLaren Barcelona – SMC Motorsport, McLaren 570S GT4). They have yet to win this year, but their consistency keeps them firmly in contention. To turn the tide, however, they must beat Miritta head-to-head.

Hot on their heels are Ángel Santos / Alejandro Iribas (Chefo Sport by Petrogold, Ligier JS2R) with 80 points. Dominant at Jarama with a clean sweep of victories, they arrive in Jerez brimming with momentum. A repeat of that performance would pile pressure on both Miritta and the McLaren duo.

Among the outsiders still mathematically alive are Duarte Camelo / Pompeu Simões (Speedy Motorsport, Porsche Cayman CS) on 64 points, absent from Jarama but winners at Portimão; Marcus Fothergill (Tockwith Motorsports, Porsche 911 Cup) with 55; and António Almeida (Tockwith Motorsport, Ginetta G55), who claimed a breakthrough win at Valencia. For them, the odds are long, but a chaotic weekend could still reshuffle the pack.

Jerez is therefore shaping up as a direct showdown between Miritta, Vázquez / Colomina and Santos / Iribas for the overall GTC crown, with the rest needing to seize on any mistakes from the leading trio.

GTX Division – Spanish Duel with Portuguese Eyes Watching

The GTX division heads to Jerez wide open, with the promise of a fierce showdown for the crown. After Valencia, Alba Vázquez / Alfonso Colomina lead on 93 points, chased by Ángel Santos / Alejandro Iribas on 87. Everyone else comes in as outsiders, ready to capitalise if either of the front-running duos falters.

Vázquez / Colomina built their lead through season-long consistency, starting with an early win. But with such a slender advantage, playing it safe is not an option in Andalusia.

Santos / Iribas, meanwhile, bring a very different package. The Chefo Sport pair were untouchable at Jarama, winning both races, and if they repeat that kind of form in Jerez, the title is within reach.

Behind them, Portuguese youngster Henrique Moura Oliveira (Monteiros Competições, BMW M4 GT4 F82) lies on 73 points. Still winless but consistent, he’ll need a near-perfect weekend alongside team-mate Rúben Silva to upset the balance. Matching them on points are Camelo / Simões (Speedy Motorsport, Porsche Cayman CS), already double race winners this season in Portimão and Valencia. Another statement performance could transform them from outsiders into contenders.

Tockwith Motorsports armada also remain close, with Steve Kirton / Jonathan Elsworth (Ginetta G55) on 72 and series newcomers Gracie Mitchell / Luca Staccini on 69. Neither crew has yet won, but steady podiums mean that any stumble from the leaders will drag them into the fight. António Almeida (Tockwith Motorsports, Ginetta G55), winner at Valencia, is further back on 57 but mathematically still alive, despite skipping Jarama.

In short, the GTX crown looks set for a head-to-head between Vázquez / Colomina and Santos / Iribas, with Camelo / Simões and Oliveira lurking. With two races and four bonus points on offer for poles and fastest laps, the smallest detail could decide the season.

Cup Division – Miritta Holds the Advantage

The Cup arrives at Jerez with a high-stakes scenario: two drivers separated by 26 points, with 54 still available across races, poles and fastest laps.

Cup favourite Rui Miritta leads with 132 points, thanks to a stellar campaign featuring double wins at Portimão, another in Jarama, plus poles and fastest laps. He added to that tally in Valencia, consolidating his position as clear favourite. One more win in Jerez could be enough to clinch the title outright.

His last remaining rival is Marcus Fothergill (Tockwith, Porsche 911 Cup) with 106 points. The Brit claimed a vital win at Jarama and multiple podiums to keep his hopes alive. To overturn the deficit, he’ll need an almost flawless Sunday and hope for a Miritta slip-up.

The rest are out of mathematical contention but could play a decisive role. Ángel Lanchares (Lan GP Racing, Porsche 911 Cup) sits third on 71 points after a Valencia win, while Vítor Costa (Monteiros Competições, Porsche 911 Cup) is on 69, and Dave Bennet on 62. All are contenders for the podium places in the standings — and spoilers in the title fight.

The Cup title is therefore set to be a straight duel between Miritta and Fothergill, in what could be a knife-edge Porsche battle where the smallest mistake decides the outcome.

Touring Cars Championship – Battle of the Young Guns

The Touring Car category heads to Jerez as a showcase of young talent, with six drivers from the FPAK Junior Team sharing Monteiros Competições’ three Ginetta G40s. The standings are separated by fine margins, making for a nail-biting finale.

Leading the way is Tomás Martins on 93 points, with victories in Portimão and Jarama. He has a cushion, but one bad result could reopen the fight.

Chasing him is João Faria with 87, consistently strong and a winner at Jarama. If he maintains his form, he has every chance of overturning the deficit.

Tomás Gomes, on 80, is also in the mix, having been one of the quickest all year with a Portimão win and regular podiums. He needs a flawless weekend to stay in the hunt.

Behind them, Martim Romão (75 points) has yet to win but remains in touch thanks to steady podiums. Rodrigo Vilaça (57) and Diogo Castro (56) would need a perfect weekend and help from results elsewhere to spring a surprise.

The TC division mirrors the overall standings: Martins (100), Faria (92), Gomes (83) and Romão (80) are all realistic title candidates, while Vilaça (64) and Castro (59) cling to mathematical hope. As in other classes, bonus points for poles and fastest laps could be decisive.

If Martins wins the opener, he could enter the finale on “match point”. But if Faria or Gomes cut the gap to under five points in Race 1, the title could swing on a single fastest lap or pole. Expect Jerez to deliver a down-to-the-wire showdown between Portugal’s rising stars.