SRO GT Academy winner Gaspard Simon joins GT World with Walkenhorst Motorsport

SRO GT Academy winner Gaspard Simon joins GT World with Walkenhorst Motorsport

• Gaspard Simon to compete in GT World Sprint Cup in 2026
• 19-year-old Frenchman joins Walkenhorst Motorsport to drive Aston Martin
• Championnat de France FFSA GT confirms its status as a springboard to GT World

Gaspard Simon will take a significant step in his racing career this season when the inaugural SRO GT Academy winner graduates from Championnat de France FFSA GT to the GT World Sprint Cup with the highly respected Walkenhorst Motorsport squad. He will begin at Brands Hatch on 2/3 May before tackling events at Misano, Magny-Cours, Zandvoort and finally Barcelona.
 
The 19-year-old won the very first SRO GT Academy prize after a standout Championnat de France FFSA GT campaign, which included a brace of victories and five additional podium finishes. He was rewarded with a €150,000 contribution from SRO Motorsports Group and its partners towards a GT World programme, as well as comprehensive training from the SRO GT Academy and the FFSA GT Academy. 
 
Gaspard has received considerable industry and media attention since winning the SRO GT Academy, putting him in contact with several interested teams. “I learnt a lot from these discussions,” said the youngster, who is dovetailing his racing ambitions with a law degree. “Having assessed possibilities with other teams and brands, I am delighted to announce my partnership with Walkenhorst Motorsport. Thanks to the support of the SRO GT Academy and the FFSA Academy, I will be ideally prepared. I am highly motivated to take advantage of this unique opportunity.”
 
A fixture on the GT World grid since 2017 and known for developing young talents, Walkenhorst Motorsport achieved its most significant result by winning the CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa outright in 2018. Following a long association with BMW, the team from Melle in Lower Saxony joined forces with Aston Martin in 2024 to run the new Vantage. Last year it added another major success in the Ardennes by earning Silver Cup victory at the CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa.
 
While his teammate for 2026 is yet to be announced, Gaspard is set to compete in the Silver Cup this season. Reserved for FIA Silver-graded drivers, the class has often served as a launching pad for young talent. The long list of successful graduates includes Luca Stolz, Fabian Schiller, Tom Gamble, Sandy Mitchell, Ricardo Feller, Mattia Drudi, Valentin Hasse-Clot, Simon Gachet, Arthur Rougier, Thomas Neubauer, Benjamin Goethe and Eliseo Donno, all of whom started out in the Silver Cup and are now factory drivers representing major manufacturers. 
 
“We are delighted to welcome Gaspard to our team,” said Walkenhorst Motorsport Managing Director Jörg Breuer. “Walkenhorst Motorsport has proven that it can develop young talents and accompany them on their way into professional motorsport. Gaspard has impressed with his pure speed, and I am convinced that he will also demonstrate his skills in the GT World Sprint Cup.”
 
“We are thrilled that Gaspard will move up to GT World in 2026, especially in such a strong programme,” said Laurent Gaudin, General Manager of Championnat de France FFSA GT and GT World. "The creation of the SRO GT Academy played a decisive role in his career, giving him the impetus he needed to take the next step. I am also very pleased to see the importance of Championnat de France FFSA GT in the development of new talent. The SRO pyramid is now entering a new era: its rapid evolution allows promising drivers to gain more effective access to the world's most competitive GT series. Very soon, we will unveil the preparation programme that Gaspard will follow within the FFSA Academy and the SRO GT Academy. Everything has been thought out in detail to give him the best chance to shine in his first season of GT3 racing.”
 
Launched in 2025, the SRO GT Academy will expand significantly this season. In addition to the continuing Championnat de France FFSA GT prize, new initiatives will reward the star performers from the GT2 European Series powered by Pirelli, British GT and the continental GT World series in Asia, America and Australia. 
 
“We have received such enthusiastic feedback regarding the SRO GT Academy that we have decided to extend the concept to most of our championships,” added Stéphane Ratel, Founder and CEO of SRO Motorsports Group. “Given the number of manufacturers involved, GT racing now offers the greatest opportunities for young drivers who want to turn professional. SRO is very proud to be able to offer different stages leading from GT4 to GT World, via the GT2 European Series. I am also very pleased to see our continental series – Asia, America and Australia – offering a place at the CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa in 2027. More than just words, we’re offering real-world opportunities for talented young drivers.”