The 2026 Gran Turismo World Series is warming up, and the Exhibition 1 schedule is packed with a nice mix of classic circuits, fantasy tracks, and one absolute monster of a finale. Six rounds, six different tracks, and a pretty varied rulebook across the board. Here's what's in store.
Round 1: Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya (No Chicane) April 25, 2026 · Gr.3 · 18 laps
We're kicking things off in Spain on the chicane-free GP layout, which means the final sector stays fast and flowing. Gr.3 cars, 18 laps, with 2x tire wear and 2x fuel use, so strategy matters from race one. You'll need to run at least one stint on racing hards or mediums; softs aren't in play here. Qualifying is a 6-minute shootout, and the field is capped at 16 cars. BoP and tuning are locked down, as expected.
Round 2: Fuji International Speedway (Short) May 2, 2026 · Gr.4 · 10 laps
Switching gears to the shorter Fuji layout and dropping down to Gr.4 machinery. This one's a sprint, just 10 laps with 1x fuel and 1x tire wear, so it's a flat-out, minimal-strategy affair. Five-minute qualifying. Basically: qualify well, send it, don't crash. Simple in theory.
Round 3: Dragon Trail Gardens May 9, 2026 · Gr.3 · 20 laps
Back to Gr.3, and back to fantasy tracks. Dragon Trail Gardens is a real tire-killer, and PD seems to know it, cranking tire wear up to a brutal 5x alongside 1x fuel. 20 laps with that much wear is going to force a pit stop, maybe two, and some real tire management. Mediums and softs are both on the menu here, so compound choice becomes a huge part of the puzzle.
Round 4: Sardegna Road Track A May 16, 2026 · Gr.3 · 15 laps
The Sardinia circuit makes an appearance with Gr.3 cars over 15 laps. Fuel is 2x and tires are 4x, which means pit strategy is front and center again. You're required to use racing medium or soft tires at some point, so no hard-tire cheese runs here. Expect a lot of variation in how teams split their stints.
Round 5: Mount Panorama (Bathurst) May 30, 2026 · Gr.4 · 13 laps
Bathurst. Gr.4. 13 laps. Say no more. This is the first round with a mandatory pit stop, so strategy becomes locked in rather than optional. Tire wear sits at 4x and fuel at 2x, and there's a tight 4-minute qualifying window. The Mountain rewards commitment, and punishes mistakes harder than just about any track on the calendar.
Round 6: Nürburgring Nordschleife (Endurance) June 6, 2026 · Gr.3 · 5 laps
The grand finale is the Green Hell, and it goes hard. Only 5 laps, but we're talking Nordschleife laps, so that's the best part of an hour of racing. Qualifying is a generous 13 minutes (because of course it is), tire wear is 3x, fuel is 3x, and there's a mandatory pit stop. Hards or intermediates and wets are your tire options, so no softs or mediums. A proper endurance-style closer to cap off the exhibition.
Quick notes across the board
Every round runs with BoP and tuning off, light mechanical damage, rolling starts, and 16-car grids. Brake balance is the only setting you can fiddle with. Both DR and SR are affected, so these races count toward your rankings. Don't treat it like a casual lobby. Wide bodies and nitrous are banned throughout.
All in all, it's a smart calendar: a couple of sprints, a couple of strategy races, and a true endurance test to finish. Good luck out there.
GT World Series 2026 Exhibition 1: Here's the Full Six-Round Lineup
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