The 2026/27 Gulf ProCar season got underway this weekend with Round 1 at Yas Marina Circuit, as drivers and teams took on the 5.281km GP configuration of the UAE capital’s Formula One venue. While several competitors remained active throughout the summer, the return to Gulf ProCar championship action marked a fresh challenge as drivers and teams recalibrated for the start of the UAE motorsport season.
Five cars arrived at the circuit, each eager to launch their 2026/27 campaign on a strong footing. The entry list featured Baron Motorsport, WMS Racing, and a privateer effort fielded by Steve Smuts and Andrei Daskal. However, WMS Racing suffered an early setback when an engine failure during Friday morning practice forced one of its entries to withdraw before race day. Consequently, four cars remained on the grid for Saturday’s action.
Qualifying
Ernst Kirchmayr immediately established himself as the benchmark in qualifying, securing overall Pole Position aboard the No. 19 Baron Motorsport Ferrari 488 Challenge Evo with a blistering lap of 1:58.905. The Austrian’s performance put him comfortably clear of the rest of the field, setting the stage for a dominant opening round.
Jon de Jager, one half of the Dutch Brothers Racing duo, secured second overall and the Class 5 pole position in the No. 67 Volkswagen Golf GTI Mk7, recording a 2:22.613 for WMS Racing. Class 4 entrant and Gulf ProCar debutants Steve Smuts / Andrei Daskal followed in third overall, with a 2:25.806 in the No. 14 Toyota GT86.
Completing the qualifying order was Alan VanderMolen, Jon de Jager’s Dutch Brothers Racing compatriot, who secured fourth overall and second in Class 5. Behind the wheel of the WMS Racing No. 17 Volkswagen Golf GTI Mk7, VanderMolen posted a best time of 2:29.912, while two of his laps were subsequently disallowed for exceeding track limits at Turn 1.
Race 1
Kirchmayr converted his pole position into victory in the opening race, maintaining his advantage throughout the race to take the chequered flag as the 25 minutes elapsed. The Baron Motorsport driver also recorded the fastest lap of the race, a 2:00.044 on the final lap, underlining the Ferrari’s pace as the 2026/27 season got underway.
Behind the overall winner, WMS Racing secured a double podium finish. Alan VanderMolen was classified second overall, taking the Class 5 victory in the No. 17 entry. Jon de Jager followed in third overall, finishing second in Class 5 after an unplanned pitstop for technical checks hindered his track position. The result gave VanderMolen an early advantage in the Class 5 standings, while de Jager remained firmly in contention following his strong qualifying performance.
Unfortunately, the No. 14 Toyota GT86 of Steve Smuts and Andrei Daskal was unable to reach the finish, retiring after just five laps due to engine failure. The issue brought a premature end to their opening race and ultimately forced the team to withdraw from the remainder of the weekend. Nevertheless, Steve and Andrei remain committed to returning to the grid for Round 2 with a fresh engine.
Race 2
Kirchmayr continued his dominant form in Race 2, once again leading the field to secure his second victory of the weekend. Completing 13 laps over the 25-minute race, the Ferrari driver bettered his Race 1 fastest lap with an impressive benchmark of 1:59.665. Achieving the time on heavily used tyres amid high track temperatures made the performance all the more remarkable.
WMS Racing once again secured both remaining overall podium positions, although the order was reversed compared with the opening sprint. Jon de Jager led the Class 5 field to finish second overall, completing 12 laps in the No. 67 Volkswagen Golf GTI Mk7. His fastest lap of 2:22.094 demonstrated a consistent pace as he recovered from third overall in Race 1.
Alan VanderMolen completed the overall podium in third, securing second in Class 5 and collecting valuable points towards the championship standings. Although he missed out on class victory in Race 2, his success in Race 1 ensured that both WMS Racing drivers left the opening round with a Class 5 win to their credit.
All eyes on Round 2!
Round 1 at Yas Marina Circuit provided a decisive opening statement from Kirchmayr, who claimed Pole Position, both overall victories and the fastest lap in each race. His performance places him and the Baron Motorsport crew in a controlling position in the championship standings.
In Class 5, the opening weekend showcased WMS Racing’s competitive potential, with de Jager and VanderMolen sharing the class victories and setting the stage for an intriguing intra-team battle as the season unfolds. With additional Class 5 competitors expected to join the grid, the fight for class honours looks set to intensify in the rounds ahead.
We look forward to welcoming the No. 14 Toyota GT86 back to the grid at Round 2, where Steve and Andrei will aim to make up for the points lost at the season opener, with additional Class 4 competition set to join the field.
With Round 1 complete, the 2026/27 Gulf ProCar Championship is officially underway, with attention now turning to Round 2 on November 27th, where the Enduro format takes centre stage. Consistency and reliability will be key as the championship heads to Dubai Autodrome for its first visit of the season.
