Beginner’s Guide to Ferrari Challenge 2026
If you’re new to the Ferrari Challenge, it's difficult to understand what is going on during the races. So here is your 2026 guide to following the single-make series.
In my totally unbiased opinion, the Ferrari Challenge is the best single-make series in motorsport. The series offers high-stakes races and thrilling wheel-to-wheel battles, and viewers in most regions can watch it all for free. If this is your first season watching Ferrari Challenge, then you’ve picked an exceptional year to follow along, with 2026 offering plenty of opportunities to watch the races live.
Each Ferrari Challenge event takes place over a single weekend, however, each event has two races, with points scored in both. The drivers also have to qualify for the two races. However, with multiple classes on the grid, the winner of each class receives the maximum points, no matter where they finish in the overall standings. The driver with the most points will earn the championship for that regional series at the end of the season.
In 2026, Ferrari Challenge will visit six different regions, with over hundred drivers competing across the globe. These drivers are often at different stages in their careers, with some younger drivers hoping to break into the GT3 scene and other gentleman drivers just wanting to compete for Ferrari Challenge glory. The wide-range of experience makes the series very entertaining, but how do you watch Ferrari Challenge races?
How To Watch Ferrari Challenge
If you’re wondering how to watch Ferrari Challenge races for free, YouTube livestreams the vast majority of the series’ races. The official Ferrari YouTube channel hosts live races from all the regional series and also the Finali Mondiali at the end of the season. However, if the Ferrari Challenge race is a support series for another event which is taking place on a different channel, then Ferrari might not livestream the races on their YouTube channel. This happened during the Bathurst 12 Hours, but Ferrari eventually uploaded the full races on their channel once the main endurance event was over.
What Cars Do They Use In The Ferrari Challenge Series?
The 2026 Ferrari Challenge series grid consists of the Ferrari 296 Challenge and also the older Ferrari 488 Challenge EVO. Because the Ferrari 296 Challenge outperforms the 488, they compete in separate classes in order to allow the 488 Challenge drivers to compete for trophies within their own class. However, when a skilled driver is behind the wheel of a Ferrari 488 Challenge EVO, they can sometimes compete for overall podiums, but this is rare.
The 2026 Ferrari Challenge series has three classes this season, with Trofeo Pirelli being the top class and Coppa Shell the second-highest class. However, both cars drive the Ferrari 296 Challenge, with only the Trofeo Pirelli 488 class having a different car.
Where Does Ferrari Challenge Race?
Ferrari Challenge is a global series with six different regions holding season-long competitions and monthly races. In 2026, the Ferrari Challenge regions are the United Kingdom, Europe, North America, Japan, Australasia, and the Middle East. Below you will find the complete Ferrari Challenge 2026 schedule for each individual series:
Ferrari Challenge UK 2026 Schedule
- March 12-15: Le Castellet, France
- May 2-3: Snetterton, United Kingdom
- May 22-24: Silverstone, United Kingdom
- June 26-27: Oulton Park, United Kingdom
- July 24-26: Brands Hatch, United Kingdom
- September 19-20: Donington, United Kingdom
Ferrari Challenge Europe 2026 Schedule
- March 12-15: Le Castellet, France
- April 23-26: Mugello, Italy
- May 14-17: Spielberg, Austria
- June 10-13: Le Mans, France
- July 16-19: Portimão, Portugal
- September 10-14: Budapest, Hungary
Ferrari Challenge North America 2026 Schedule
- March 11-15: Thermal, USA
- April 8-12: Sebring, USA
- May 13-17: COTA, USA
- June 17-21: Laguna Seca, USA
- July 22-26: Sonoma, USA
- September 9-13: Road America, USA
Ferrari Challenge Japan 2026 Schedule
- March 27-29: Suzuka, Japan
- April 24-26: Okayama, Japan
- May 22-24: Motegi, Japan
- June 26-28: Fuji, Japan
- July 24-26: Suzuka, Japan
Ferrari Challenge Australasia 2026 Schedule
- February 13-14: Bathurst, Australia
- March 27-28: Phillip Island, Australia
- May 10: The Bend, Australia
- June 20-21: Queensland, Australia
- September 18-20: Sydney, Australia
Ferrari Challenge Middle East 2026 Schedule
- December 11-12: Sakhir, Bahrain
- January 9-10, 2027: Lusail, Qatar
- January 29-30, 2027: Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
- March 20-21, 2027: Abu Dhabi, UAE
