+ Seven drivers eligible for global title
+ Season begins at Meguiar’s Bathurst 12 Hour this weekend
The largest Independent Cup entry in Intercontinental GT Challenge history will battle for global supremacy across five events this year.
Seven FIA Bronze-graded drivers, led by reigning champion Kenny Habul, have signed up for SRO’s globe-trotting GT3 series, which begins at the Meguiar’s Bathurst 12 Hour in Australia this weekend.
The 75 Express team’s owner/driver is joined on the Independent Cup entry by 2023 champion Jonathan Hui plus former title contenders Prince Jefri Ibrahim and Ralf Bohn. Debutants Kerong Li and Johannes Zelger complete Mount Panorama’s contingent, while Adrian D’Silva – who has contested the class for the last two years – joins the grid later this season.
His chances, as well as those of others who could yet do the same, are aided by a quirk of the Independent Cup regulations that permit each driver to only score points at four of the five events. From Mount Panorama the series heads to Europe for two historic 24-hour races in quick succession at the Nürburgring and then Spa-Francorchamps before the Suzuka 1000km (Asia) and Indianapolis 8 Hour (North America) round out IGTC Season 11.
Habul secured his fifth Independent Cup title, and first since 2022, during a three-way shootout with Bohn and Antares Au at Indianapolis in October. Now the Australian has his sights set on retaining the crown – something he uniquely achieved in 2018-19 and 21-22.
“I’ve contested almost every Intercontinental season and can say that 2026 is without question the most stacked on record,” he said. “Winning Independent Cup against this calibre of drivers would probably be my greatest racing achievement. The championship and class are both very close to my heart.”
Standing in his way are three drivers who know all about the Independent Cup.
2026 marks Hui’s first official appearance since winning the title at the Gulf 12 Hours three years ago. The Hong Konger will race a Ziggo Sport Tempesta by ARGT Ferrari along with Ryan Wood, Lorenzo Patrese and long-time co-driver Chris Froggatt this weekend.
Arise Racing, which oversees Hui’s entry, can count on the experience it accrued with the 296 GT3 at Bathurst last year. The same, however, cannot be said for JMR and Ibrahim who are making their first appearances with the Chevrolet Corvette there after clinching third overall in GT World Challenge Asia powered by AWS and contesting the Suzuka 1000km last season. Ibrahim finished second in the Independent Cup standings behind Au in 2024.
Bohn, meanwhile, is embarking on his second IGTC campaign. Victory at Spa propelled him into last season’s title fight before finishing third behind Habul and Au. The German again joins Renauer brothers Alfred and Robert aboard a Herberth Porsche.
But there are also two Independent Cup debutants to consider.
Li makes the move to international sportscar racing following a GT World Challenge Asia campaign with Anders Fjordbach, who’s also due to race the High Class 911 GT3 R throughout 2026. They’re joined at Bathurst by former Asia rival turned team-mate and newly minted Porsche driver Dorian Boccolacci.
Another of Stuttgart’s contingent, Tsunami RT, complete Bathurst’s Independent Cup roster courtesy of Johannes Zelger. The Italian, who previously contested International GT Open, shares the car with Daniel Gaunt, Alex Fontana and Fabio Babini.
