Gran Turismo World Series Nations Cup: Spain dominates opening 2026 round
Pol Urra dominated in the first round of the current season, but only after debutant Samuel Moreno nearly stunned. Reigning champion José Serrano finished second behind his compatriot.
Pol Urra has won the first round of 2026’s Gran Turismo World Series competition in front of an adulating Milanese crowd.
It was, however, a new Spanish driver, Samuel Moreno, who led the field away for the 27-lap main race around a virtual Monza in identical Gran Turismo Red Bull X2019 Competition vehicles.
In typical esoteric Gran Turismo fashion, a sprint race using vintage cars earlier in the day set the grid.
Moreno in the Ferrari 500 Mondial Pinin Farina Coupe from 1954 capitalised on a slight error by Kylian Drumont to lead in the early stages. The pair made contact after the French driver went slightly wide, before Japan’s Takuma Miyazono slipped by after further Drumont and Moreno contact.
Eventually, Urra would join the battle for the lead in the incongruous 1938 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B Touring Berlinetta, the trio breaking away from a messy chasing pack.
The World Series finalist debutant would eventually hit the front once more on the penultimate lap, with Urra following through soon after for a Spanish one-two. The third entrant from the European nation, José Serrano, was mired in the mid-field, finishing sixth. Home hero Valerio Gallo finished a commendable fourth.
The Red Bull-equipped main race was a story of mistakes.
Moreno led the field, easing away from the chasing pack before a self-induced error saw him spin down the field. Two wheels on the grass in the baking zone for Curva Alboreto proved costly in an otherwise sparkling maiden World Series performance.
With the young contender out of the way, Urra was never bettered, always keeping a gap over the competition to win the opening round.
Behind, things were more complicated, with several drivers ruing 0.5s track limit penalties.
Serrano proved to not only be quick, but mistake-free. Surviving an opening lap contretemps with Ryota Kokubun and Drumont, the reigning champion metronomically closed in on Miyazono.
The duo closed in another pair, Kaj de Bruin and Gallo. Once they had joined the tow, the Italian struck, passing the Dutch driver, only for de Bruin to re-pass.
This all provided Urra with an even larger lead. On the 14th lap, de Bruin, Gallo and Miyazono all pit, but Serrano stayed out for another lap.
This would prove crucial in the final third of the race as he chased down his rivals. It would also help that they kept receiving the aforementioned 0.5s penalties.
Miyazono collected one, Gallo three and de Bruin also three, although one was for 1s as opposed to 0.5s.
Despite this, in the final stages, Italy and Japan seemed to be working together, catching the leading Spaniards. It came to nothing, however, with the mercurial Gallo spinning into the barriers on the final lap, dropping to ninth by the end.
“When I found myself alone in first place, you really have to focus because you have the pressure from the guys behind and I try to open the gap,” said Urra.
In the end, I was literally not risking anything at all. José [Serrano] was catching me, and I was like, ‘I don’t want a penalty’,”
The second round of the 2026 Gran Turismo World Series will be held in Polyphony Digital’s Tokyo headquarters this August, before a return to live audience events in Singapore and Tokyo to decide the champions.
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