Car World Weekly — April 6–12: Nürburgring Spotlight, F1 Calendar Shake-Up & Denza Z9 GT Launch

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The week of April 6–12, 2026, marks a pivotal shift in the motorsport calendar as the European season gains full momentum. While the Nürburgring buzzes with the debut of historic prototypes, the global stage faces significant disruption due to the cancellation of major Middle Eastern events, reshaping the flow of the 2026 World Championship.

Nürburgring News

  • NLS3: 57th Adenauer ADAC Rundstrecken-Trophy : On April 11 , the Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie returns for a four-hour showdown on the combined Nordschleife and GP circuit.
  • HWA EVO.R Racing Debut : A major highlight for NLS3 is the world racing premiere of the HWA EVO.R. This modern homage to the Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.5-16 Evo II will compete in the SP-X class with two prototype entries.
  • BMW Z4 GT3 Return : Fan-favorite Peter Posavac brings the legendary V8-powered “Zetti” back to the SP9 AM class for tire homologation and testing ahead of the 24h Nürburgring.
  • Kamui Kobayashi GT3 Step-Up : The Le Mans winner makes his SP9 PRO debut at the Ring this week, driving the #47 KCMG Mercedes-AMG GT3.
  • Youth Development : The NLS Youth Kart Championship kicks off its second season in the Historic Paddock on April 11 , featuring drivers as young as seven years old.

European Racing NewsActivity across the continent’s most iconic circuits is at its peak with various series and high-level testing.

  • GT4 European Series (Circuit Paul Ricard) : The season hots up in France on April 11–12 , with Ibañez and Piana securing pole positions during qualifying sessions at the high-speed Le Castellet track.
  • F1 Tire Development : Pirelli is utilizing the Nürburgring Grand Prix Circuit on April 14–15 (preparation beginning this week) for intensive Formula 1 tire testing supported by Mercedes and McLaren .
  • UET Elite Circuit (Torino) : In the world of equestrian racing, ALWAYS EK won the fifth stage of the European circuit held on April 6 at the Vinovo racetrack in Italy.
  • Trackday Season : April 6 marks a busy day for enthusiasts, with open pitlane events at Dijon-Prenois (France) and Spa-Francorchamps (Belgium).

Global Racing Highlights

The international racing landscape has been dramatically altered by geopolitical factors.

  • F1 Bahrain and Saudi Arabian GPs Cancelled: The FIA officially confirmed that the Grands Prix originally scheduled for April in Bahrain (April 12) and Saudi Arabia (April 19) will not take place due to regional instability.
  • Extended Break: No replacement races will be added, creating a five-week gap in the F1 calendar between Japan (March 29) and Miami (May 3).
  • WEC Prologue Shift: Due to the Middle East conflict, the FIA WEC Prologue has been rescheduled to take place on April 14 at Autodromo Imola in Italy, rather than its original Qatar location.

Vehicle Releases and Market Launches

  • Denza Z9 GT : This premium electric estate car from BYD’s luxury brand had its official European launch on April 8, 2026 , in Paris. It features a tri-motor architecture delivering approximately 960 horsepower and a range of nearly 600 km (WLTP).
  • Hyundai IONIQ “Planets” (Venus & Earth) : On April 10, 2026 , Hyundai launched its dedicated IONIQ brand in China, unveiling two concept cars: the VENUS (a trend-setting sedan) and the EARTH (a family SUV). These models preview a new strategy of naming future vehicles after planets.
  • BMW iX3 (World Car of the Year) : During the New York Auto Show (April 3–12), the all-electric BMW iX3 was officially crowned the 2026 World Car of the Year . It is the first vehicle built on BMW’s “Neue Klasse” platform.
  • Lexus ES Electric : Marketed for an April 2026 launch, this new all-electric variant of the ES sedan offers up to 307 miles of range and features a streamlined new interior with touch-sensitive controls.
  • Toyota Hilux BEV : Marking its European debut, the ninth-generation Hilux launched its fully electric (BEV) version in April 2026 , with a hybrid variant scheduled to follow in July.
  • Subaru e-Outback & Uncharted : Both models enjoyed their European premieres this week. The Uncharted is Subaru’s first compact BEV SUV, offering a range of up to 600 km for its long-range version.

Market Launches & Deliveries

  • Kia EV2 : Production began this week in Slovakia, with the first European deliveries of this affordable urban SUV (priced from approximately €30,000) expected immediately.
  • Suzuki e-Vitara : The brand’s first-ever fully electric model began reaching customers in France during this week.
  • Volvo EX60 Cross Country : Official deliveries for this rugged electric SUV, which boasts a 640 km WLTP range, commenced in April 2026 .

Conclusion

The second week of April 2026 highlights the resilience of the European racing scene. While global logistics face setbacks, the Nürburgring continues to serve as the ultimate proving ground for both heritage-inspired prototypes like the HWA EVO and modern GT3 talent.

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