As the 2026 season begins winding down, the FIA has released its provisional Driver Categorisation list for 2027.
The system, which divides drivers across four categories (Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze), is utilised across ACO, IMSA and SRO competition and beyond, with said categorisation proving key in the driver market in this current era in the sport which sees series utilise complex Pro-Am systems.
All changes are subject to appeal, with changes frequently occurring between the release of the provisional and final lists.
As is traditionally the case, the key topic of conversation will be around those entering and exiting the Silver category, with Valentino Rossi and a selection of young talents being promoted to Gold, whilst various veterans of the sport – including notably Michelle Gatting – move the other way, and some emerging stars look set to remain Silver for another year.
The Silver-Bronze boundary has also seen some key movement, with GT World Challenge Europe frontrunners Dustin Blattner, Peter Dempsey and Constantin Dressler amongst those due for a promotion, whilst ELMS regular Paul Lafargue is included in the category of drivers set to be categorised as a Bronze next year.
Selected changes, and highlighted non-changes, are listed below. The full list published list is available here.
Remaining Platinum:
Olivier Pla
Gold to Platinum:
Julien Andlauer
Phil Hanson
Laurin Heinrich
Kyle Kirkwood
Norman Nato
Yifei Ye
Platinum to Gold:
Timo Bernhard
John Edwards
Esteban Guerrieri
Benoit Treluyer
Jacques Villeneuve
Remaining Gold:
Lewis Williamson
Silver to Gold:
Hugo Cook
Ben Dörr
Jonny Edgar
Tom Fleming
Mathys Jaubert
Joe Loake
Valentino Rossi
Ben Tuck
Gold to Silver:
Alessandro Balzan
João Barbosa
Nico Bastian
Townsend Bell
Michelle Gatting
Alex Imperatori
Pierre Kaffer
Jon Lancaster
Richard Lyons
Nic Minassian
Simona de Silvestra
Alex Yoong
Remaining Silver:
Ian Aguilera
Dudu Barrichello
Tom Sargent
Toby Sowery
Parker Thompson
Alec Udell
Lilou Wadoux
Finn Wiebelhaus
Salih Yoluc
Bronze to Silver:
Dustin Blattner
Peter Dempsey
Constantin Dressler
Silver to Bronze:
Lindsay Brewer
Steve Alvarez Brown
Vincent Capillere
Conrad Grunewald
Duncan Huisman
Rolf Ineichen
Paul Lafargue
Pippa Mann
Vincenzo Sospiri
Michael Vergers
James Walker
Remaining Bronze:
Charles Dawson
Image courtesy of DPPI
