Oana Gratiela makes GT4 debut in GT4 Winter Series at Portimao
- RACERS
- 6 hours ago
- 4 min read
Oana Gratiela completed her first GT4 race weekend at Portimão, making her debut in the GT4 Winter Series during the opening round of the 2026 season in a husband-and-wife duo at the wheel of the Sunder Motorworks Porsche Cayman 718 with a clear focus on learning the platform, building confidence, and making steady gains across the weekend.
Oana Gratiela completed her first GT4 race weekend at the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve, making her debut in the GT4 Winter Series during the opening round of the 2026 season at Portimão.
The Romanian racer shared the #24 Sunder Motorworks Porsche Cayman 718 with Jose Garcia, the husband-and-wife pairing contesting the AM class with a clear focus on learning the platform, building confidence, and making steady performance gains across the weekend.
Garcia returned to the GT4 Winter Series grid after previously competing at Portimão in 2025 and in the inaugural 6H of Portimão, while Gratiela was also familiar with the circuit, having raced there in last year’s 6H event in TCR machinery with a VW Golf. However, this marked a major step as she transitioned into GT4 competitions for the first time.
The duo joined the field for Friday testing, concentrating on understanding the Porsche Cayman 718 GT4. Clean running allowed Gratiela in particular to gain vital seat time, with progress carrying into official sessions. On Saturday morning, Sunder Motorworks in fact showed a step forward in official practice; Garcia and Gratiela set a best lap of 2:22.925, placing them third in the AM class.
Qualifying followed with Garcia taking Q1 duties. He posted a 2:12.030, placing the #24 Porsche fourth within the AM field. Gratiela then completed her first GT4 qualifying session in Q2, recording a 2:35.598. Despite the gap reflecting her learning phase, the time secured third in AM class and 15th overall on the grid.
Jose Garcia started the opening sprint race, which began behind the Safety Car. With the #8 Toyota unable to take the start, Garcia was promoted immediately to second place in the AM class.
When the race went green, Garcia initially held position before being passed by the recovering #32 W&S Motorsport Porsche of Bolting, dropping to third in AM and 14th overall. Settling into the rhythm, Garcia circulated consistently in the 2:08s and then low-2:10s, focusing on clean execution and management.
The ProAm #30 W&S Motorsport Porsche went off, triggering another Safety Car period. With the field neutralised, the race ultimately finished under caution. Garcia took the chequered flag 14th overall and third in the AM class.
Sunday’s opening sprint race presented dramatically different conditions, with a damp track and mixed tyre strategies across the field. Gratiela took the start on wet tyres for her competitive GT4 debut, lining up 14th overall.
At lights out, with some rivals gambling on slicks, Gratiela adopted a cautious approach, prioritising car control and experience. She settled into 16th overall and fourth in AM class, initially circulating in the 2:27s as she built confidence on the slippery surface.
As the track continued to dry, her improvement became increasingly clear. Gratiela reduced her lap times step by step - first into the 2:23s, then down to a 2:20.5 by lap six. Remaining on wet tyres, she continued to find time as her comfort in the Porsche grew, moving up to 15th overall following pit activity ahead while maintaining fourth in class.
Her progress accelerated further in the second half of the race. On lap ten she set a 2:16.3, then improved again to a 2:15.023, which stood as her fastest lap of the race. She nearly matched that time again the following lap.
Despite a close call late on when negotiating traffic from the overall leaders and sustaining light contact, Gratiela brought the car home to finish her first GT4 sprint race 16th overall and fourth in the AM class, completing a valuable wet-weather learning run.
The weekend concluded with the endurance race on Sunday afternoon. Gratiela took the opening stint, starting from row eight in 15th overall, once again aiming to build on her improving pace.
After the green flag flew at the end of the second formation lap, she settled into fourth place in the AM class. Her opening laps were measured, with a 2:25.9 on lap four already showing some progress.
Managing traffic from the overall leaders cleanly, she continued to chip away at her times, improving to a 2:24.4, then a 2:21.1, and breaking into the 2:20s by lap eight.
As the stint developed and confidence grew, Gratiela recorded a best lap of 2:19.558 approaching the pit window. With 31 minutes remaining, she handed the car over to Garcia.
Garcia rejoined amid heavy traffic during the pit cycle but managed the situation well, holding 16th overall and fourth in AM class. His pace was immediately stronger, running consistent laps in the 2:04s before dipping into the 2:02s. On lap 22, he set the car’s fastest lap of the race with a 2:00.8. The #24 Sunder Motorworks Porsche took the chequered flag 16th overall and fourth in the AM class, completing a clean endurance run.
Across the races, Oana Gratiela successfully completed her GT4 debut weekend, gaining crucial track time and dramatically reducing her lap times by nearly 20 seconds compared to her first testing session. The Portimão round marked a steep learning curve, and while the duo do not currently appear on the provisional entry list for the second round at Estoril, their Portimão weekend provided a foundation in GT4 competition for further appearances.
