From karting to single-seaters, from Touring Car titles to joining his “dream brand”. Álvaro Bajo is one of the leading protagonists of the 2026 Porsche Sprint Challenge Ibérica. With four victories at three different circuits, the Spanish driver and Mexico’s Gildardo Herrera occupy second place overall at the wheel of GT Corse’s #88 Porsche 992 GT3 Cup, with only Navarra and the Grand Finale at Estoril remaining before the end of the season.
The numbers reflect the competitiveness Álvaro Bajo has demonstrated in the Porsche Sprint Challenge Ibérica, but they tell only part of the story of a driver who arrived in the championship with extensive motorsport experience and found a new and demanding challenge in the Porsche 992 GT3 Cup.
And the Spanish driver himself makes no secret of the fact that the journey has gone beyond what he imagined: “The season is exceeding all expectations. There is a lot of preparation behind these results, but we were convinced that we could be competitive. The level of our rivals is very high and, for that reason, we have to give our best in every race.”
Four victories, but Valencia holds a special place in his heart
Estoril opened the account. Valencia added two more victories. Jerez brought the fourth, confirming Álvaro Bajo as one of only five drivers to have taken an overall victory in the PSCI this season. Choosing one of them is not easy for someone who has already experienced many moments of triumph throughout his career.
But there is one race in 2026 that has all the ingredients to occupy a special place in his memory: “Every victory is special. But if I had to choose one from this year, it would be the first one in Valencia. It was a race that I dominated from start to finish, in front of my friends and family, and that made it very special!”
Behind the results is also a team that Bajo knew well before deciding to make it part of his project. Choosing GT Corse was no coincidence: “GT Corse is a top-level team and that is precisely why we decided to compete with this structure. We already knew their results and their way of working, so it was not difficult to trust them with our project. I believe Gil, Alejandro, Borja and I form a great group and we will fight for the championship until the end.”
Gildardo Herrera: sharing the car and building results
There is an important particularity to Bajo’s season. The Spaniard shares the #88 with Gildardo Herrera, who returned to competition after a long absence. In a championship where both drivers contribute to the same points tally, the complementarity between the two takes on particular importance.
Bajo particularly highlights the progress he has seen from the Mexican and the relationship they have developed both on and off the track: “Gil spent many years away from this world and, although you never forget this sport, because it is like riding a bicycle, he needed a few races to adapt again to the demands of this level. I think he is doing an impeccable job, constantly improving and scoring many podiums in the Bronze category. We have a very healthy relationship and we try to help each other both on and off the track.”
The results reflect that consistency. With two rounds remaining, their 286 points place the #88 second overall.
From karting to Touring Car titles and… finally Porsche
Behind the protagonist now fighting at the sharp end of the PSCI lies a career that began more than two decades ago. Álvaro Bajo started karting in 2005, competing in national and international championships until 2010. He then moved into single- seaters, first in Formula BMW and later in Formula 3.
In 2011, he began a new chapter in Touring Cars, where he would build a significant part of his racing record. According to the driver himself, he became Spanish Champion on several occasions, won a European Championship and claimed a silver medal at the FIA Motorsport Games. In 2026, he finally added Porsche to the list.
And Álvaro makes no secret of what that means to him: “Now I am with Porsche, my dream brand.” His enthusiasm for the brand does not, however, make the Porsche 992 GT3 Cup any less demanding.
Bajo considers it one of the most difficult GT cars to drive at the limit: “The Porsche 992 GT3 Cup is an incredibly demanding car. I would say it is one of the most difficult GT cars to drive at the limit, but those characteristics are precisely what also make it the most exciting to drive. This car does not allow mistakes; you have to maintain 200% concentration at all times. It is precisely that need to maintain such a high level of concentration that has helped me evolve the most.”
Navarra and Estoril: defending second place and continuing to win
With only Navarra and the Grand Finale at Estoril remaining, Álvaro Bajo acknowledges the advantage built by the #14 Porsche of Borja García and Alejandro Barambio Perea, but he is not giving up on ambitious targets for the closing stages of the season.
“The championship is very difficult. Our ‘sister’ #14 car has things very well under control because both drivers have done an exceptional job. But we will fight to maintain this second position, which is being very closely contested, and, if possible, continue adding victories.”
With the Porsche Sprint Challenge Ibérica preparing for a new chapter in 2027, Bajo would like to remain part of the project, although he acknowledges that the decision will depend on the conditions required to put the programme together: “We would love to continue in this championship. Being part of the Porsche Sprint Challenge Ibérica makes this competition even more special. The entire organisation is made up of fantastic people, from José Monroy to every other member of the team. But we know how this world works: we will see what budget we have available and make a decision as soon as possible.”