The 2025 Gran Turismo World Series may be just around the corner, but it’s going to have to do without one of its most-decorated drivers as four-time champion Coque Lopez has announced he will no longer take part.
Lopez has been almost ever-present in the GT World Series, attending all seven finals in the Nations Cup and all but one in the Manufacturers Cup. In that time he’s secured two titles in each of the two championships, for four in total — a feat only matched by Takuma Miyazono whose Toyota GR GT Cup win is all that separates them in the record books.
He’s also the only driver to have taken a title in four successive seasons, netting the Manufacturers Cup for Toyota and Lexus in 2021 and 2024, and back-to-back Nations Cups — another unique achievement — in the solo 2022 event and for Team Spain in 2023.
That’s a streak that won’t continue in 2025, with Lopez posting his effective retirement from the championship and his reasons for doing so on social media earlier today:
Lopez, who has carved an esports career on other platforms too and recently became the team manager of the TC Esports team of Belgium and Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, effectively cites the scheduling, commitment, and remuneration (or lack thereof) as being behind his decision.
For 2025, as with 2024, the GT World Series will have an initial qualifying phase that is just 17 days long in each championship. There’ll be six races packed into that time, with the best five counting towards the points total, and for the Nations Cup there’ll only be four qualifiers from Europe, the Middle East, and Africa — and that’s still the best-represented region of all.
It’s quite the commitment for anyone, and for players like Lopez who take part in both championships it means a month of absolute focus. Given that half the rounds take place on weekdays and two of the three entry slots on those days are during working hours, it’s one for people who can either spare or afford the time — especially if your one-and-done attempt is subject to post-race stewarding.
Little wonder then that Lopez goes on to add that “the current format makes it extremely difficult to continue dedicating ourselves fully to this sport” in his Tweet chain.
The Spanish driver goes on to note that, much though he’s enjoyed his time on the scene and the experiences it’s afforded, “even after years competing at the top, it has not been possible to build a sustainable future as a professional driver”.
That brings one of the most unusual features of the GT World Series into focus: the lack of prize money for the participants. Of course, attending the live events is a rewarding experience with fully funded trips to high-price hotels in cities around the world, and there are not only spectacular trophies and medals, but high-value prizes like watches and steering wheels for the players on the podium. Nonetheless, there isn’t any actual prize pot for the racers.
We can’t actually think of another esports series where this is the case. Some are absolutely awash with cash, with Rennsport-based ESL R1 series offering a $500,000 pool each season and $1m for certain one-offs like the Gamers8 Riyadh event in 2023. Germany’s Maximilian Benecke walked off with $100,000 for the weekend’s work.
While it does make the GT World Series a unique proposition — you really have to want to be there if you’re not getting paid for it — it also means it’s pretty difficult to be a professional Gran Turismo driver, with players seemingly not allowed to wear sponsor or team branding while racing either.
Esports fans will still be able to catch Coque Lopez racing in 2025, as he currently sits third in the Racing Unleashed Racer League Pro standings in Assetto Corsa, and will be taking TC Esports into its debut season in Rennsport’s new R1 championship. However he will be sorely missed at this year’s GT World Series live events.
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