GT World Challenge Europe concludes this weekend at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, with a host of 2024 Sprint Cup titles up for grabs at the Spanish circuit.
A field of 32 cars will tackle the final round, with entries representing eight manufacturers confirmed for the event, which will bring the curtain down on an exceptional season which began at Brands Hatch in May and has since taken in Misano, Hockenheim and Magny- Courses.
Two 60-minute races will decide the overall Sprint Cup crown, while class champions will also be decided in the Gold Cup, Silver Cup and Bronze Cup. With so many irons in the fire, it promises to be an epic showdown!
#48 Winward Racing Team MANN-FILTER, Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO: Lucas Auer, Maro Engel
Photo by: SRO
PRO: Epic fight between Vanthoor/Weerts and Engel/Auer
Regardless of who wins the title, the 2024 season will be remembered as one of the best in Sprint Cup history. Three-time series champions Dries Vanthoor and Charles Weerts (BMW #32 Team WRT) battled against Maro Engel and Lucas Auer (Mercedes #48 Winward Racing) and shared the podium on six occasions this season, including the last five consecutive races, taking three victories each.
Vanthoor and Weerts are aiming for a fourth Sprint Cup title, which would have the added significance of being their first with BMW. Auer and Engel are both looking for a first Sprint crown, as is Winward Racing, although Engel twice made it to the final race with a chance at glory, finishing second on both occasions. In short, both crews would be deserving champions.
There are no other contenders for the drivers’ title, although Emil Frey Racing maintains a chance of victory for the teams. The #14 Ferrari of Ben Green and Konsta Lappalainen looked set to battle it out to the end, but a troubled weekend at Magny-Cours ended their chances. Nonetheless, the two drivers will be able to be protagonists in Barcelona, together with the twin crew of the #69 made up of Thierry Vermeulen and Giacomo Altoè.
Boutsen VDS turned in a strong performance at Magny-Cours, taking pole for Race 2 and achieving a podium finish with Jules Gounon and Maximilian Götz in the #9 Mercedes-AMG.
Rutronik Racing achieved the podium in Race 1 with the Porsche #96; Patric Niederhauser and Sven Müller took the checkered flag in first place before being relegated due to a penalty. Both crews are aiming for a winning result in Barcelona.
Garage 59 will look to complete a season of Top 10 results with Benjamin Goethe and Tom Gamble sharing the #159 McLaren, while the young duo could also finish in the top five in the standings.
For defending champions Tresor Attempto, the final is an opportunity to end a largely frustrating season on a high with the #99 Audi fielding for Ricardo Feller and Alex Aka. Comtoyou Racing is also hoping for a good result with Mattia Drudi and Nicolas Baert sharing the #7 Aston Martin.
The Pro line-up is completed by Eastalent Racing, which will field the #84 Audi of Simon Reicher and Christopher Haase. The Austrian team made an excellent debut in the Sprint Cup last time out at Magny-Cours, achieving a pair of Top10 finishes, and will be aiming for a repeat at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.
#991 Paradine Competition, BMW M4 GT3: Toby Sowery, Jake Dennis, Darren Leung
Photo by: Paolo Belletti
BRONZE CUP: Paradine Competition in the lead, but rivals remain in the running
The top three contenders for the Bronze Cup crown are all well-known winners. Last year’s British GT champions, Darren Leung and Dan Harper (BMW #991 Paradine Competition), lead the standings with a 9.5 point lead over the Barwell Motorsport pair – Rob Collard and Sandy Mitchell – while Jonathan Hui and Eddie Cheever (Ferrari #93 Sky Tempesta Racing) are 2.5 points behind.
Dustin Blattner and Dennis Marschall (Porsche #97 Rutronik Racing) are also chasing points, finding themselves 20 from first place, but the moment is favorable after the brilliant weekend at Magny-Cours.
Dmitry Gvazava and Ugo De Wilde (Lamborghini #85 Imperiale Racing) and Andrey Mukovoz and Dylan Pereira (Audi #66 Tresor Attempto Racing) are also mathematically capable of winning the title, although both need different favorable situations for it to materialize .
Even though they are not fighting for the championship, Miguel Ramos and Louis Prette (McLaren #188 Garage 59) are always fast and can certainly end the season with a victory. Stéphane Denoual and Steven Palette (Porsche #44 Schumacher CLRT) achieved an important podium at Magny-Cours and will aim to repeat it in Spain, while Gabriele Rindone and Patrick Kujala complete the line-up with the #72 Lamborghini of Barwell Motorsport.
#85 Imperiale Racing, Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO2: Ugo De Wilde, Dmitry Gvazava
Photo by: SRO
GOLD and SILVER CUP: the Audi and WRT teams chasing glory
The fight for the Gold Cup title has been close all season. Indeed, it is the most open in view of the final, with three teams separated by just five points. Luca Engstler and Max Hofer (Audi #6 Team Engstler by OneGroup) lead the standings, followed closely by Gilles Magnus and Paul Evrard (Audi #25 Saintéloc Racing), with Simon Gachet and Lucas Légeret (Audi #111 CSA Racing) immediately behind in third place.
This class battle is made even more intriguing by Tresor Attempto Racing, who have achieved three consecutive victories thanks to Lorenzo Patrese and Lorenzo Ferrari. The #88 Audi crew has a lot of chances to win the title, but will probably play a big role in the decision for the others thanks to its form.
The Gold Cup will also feature a pair of Comtoyou Racing drivers, with Matisse Lismont and David Pittard sharing the #21 Aston Martin and colleagues to be confirmed in the #11 sister car.
While the Gold Cup is wide open, the Silver Cup drivers’ title is closest to being settled. Sam De Haan and Calan Williams (BMW #30 Team WRT) have a 21-point lead at the top of the standings and will hope to complete the job in Race 1.
Aurélien Panis and César Gazeau almost certainly need a win to keep their hopes alive, while Eliseo Donno and Tom Fleming (Ferrari #71 AF Corse) aim to do well.
In stark contrast, the standings of the Silver Cup teams couldn’t be closer. Team WRT and AF Corse are tied on 100.5 points, with Ferrari benefiting from the contribution of the #52 crew of Jef Machiels and Sean Hudspeth.
There are three more Silver Cup entries, completing a 32-car field for the trip to Barcelona. Winward Racing returns with Reece Barr and Gilles Stadsbader sharing the #57 Mercedes-AMG, Comtoyou Racing fields the #12 Aston Martin of Lorens Lecertua and Dante Rappange, while Saintéloc Racing concludes the season with Ivan Klymenko and Ezequiel Perez Companc aboard the Audi #26.
#88 Tresor Attempto Racing, Audi R8 LMS GT3 EVO II: Lorenzo Patrese, Lorenzo Ferrari
Photo by: SRO
THE PROGRAM
Friday 11 October
Free Practice – 9:00-10:40
Pre-Qualifying – 2.20pm-3.20pm
Saturday 12 October
Qualifying 1 – 9.45-9.55
Race 1 – 2.00pm-3.00pm
Sunday 13 October
Qualifying 2 – 9:00-9:10
Race 2 – 2.00pm-3.00pm
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