Double Trouble: WRT and Winward Racing Dominate at Brands Hatch
The GT World Challenge Europe season is off to a thrilling start, with the first sprint event of the year at the iconic Brands Hatch GP circuit. And what an event it was!
Spring finally graced the UK with its presence. The sun was shining and warmth was in the air as the drivers took to the track for round 2 of the championship. Ben Green in the Emil Frey Racing Ferrari claimed pole position, with Mattia Drudi hot on his heels in the Comtoyou Aston Martin. Dries Vanthoor in the first of WRT's BMWs started 3rd, followed by Tom Gamble in the Garage 59 McLaren and Maro Engel in the Winward Racing Mercedes AMG.
The race got off to an intense start, with drama unfolding right from the get-go. The Boutsen VDS Mercedes of Götz and Gounon suffering engine issues and having to retire before the race even began. Tom Gamble was unfairly nerfed off track at turn 3, dropping down the order. Meanwhile, Vanthoor managed to make a move on Drudi for 2nd place, only for Drudi to fight back and reclaim his position around the outside of Hawthorns.
As the race progressed, Vanthoor continued to push, closing in on Green at the front of the pack. A flawless pit stop by WRT's mechanics saw Vanthoor leapfrog Green during the driver and tyre changes, taking the lead of the race. However, the action was far from over.
Disaster struck for Drudi and Baert in the Comtoyou Aston Martin as they ran off track. Collecting a polystyrene sign, filling the front grill and causing the car to overheat. Forcing them to retire. A safety car period was deployed to recover the stricken car, setting the stage for a nail-biting finish.
Moments from race end the Tresor Attempto Audi R8s of Ricardo Feller and Lorenzo Ferrari found themselves in a compromising situation as they collided at Surtees, with Feller inadvertently sending Ferrari spinning off into the grass and gravel. Feller managed to advance to 4th place while Ferrari plummeted down to 20th, his hopes of a podium finish dashed in an instant.
As the race entered its final phase, just 8 minutes left on the clock, another twist of fate occurred as Lismont lost control of his Aston Martin on the tricky entry to Paddock Hill, ending up stranded in the gravel and prompting a safety car period to recover the beached car. WRT, ever the strategic thinkers, seized the opportunity to play smart on the restart. Instructing Weerts to slow the pack down to ensure that only one lap would remain when they crossed the line and resumed racing. This tactical move paid off handsomely as Weerts and Vanthoor piloted their BMW M4 to victory, narrowly edging out Lappalainen and Green in their Ferrari 296 for second place. Auer and Engel completed the podium in their Mercedes AMG, making for a thrilling finish to the race.
In the Gold Cup category, Hofer and Engstler showcased their skill and determination, finishing 7th overall in the Liqui Moly Team Audi and claiming victory in their class. Paniz and Gazeau also had cause for celebration as they triumphed in the Silver Cup for Boutsen VDS, adding another layer of excitement to an already eventful race.
The second race of the day saw Lucas Auer starting on pole position in the Winward Racing Team Mercedes AMG, leading the charge with Jules Gounon hot on his heels in the Boutsen VDS Mercedes. Thierry Vermeulen in his Emil Frey Racing Ferrari was not far behind in third, with Benjamin Goethe in the Garage 59 McLaren and Ricardo Feller in the Tresor Attempto Racing Audi rounding out the top five on the grid.
The race got off to a clean start, with all drivers navigating the opening laps without any major incidents. It was great to see Gounon and Maxi Götz back on track after their retirement in race 1, but Gounon just couldn't keep up with the pace set by Auer.
Gilles Magnus took an early lead in the Gold Cup for Sainteloc Racing, while Eliseo Donno led the Silver Cup standings in the AF Corse Ferrari.
However, not all was smooth sailing on the track. Hugo Cook made an optimistic move that ended up causing a collision with Magnus Gustavsen, sending him off the track. Meanwhile, Auer had built up an impressive 5-second lead after just 10 minutes of racing.
As the race progressed, Goethe and Feller closed in on Vermeulen, setting up a thrilling three-way battle for third place. The action on track intensified when they caught up to Gounon, turning the fight for second into a four-way battle.
Some teams opted to pit early once the window opened, while others waited until the last possible moment. Maxime Martin handed over the WRT BMW to Valentino Rossi, who managed to leapfrog the Garage 59 McLaren and move up the standings. Gounon and Götz also lost ground in the pit stops, falling behind Vermeulen and Altoe in the Ferrari.
With less than 20 minutes to go, Sainteloc Racing maintained their lead in the Gold Cup, Paul Evrard now behind the wheel. The main fight on track was now for 6th position between Rossi, Gamble, and Vanthoor. Gamble made a bold move down the inside of Rossi at Graham Hill bend, successfully overtaking him. Vanthoor had to settle in behind Rossi, waiting for the perfect moment to make his move.
With just over 10 minutes remaining, the tension was rising as Alex Aka was hot on the tail of Götz, fighting for the final podium spot. However, Aka was also facing pressure from Green, who was right behind him looking for an opportunity to pass.
In a nail-biting moment, Vanthoor was able to put pressure on Rossi, forcing him into a mistake and ultimately passing him to secure 7th place. Unfortunately, the 46 WRT BMW of Rossi and Martin had to retire shortly after due to a steering issue. In the end, it was Engel and Auer who took victory in the Winward Racing Mercedes AMG, with Altoe and Vermeulen coming in 2nd in the Emil Frey Racing Ferrari. Götz and Gounon managed to secure 3rd place in the Boutsen VDS Mercedes.
Meanwhile, Magnus and Evrard triumphed in the Gold Cup for Sainteloc Racing, and Donno and Fleming emerged victorious in the Silver Cup for AF Corse.
It was a day filled with excitement, drama, and impressive performances on and off the track.