Team WRT began its 2025 GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS Endurance Cup campaign in the best possible way, charging from ninth on the grid to win the six-hour season opener at Circuit Paul Ricard with the #32 BMW M4 GT3 EVO.

Brilliant strategy and flawless execution deliver BMW the win

The winning trio of Charles Weerts, Ugo De Wilde, and Kelvin van der Linde executed a near-flawless race to give BMW a record-extending 13th Endurance Cup victory — and its third at Paul Ricard. A smart call during the first pit window helped the #32 BMW break into the top five early on, laying the foundation for a methodical climb up the order​

By the halfway mark, Weerts and De Wilde had moved the car up to second. The breakthrough came in the fifth hour, when the #32 took the lead, with Van der Linde installed for the final stint. Emerging just behind the leading #96 Rutronik Racing Porsche, the South African driver immediately applied pressure on Patric Niederhauser, eventually diving down the inside at Turn 1 to make the decisive move. From there, he managed the gap to seal victory after 179 laps​.

Double podium for Porsche with Rutronik and Schumacher CLRT

Although victory slipped away in the final hour, Rutronik Racing still had plenty to celebrate. The #96 Porsche 911 GT3 R of Sven Müller, Patric Niederhauser, and Alessio Picariello had taken control in the second hour and led for much of the race before settling for second at the flag​.

Third place went to Schumacher CLRT, whose #22 Porsche driven by Ayhancan Güven, Laurin Heinrich, and Klaus Bachler delivered a clean, consistent performance to round out a strong day for the Stuttgart marque​.

MANN-FILTER Mercedes loses ground after starting on pole

After securing pole position, the #48 Mercedes-AMG Team MANN-FILTER entry of Lucas Auer, Matteo Cairoli, and Maro Engel looked like a strong contender. The yellow AMG stayed in the hunt through the first four hours but gradually slipped to fourth by the finish​.

The #7 Comtoyou Racing Aston Martin followed in fifth, an impressive debut outing for Marco Sørensen, Nicki Thiim, and Mattia Drudi. The #98 Rowe Racing BMW of Augusto Farfus, Jesse Krohn, and Raffaele Marciello completed the top six with a solid performance that kept them in the Pro-class mix all race long​.

CSA Racing scores home Gold Cup win despite penalty

French outfit CSA Racing celebrated a home win in the Gold Cup, with Arthur Rougier, James Kell, and Simon Gachet guiding the #111 McLaren 720S GT3 EVO to seventh overall. A 10-second penalty for a pit stop infringement couldn’t undo their strong pace and early advantage, which proved enough to hold onto the win​.

Behind them, the #33 Verstappen.com Racing Aston Martin of Jordan King, Isaac Lulham, and Thierry Vermeulen took second in class after a late-race pass on the #777 AlManar Racing by WRT BMW driven by Jens Klingmann, Ben Tuck, and Al Faisal Al Zubair, who completed the Gold Cup podium​.

Paradine Competition BMW wins Silver Cup with late charge

In the Silver Cup, the #992 Paradine Competition BMW of Pedro Ebrahim, Charles Clark, and James Kellett came out on top. Clark made the decisive move on the #60 VSR Lamborghini late in the race before handing over to Kellett, who held firm through to the finish​.

The #24 Steller Motorsport Corvette Z06 GT3.R, with Josh Lismont, James Jewiss, and Sebastian Hanafin, impressed on its series debut with a strong run to second. Third place went to the #26 Saintéloc Racing Audi, shared by Erwan Lecertua, Sasha Klymenko, and Lucas Légeret​.

Kessel Racing takes second consecutive Bronze Cup victory

Kessel Racing made it two Bronze Cup victories in a row at Paul Ricard with the #74 Ferrari 296 GT3 of Dustin Blattner, Conrad Laursen, and Dennis Marschall. Despite facing several challenges during the race, the crew held off the #991 Paradine Competition BMW by just 2.7 seconds at the flag. The team’s #8 Ferrari completed the class podium after a consistent run​.

A smooth and competitive start to the Endurance Cup season

Remarkably, the six-hour race ran without a single safety car period. Just five full-course yellow phases briefly neutralised the field, and only four cars failed to reach the finish. In total, 55 of the 59 starters were classified — a testament to the teams’ preparation and reliability. The event also saw podium finishes for seven different manufacturers, highlighting the depth and competitiveness of the 2025 grid​.

Brands Hatch and Monza up next

The 2025 GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS continues with the Sprint Cup opener at Brands Hatch on 3-4 May, followed by round two of the Endurance Cup at Monza on 30 May-1 June. Both events promise even more close competition in what’s already shaping up to be a standout season.