The #96 Rutronik Racing Porsche, driven by Patric Niederhauser and Sven Müller, claimed victory in the opening race of the 2025 Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe Sprint Cup at Zandvoort. A flawless performance and strategic pit stop saw Müller take the lead mid-race and maintain control to the chequered flag.

The race opened with drama, as a safety car was deployed at the end of lap one following multiple incidents. The #64 HRT Ford Performance Mustang ended up in the gravel, the #14 Ferrari lost its bonnet, and the #30 Porsche sustained significant damage—forcing both the latter cars to retire to the pits.

Further chaos ensued at Turn 1 when Dennis Marschall’s #74 Kessel Racing Ferrari was spun and subsequently collected by the #64 Mustang. The collision also eliminated the #24 Steller Motorsport Corvette of Matisse Lismont.

Pole-sitter Bastian Buus led the early laps in the #89 Lionspeed Porsche, while behind him, Patric Niederhauser made steady progress, eventually overtaking Gilles Magnus in the #25 Saintéloc Racing Audi to move into second.

Following the restart, more contact disrupted the field. The #51 Ferrari of Alessandro Rovera clashed with the #80 Porsche of Ricardo Feller, leaving Feller with a puncture and ultimately dropping him off the lead lap.

As the race settled, Buus retained his lead, but was under increasing pressure from Niederhauser and Dylan Pereira in the #66 Tresor Attempto Racing Audi. The battle between Niederhauser and Pereira allowed Buus some respite—until the pit window opened.

Niederhauser pitted early, while Buus extended his stint to the maximum. However, a longer stop for the #89 Porsche allowed Müller—now in the #96 car—to emerge in the lead. Müller maintained that advantage to the end, securing overall victory. The #89 Lionspeed entry, now driven by Bashar Mardini, went on to win the Bronze Cup, finishing 18th overall.

The #48 Winward Racing Mercedes, piloted by Maro Engel, received a five-second penalty for an unsafe release in the pit lane after a close call with the #63 GRT Grasser Racing Team Lamborghini of Luca Engstler and Jordan Pepper. Engel was later caught in a tight on-track battle with Paul Evrard’s #25 Audi, which hindered his progress and allowed Pepper to surge past all three competitors.

Pepper held on to finish in second place some 5.8 seconds behind Müller and Maro Engel held onto third place despite the 5 second penalty.

In the Gold Cup category, victory went to the #25 Saintéloc Racing Audi of Gilles Magnus and Paul Evrard, ahead of the #69 Emil Frey Racing Ferrari 296 shared by Thierry Vermeulen and Chris Lulham.

Silver Cup honours were claimed by the #99 Tresor Attempto Racing Audi, driven by Alex Aka and Ezequiel Perez Companc.