While the third round of the Nürburgring Endurance Series (NLS) took place on the Nürburgring Nordschleife last weekend, the GT World Challenge Europe opened its season at the Circuit Paul Ricard in France.
Among the competitors were the Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3 Evo, BMW M4 GT3 Evo, Lamborghini Temerario GT3, and Porsche 911 GT3 R each equipped with KW Racing shocks.
The strength of GT3 racing is evident not only through the many championships held worldwide, but also through consistently full grids and well-attended events. In France alone, organizers welcomed more than 37,000 spectators, and the grid featured 58 GT3 race cars.
At the season opener of the GT World Challenge Europe at Circuit Paul Ricard, the Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3 Evo (#7) from Comtoyou Racing, driven by Mattia Drudi, Marco Sørensen, and Nicki Thiim, celebrated a hard-fought victory in the Pro Cup class as well as overall.
The trio delivered a dramatic late-race move: after an early tire failure during the opening stint and a subsequent safety car phase, Nicki Thiim took the lead just nine minutes before the finish, overtaking the previously dominant rival in an intense duel on the Mistral Straight.
The BMW M4 GT3 Evo entries delivered a strong team performance. Car #32 from Team WRT, driven by Kelvin van der Linde, Jordan Pepper, and Charles Weerts, finished fourth in the Pro Cup class and fourth overall.
ROWE Racing (#98), driven by Augusto Farfus, Jake Dennis, and Raffaele Marciello, crossed the line in sixth place in the Pro Cup class. Their teammates in the #998 BMW M4 GT3 Evo, Ugo de Wilde, Tim Tramnitz, and Jens Klingmann, finished tenth.
The best-placed Porsche finished eleventh overall: the Porsche 911 GT3 R (#2) from the Boutsen VDS Team, driven by Morris Schuring, Dorian Boccolacci, and Alessio Picariello, competing in the Pro Cup class.
The second BMW M4 GT3 Evo from Team WRT, car #46 driven by Daniel Harper, Max Hesse, and Valentino Rossi, finished the race in twelfth position.
In total, 22 GT3 race cars equipped with KW Racing suspension systems took the start: six Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3 Evo, eight BMW M4 GT3, six Porsche 911 GT3 R, and two Lamborghini Temerario GT3.
Photo GTWC Europe
