Just two weeks after the successful run in the ADAC GT Masters, the Nürburgring is calling yet again for GRT this coming weekend. From 28 to 30 July, the next stop in the Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup is on the agenda at the Grand Prix circuit in the Eifel - and it's a crucial one! At the penultimate event of season in the prestigious GT3 series, the title fight for Grasser Racing is entering the showdown phase. After their class victory at the infamous CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa, the Lamborghini Team from Austria leads the Silver Cup in the endurance championship. At the 3h race on the Nürburgring, the next puzzle piece can be put in place on the title mission with the new Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVO2.
With three podiums from three races, Team Principal Gottfried Grasser's outfit has secured the best possible position in the silver classification for the final phase in the championship. The number 58 car with Fabrizio Crestani, Sam Neary and Ricky Capo at the wheel laid the foundation with third place at the season opener in Monza. In the following 1,000 km race at Le Castellet, Clemens Schmid, Glenn van Berlo and Benjamin Hites took second place. The trio of car number 85 then scored a big point in the season's highlight event straight afterwards. The 24-hour race at Spa-Francorchamps is not only the most legendary but also the most valuable race on the Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup calendar. Their class victory catapulted GRT to the top of the Silver Cup standings.
Before the event at the Nürburgring, the Lamborghini Squadra Corse supported racing team is in first place in the standings with 86 points, seven points ahead of the runner-up. In the driver classification, Schmid, van Berlo and Hites are within striking distance of the leaders, only six points behind. On the 5.137 km long Grand Prix layout of the Nürburgring, the maximum number of 25 points will be awarded for victory, corresponding to the race distance of three hours. In addition, a bonus point for pole position and up to five Fanatec Boost Points in the virtual Fanatec Esports GT Pro Series are up for grabs. The latter are relevant for the overall classification consisting of Endurance Cup and Sprint Cup.
On the race weekend at the Nürburgring, the team once again has their two two bulls with competitive line-ups in the game to consolidate their lead in the Silver Cup. There is a driver change in the number 58 car though. Gerhard Tweraser takes Ricky Capo's place alongside Fabrizio Crestani and Sam Neary. The 34-year-old Austrian had already reinforced the team at Spa-Francorchamps.
The omens for the race in the Eifel mountains are good. GRT was already victorious there in the ADAC GT Masters this month. Italian Lamborghini factory driver Marco Mapelli won Sunday's race in the fiercely contested GT3 championship together with Chilean rookie Benjamin Hites when competing on the shorter sprint layout. Two test sessions on Friday, plus practice and pre-qualifying on Saturday, give the opportunity to get up to speed with the Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVO2 on the GP layout before going into qualifying and into the race on Sunday. As always, all sessions can be followed live in the international livestreams on the official YouTube channel of the Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe.
Gottfried Grasser, Team Principal of GRT: "The Nürburgring almost feels like the Red Bull Ring for us these weeks, that's how much time we spend here. But it's certainly not a disadvantage that we were there recently with the ADAC GT Masters and that we've also been testing for the DTM, in which we'll be racing again next week at the Nürburgring. We have a lot of experience to draw on, but the Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup has some different requirements, not only because of the GP layout, but also because of the format. We have mastered these well so far this season. Our Lamborghini has been fast on all race weekends and we have made the best out of even the most difficult situations, which has put us in this position in the championship. We have to continue that and I have no doubt that the crew and our drivers have what it takes. The biggest question mark is certainly the Eifel weather, because that seems to be a real lottery this time."
