Title decider for GRT in the Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe. After a double-header of DTM and ADAC GT Masters at their home fixture at the Red Bull Ring, the Lamborghini Team from Styria is making the long journey to Spain this week. The final round of the Endurance Cup is scheduled for the weekend from 30 September to 1 October at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya and Grasser Racing, as title favourites in the Silver Cup, has every chance of winning the team championship. There, the team will go on the attack with two Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVO2s to take the title home to Austria. Clemens Schmid, Benjamin Hites and Glenn van Berlo are also in a good position to win the Silver Cup drivers' championship in GRT's number 85 entry.
The fifth and last stop in the Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup takes team principal Gottfried Grasser's squad to the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. Since 2017, the circuit just outside the Catalan capital, which is well-known from Formula 1, has traditionally marked the end of the season in the prestigious GT3 endurance series. For GRT, the situation before the 3-hour race on the 4.655 km long Grand Prix circuit could hardly be better. The Lamborghini Squadra Corse supported team leads the Silver Cup standings by 18 points.
So far this season, one of Grasser Racing's two Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVO2s has always made it onto the podium. A third and a second place in Monza and Le Castellet respectively were followed by two victories. At the legendary CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa, the squad of the number 85 car made their breakthrough with a class win in the Silver Cup. At the Nürburgring at the end of July, Schmid, Hites and van Berlo followed up with their second win of the season, catapulting them to the top of the Silver Cup drivers' standings.
With Fabrizio Crestani, Sam Neary and Gerhard Tweraser, GRT has a second bull in the arena for the showdown in the team championship. Since their podium result at the season opener, luck has not been on their side. In qualifying for the Spa-Francorchamps 24 Hours, Crestani proved what the crew of the #58 Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVO2 is capable of with a sensational performance and pole position in the Silver Cup. At the Nürburgring, Tweraser made up 14 positions in the opening stages, but was then set back by a collision that was caused by a competitor. In Barcelona, the trio has the chance to end their season on a high and play their part in the fight for the title.
The maximum number of 26 points will be awarded at the last round. A sixth place is enough for GRT to win the team championship in the Silver Cup. With this result, the team could not be ousted from the top spot even if their title rival takes the win. In the drivers' championship, Schmid, Hites and van Berlo, with a lead of only five points over the runner-up, must thwart a victory by their rivals to secure the Silver Cup title. Should their rivals fail to go beyond second place, the trio will have to finish at least third. All sessions from the weekend in Barcelona can be seen in the multilingual livestream on the official YouTube channel of the Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe.
Gottfried Grasser, Team Principal of GRT: "We go into the finale with a good feeling. Our Lamborghini has been fast all season and we have worked our way to the top in the Silver Cup with consistency and good results. It would really mean a lot to us to celebrate another title in the Fanatec GT World Challenge after our overall victory in 2017. The Barcelona circuit has suited the Lamborghini well in previous years, but obviously we're racing a new car this year and we'll have to wait for the practice sessions before we can make a prediction. But I am confident that we will set the right course for the weekend. The team has done a fantastic job in the Endurance Cup this year and we have two strong driver pairings in the race for the championship. Fabrizio, Sam and Gerhard have shown their pace time and time again and we are all highly motivated to get them the result they deserve at the end of the season. With the sister car, of course, we have yet another objective. Clemens, Benja and Glenn are in great shape and we also want to win the drivers' championship with them."
