I attended the Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe Powered by AWS event at Brands Hatch. This is organised by SRO Motorsports Group.
This is a Championship of World Class drivers racing in GT3 cars. The 10 round championship take on Europe's best tracks and is split equally between the Endurance Cup and the Sprint Cup. The races at Brands Hatch are the opening two rounds of the Sprint Cup.
Within this Championship, teams compete for overall victory as well as 3 class honours, Pro Cup, Gold Cup Cup and Silver Cup.
Pro Cup has any category of driver, this is where you would find all of the teams factory drivers.
Gold Cup, you can have two gold graded drivers or a gold and a silver graded driver.
Silver Cup is for the silver graded drivers, potential champions of the future.
The cars racing are all GT3 Spec cars using the Balance of Power rules as listed below:
Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3 EVO
Audi R8 LMS GT3 EVO II
BMW M4 GT3
Ferrari 296 GT3
Ferrari 488 GT3
Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO
Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO 2
McLaren 720S GT3 EVO
Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO
Porsche 911 GT3 R
The support races were also a busy eclectic mix for any enthusiast, The Miata Trophy for 3rd and 4th generation Mazda MX5's, The Britcar Trophy Championship for sportscars and saloons, Equippe Classic Racing - Featuring Pre 66 Sports and GT Cars, CSCC New Millennium and Turbo Tin Tops and finally The Classic and Modern Motorsport Club - Super Saloons and Tin Tops.
Away from the racing there was a huge static Supercar Display and Supercar demonstrations, trade stands and plenty of food and drink to be had.
I went on the busiest pit walk I have ever seen, the people for the most part were there to see Valentino Rossi, all other drivers had queues but the WRT queue was astronomical.
Below are my photos and videos from the event:
Supercar display.
2014 Alfa Romeo 4C Launch Edition.
2008 Ultima GTR. This car was bought along by Kevin and Emma Llewelyn who own Historic Racing Simulators.
1997 Lamborghini Diablo SV
1989 Ferrari 328.
2008 Ferrari F430 Scuderia.
2013 Ferrari California.
2014 Porsche 911 GT3 Coupe.
2004 Lamborghini Gallardo V10 Coupe.
2023 Lamborghini Huracan Performante.
2020 McLaren 600LT Spider.
2020 Mercedes AMG GT-R Coupe.
2016 McLaren 570S.
2021 McLaren GT.
2019 McLaren 600LT Spider.
2019 McLaren 720S.
2016 Lamborghini Huracan LP580-2.
2022 McLaren 720S Spider.
2022 McLaren 675LT.
2023 Lamborghini Huracan LP610-2 EVO (STO).
Ford GT40.
2003 Noble M12 GTO.
1969 Ford Mustang.
2016 Audi R8 V10 Plus Quattro.
2018 Ford GT.
2020 McLaren 600LT Spider
2023 Lamborghini Huracan LP610-2 EVO (STO).
2023 Porsche 911 Carrera GTS
Pit Lane Photo's
Valentino Rossi and Maxim Martin during the autograph session.
The Madpanda Motorsport Mascot.
Inside the AF Corse Garage Thanks to Tom Fleming for making me feel welcome and taking some time with me.
Track Action
First lap at Druids Corner.
Tom Gamble in the No 159 Garage 59 McLaren 720S GT3 EVO on the Inside with Valentino Rossi in the No 46 Team WRT BMW M4 GT3 on the outside are being chased by Tom Fleming in the No 71 AF Corse Ferrari 296 GT3 around Druids
Patric Niederhauser in the No 96 Rutronik Racing Porsche 911 GT3 R.
Dries Vanthoor in the No 32 Team WRT BMW M4 GT3 chasing Mattia Drudi in the No 7 Comtoyou Racing Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3 EVO up Paddock Hill towards Druids.
The No 111 CSA Racing Audi R8 LMS GT3 EVO II driven by Lucas Legret and Simon Gachet.
Dries Vanthoor now ahead of Mattia Druidi.
Ben Green and Konsta Lappalainen driving the No 14 Emil Frey Racing Ferrari 296 GT3 rounding Druids and Surtees.
Alexander Sims and Ezequiel Perez Companc driving the No 90 Madpanda Motorsport Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO.
Lining up through Surtees.
Sam De Hann and Callan Williams driving the No 30 Team WRT BMW M4 GT3.
James Jakes and Matisse Lismont driving the No 21 Comtoyou Racing Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3 EVO.
Reece Barr and Magnus Gustavsen driving the No 57 Winward Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO.
Christopher Hasse and Lorenzo Ferrari driving the No 88 Tresor Attempto Racing Audi R8 LMS GT3 EVO II.
Tom Fleming in the No 71 AF Corse Ferrari leads a pack of cars around Druids in a battle of 15th place.
Dries Vanthoor and Charles Weerts driving the No 32 Team WRT BMW M4 GT3.
Giacomo Altoe and Thierry Vermulen driving the No 69 Emil Grey Racing Ferrari 296 GT3. Slight damage to the lower front.
Maro Engel and Lucas Auer driving the No 48 Winward Racing Team Mann Filter Mercedes-AMG GT3.
Valentino Rossi and Maxime Martin driving the No 46 Team WRT BMW M4 GT3.
Valentino Rossi working the wheel.
Charlie Eastwood and Salih Yoluc driving the No 51 Racing Team Turkey AF Corse Ferrari 296 GT3.
Sadly it's race over for the No 21 Comtoyou Racing Aston Martin.
The Team WRT BMW is being chased through Surtees by the Emil Grey Racing Ferrari for position through Surtees.
The No 52 AF Corse Ferrari 296 GT3 driven by Sean Hudspeth and Jef Machiels.
The No 26 Sainteloc Racing Audi R8 LMS GT3 EVO II.
This championship for me is the best looking in terms of the cars that race and the best sounding there is.
If you can get to one of these race meetings, I thoroughly recommended it. Watching world class drivers racing at close quarters is amazing and these meetings are very well put together.
I wont go into the results of the race in case you want to watch it, below is a link to the races.
Race 1.
Race 2.
The next rounds in the Sprint Cup take place is Misano Italy on 17-19 of May.
For further information about the championship, please visit
No comments:
Post a Comment