Three-time Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe Powered by AWS Sprint Cup champions Dries Vanthoor and Charles Weerts made the best possible start to 2024’s shorter format campaign with an impressive victory on the Brands Hatch Grand Prix circuit this morning.
It was pole sitter Ben Green that held the early lead at the Kent circuit, pulling clear of the chasing pack as the field streamed into Paddock Hill Bend for the first time. Behind the Emil Frey Racing Ferrari however, it was a lively beginning to the hour-long race with Vanthoor immediately attacking the Aston Martin of Mattia Drudi in his Team WRT BMW.
The McLaren of George Gamble looked to follow the lead group too, but was shuffled wide at Graham Hill Bend, dropping down to a position outside the top-ten. There was drama for Patric Niederhauser too, as his Porsche went flying off the track and onto the grass at Surtees, but he fortunately avoided any serious contact with rivals.
Vanthoor’s early assault on second position initially appeared to be successful as the column of GT3 cars filed out onto the Grand Prix section of the track for the first time, but Druidi fought back whilst Green pulled away at the front. Whilst the Ferrari shot off at the head of the order, Vanthoor resumed his pursuit of Druidi and eventually made a strong pass stick on the start/finish line after getting a good run out of Clearways. After that, the lead trio settled a little with Vanthoor edging closer to Green as the pit window approached.
The leading pair pitted as soon as the window opened, and Team WRT’s quick work in the box allowed the BMW to emerge ahead with Weerts now at the wheel. Lappalainen took over from Green in the Ferrari but Nicolas Baert’s stint in the Comtoyou Aston Martin ended almost as it started after he slowed and stopped at Druids after relieving Druidi – that called for the safety car which bunched the field up before racing recommenced with 20 minutes to go.
From there, Weerts controlled proceedings comfortably at the front, until yet another safety car was dispatched following a trip into the gravel for another Comtoyou Aston Martin – that of Matisse Lismont, co-driving with James Jakes. This set up a short final dash to the flag with Weerts duly securing the silverware for himself and Vanthoor.
The Green/Lappalainen Ferrari held on to second but there was plenty of change behind with Maro Engel and Lucas Auer securing third place in the Winward Racing Team MANN-FILTER Mercedes-AMG. Even more remarkably, the race’s sole McLaren secured fourth in the hands of Benjamin Goethe after he recovered from Gamble’s early misfortune. Goethe was on a hard charge throughout the second part of the race and gaining positions fast but penalties for the Audi of Ricardo Feller and Ferrari of Thierry Vermeulen lifted him from sixth on the road to what seemed an unlikely top-four at one stage.
Aurelien Panis and Cesar Gazeau completed the top-five in the race’s lead Silver Cup entry.
Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe Powered by AWS Sprint Cup, Race 1, Brands Hatch
- Vanthoor/Weerts, Team WRT, BMW M4 GT3
- Green/Lappalainen, Emil Frey Racing, Ferrari 296 GT3, +0.633s
- Engel/Auer, Winward Racing Team MANN FILTER, Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO, +1.208s
- Gamble/Goethe, Garage 59, McLaren 720S GT3 EVO, +2.703s
- Panis/Gazeau, Boutsen VDS, Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO, +4.620s
- Hofer/Engstler, LIQUI MOLY Team Engstler by OneGroup, Audi R8 LMS GT3 EVO II, +5.384s
- Williams/De Haan, Team WRT, BMW M4 GT3, +5.867s
- Legeret/Gachet, CSA Racing, Audi R8 LMS GT3 EVO II, +6.375s
- Fleming/Donno, AF Corse, Ferrari 296 GT3, +6.738s
- Aka/Feller, Tresor Attempto Racing, Audi R8 LMS EVO II, +6.842s
Click here for full results from this race event.