GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup: Monza Preview
The GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup is set for an exciting second round this weekend at Monza, featuring a robust 59-car grid, the largest at the venue since 2013. The lineup includes 16 Pro entries, 10 Gold Cup entries, 17 in the Silver Cup, and 16 in the Bronze Cup.
Driver Changes and Team Updates
Teams have adjusted their driver line-ups due to a clash with the IMSA Sportscar Championship event in Detroit. Notable changes include:
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Schumacher CLRT has integrated Dutch drivers Morris Schuring and Larry Ten Voorde into the Pro #22 Porsche 911 GT3.R, replacing Klaus Bachler and Laurin Heinrich. The duo will team with Ayhancan Güven, following the car’s podium finish at Circuit Paul Ricard.
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VSR sees Mattia Michelotto take over from Marco Mapelli alongside Franck Perera and Sandy Mitchell in the Pro #163 Lamborghini Huracán GT3 Evo2.
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Paradine Competition welcomes British Touring Car Champion Ashley Sutton, making his GT World Challenge Europe debut in the Bronze Cup #991 BMW M4 GT3 Evo, alongside Sean Gelael and Darren Leung.
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Steller Motorsport has acquired Daniel Ali for its #24 Corvette Z06 GT3.R, which recently secured a second-place finish in Silver.
- Other adjustments include Mikkel Pedersen’s addition to Dinamic GT’s Silver #54 Porsche and Tim Sandtler moving to Nordique Racing’s #611 Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo, now competing in the Gold Cup.
Championship Standings
Heading into Monza, Team WRT leads the Endurance Cup championship, buoyed by Ugo De Wilde, Kelvin van der Linde, and Charles Weerts’ victory at Circuit Paul Ricard. WRT holds a nine-point lead over Rutronik Racing’s Sven Müller, Patric Niederhauser, and Alessio Picariello. In the driver standings, van der Linde and Weerts have the same margin over Müller and Niederhauser.
WRT’s dominance includes last year’s Monza victory and aims to make history with a potential third consecutive win at the venue. However, they must contend with strong competitors like AF Corse – Francorchamps Motors, seeking redemption after a challenging outing in France.
Current Standings in Each Cup
As of now, the standings reflect the results from the opening race at Circuit Paul Ricard, with:
- Gold Cup: #111 CSA Racing McLaren leads with Simon Gachet, James Kell, and Arthur Rougier.
- Silver Cup: Paradine Competition’s #992 BMW holds an early advantage with Charles Clark, Pedro Ebrahim, and James Kellett.
- Bronze Cup: Kessel Racing leads with its #74 Ferrari, boasting a strong performance from Dustin Blattner, Conrad Laursen, and Dennis Marschall.
Kessel Racing’s #74 Ferrari also leads the race for an automatic invitation to the 2026 24 Hours of Le Mans, with a 16.5-point edge over Paradine’s #991 BMW.
Schedule and Track Action
The event kicks off with paid test sessions and a Bronze Test on May 30, followed by Free Practice and Pre-Qualifying on Saturday. Qualifying and the three-hour race will occur on Sunday, June 1.
For expert fans and analysts, Monza promises intense competition with a mix of seasoned veterans and emerging talents competing for supremacy in one of the season’s most critical rounds.
