GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup: Nürburgring Preview
The 2025 GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup enters its penultimate round this weekend at the Nürburgring, featuring a competitive 61-car field. A two-month hiatus since the 24 Hours of Spa culminates in a tight championship battle, with only two points separating the top three crews in the drivers’ standings.
Championship Standings
Leading the drivers’ championship is the Mercedes-AMG Team MANN-FILTER, with their #48 AMG GT3 trio—Matteo Cairoli, Maro Engel, and Lucas Auer—accumulating 54 points. They are followed closely by Team WRT’s #32 BMW M4 GT3 Evo, driven by Ugo De Wilde, Kelvin van der Linde, and Charles Weerts, just one point behind. Rutronik Racing’s #96 Porsche 911 GT3 R team (Sven Müller, Alessio Picariello, Patric Niederhauser) is in third, only a single point adrift after finishing second at Spa.
In the Teams’ Championship, Mercedes-AMG Team MANN-FILTER and Team WRT are tied on 59 points, with Rutronik Racing closely trailing at 58.
Key Contenders
Defending Nürburgring winners GRT – Grasser Racing Team have shown strong form, including a historic victory at Spa. Their lineup of Jordan Pepper, Luca Engstler, and Mirko Bortolotti hopes to capitalize on their momentum while currently 20 points behind the leaders.
Garage 59’s #59 McLaren GT3 Evo, comprising Marvin Kirchhöfer, Benjamin Goethe, and Joseph Loake, also poses a threat with two Sprint Cup victories in recent races. They sit fourth in the Endurance Cup standings.
Defending champions AF Corse need a strong performance after a rough start to the season, being 30 points behind in the Teams’ Championship and 32 points adrift in the drivers’ standings.
Additional Insights
The Pro category will showcase 17 cars, including the Nordique Racing #611 Mercedes-AMG, which makes a return following a strategic shift to the Gold Cup.
In the Gold Cup, the #33 Verstappen.com Racing Aston Martin of Thierry Vermeulen and Christopher Lulham has a commanding lead, needing one more win to secure the championship.
Schedule
Qualifying is set for 09:00 CEST on Sunday, August 31, with the three-hour race commencing at 15:00 CEST.
This round promises to be a pivotal moment in the season, with championship implications at every turn as teams seek to solidify their standing heading into the final race.
Conclusion
As the teams prepare for qualifying and the main event, all eyes will be on the Nürburgring, where the outcome can dramatically shift the championship landscape.
Entry List Available Upon Request
Images courtesy of SRO/JEP
