GT World Challenge Europe Sprint Cup: Vermeulen and Lulham Claim Historic Victory at Circuit Ricardo Tormo
Date: [Insert Date Here]
Location: Circuit Ricardo Tormo, Valencia, Spain
In a tumultuous race at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo, Emil Frey Racing’s Thierry Vermeulen and Chris Lulham emerged victorious in the GT World Challenge Europe Sprint Cup, marking a significant milestone by becoming the first Gold Cup entrants to win an overall Sprint Cup race.
Race Overview
Starting from ninth on the grid, Vermeulen skillfully navigated a chaotic opening lap wherein five championship contenders encountered trouble. Key incidents included a collision involving Charles Weerts in the leading #32 Team WRT BMW M4 GT3 Evo and a series of clashes that resulted in multiple retirements.
By the end of the first lap, both the #32 BMW and #59 Garage 59 McLaren were forced to retire, while the #96 Rutronik Racing Porsche and #51 AF Corse – Francorchamps Motors Ferrari pit but managed to stay on the lead lap.
Battle for Position
Front-runner Dennis Marschall in the #74 Kessel Racing Ferrari initially pulled away, extending his lead to six seconds over the #89 Lionspeed GP Porsche and Garage 59 McLaren. However, a well-executed pit stop by Emil Frey Racing allowed Vermeulen and Lulham to leapfrog competitors, giving them control of the race.
Throughout the second half, Lulham maintained a strong pace, ultimately winning by a margin of 14.183 seconds. “The team pulled through with a quick pit stop to take the lead in the Gold Cup but also overall,” Lulham stated post-race. “Everything was good; the car was feeling amazing.”
Podium Finishers
- #69 Emil Frey Racing Ferrari (Vermeulen/Lulham)
- #63 GRT – Grasser Racing Team Lamborghini Huracán GT3 Evo2 (Engstler/Pepper): Secured second place after Pepper passed Louis Prette with two minutes remaining.
- #58 Garage 59 McLaren (Fleming/Prette): Finished third, showcasing strong pace throughout the event.
The #48 Winward Racing Mercedes-AMG came fourth, followed by the #111 McLaren and the #50 AF Corse – Francorchamps Motors Ferrari rounding out the top six.
Championship Implications
In the overall drivers’ championship, the incumbent leaders Weerts and Kelvin van der Linde retained their advantage as the top five crews are separated by just eight points heading into the final race. The #63 Lamborghini and #48 Mercedes-AMG were the only top contenders to score points in this race, while other key competitors struggled.
In the Silver Cup, Comtoyou Racing’s #21 Aston Martin emerged victorious after their nearest rivals retired, securing the Silver Cup drivers’ and teams’ titles. “It’s been a tough season, but we did it. It’s a team effort,” driver Kobe Pauwels remarked.
Next Race
The final race of the 2025 GT World Challenge Europe Sprint Cup will take place tomorrow at 14:45 CEST, following qualifying at 09:00 CEST.
Images courtesy of SRO/JEP
