Garage 59 Secures GT World Challenge Europe Title Amid Thrilling Finale in Barcelona
Barcelona, Spain – Garage 59 celebrated a significant victory in the final round of the 2025 GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. Rutronik Racing’s Alessio Picariello, Sven Müller, and Patric Niederhauser clinched the drivers’ championship by a narrow margin of just one point.
Starting from pole, the #58 McLaren GT3 Evo, driven by Dean MacDonald, Adam Smalley, and Louis Prette, maintained a solid lead throughout. A standout performance by Silver-ranked Prette, who set the fastest lap, propelled them to an 18.571-second victory over AlManar Racing’s #777 BMW M4 GT3 Evo, driven by Jens Klingmann.
“This is just amazing!” Prette exclaimed, reflecting on the team’s challenging season. This triumph marks Garage 59 and McLaren’s first Endurance Cup victory since 2016 and the first overall win for a Gold Cup entry.
The second place was secured by Klingmann alongside Al Faisal Al Zubair and Ben Tuck, while the #98 Rowe Racing BMW of Augusto Farfus, Jesse Krohn, and Raffaele Marciello rounded out the podium.
Notably, Rutronik’s Niederhauser faced a tough battle, starting 11th in the #96 Porsche 911 GT3 R. Needing to make up critical points, Niederhauser surged to eighth but struggled to overtake Harry King’s #33 Aston Martin Vantage GT3. With strategic drives, he ultimately captured seventh place, ensuring the title as Lucas Auer’s #48 Mercedes-AMG Team MANN-FILTER finished 13th following a post-race penalty.
“I’d take this championship 10 times over a win,” Niederhauser remarked, noting that his team won the championship without an individual race victory. This is the first Endurance Cup title for all three drivers and marks a historic win for Porsche, securing its inaugural overall drivers’ and teams’ championships.
Disappointment struck for Auer and teammate Maro Engel. Their effort could not prevent Team WRT from capturing the drivers’ title, as Charles Weerts and drivers Ugo De Wilde and Kelvin van der Linde secured a sixth-place finish, enough to overtake them in points.
The race, characterized by three Safety Car periods, featured strategic battles and intense competition among leading teams. Strategies diverged early, influencing the race’s outcome as some teams opted for aggressive pit strategies while others fell back into the pack.
The #50 Ferrari driven by Antonio Fuoco executed a remarkable recovery, advancing from 20th to third in the middle stint, emphasizing the unpredictability of the event.
The top ten included additional standout performances from the Silver Cup-winning #99 Tresor Attempto Racing Audi, the #32 Team WRT BMW, and the notable progress of various teams throughout the race.
In the Bronze Cup, the #97 Rutronik Racing Porsche triumphed, solidifying a clean sweep for the Swiss outfit in the championship.
In conclusion, the Barcelona finale showcased thrilling motorsport dynamics, strategic acumen, and remarkable performances, culminating in a redefined landscape for the upcoming seasons in GT racing.
Key Results:
- #58 Garage 59 McLaren GT3 Evo – Dean MacDonald / Adam Smalley / Louis Prette
- #777 AlManar Racing BMW M4 GT3 Evo – Jens Klingmann / Al Faisal Al Zubair / Ben Tuck
- #98 Rowe Racing BMW – Augusto Farfus / Jesse Krohn / Raffaele Marciello
Champions:
- Drivers: Patric Niederhauser, Alessio Picariello, Sven Müller (Rutronik Racing)
- Teams: Rutronik Racing
Images courtesy of SRO/JEP.
