The first win for GRT since the GT World Challenge Europe race at Silverstone in 2017 (then known as the Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup).
GRT Returns to the Winning Track in the Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe Powered by AWS
Marco Mapelli, Franck Perera, and Jordan Pepper win the 3-hour race at the Nürburgring in the Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVO2. Grasser Racing re-enters the title fight in the Endurance Cup after their first win of the season. Gottfried Grasser: "We are finally back where we belong, fighting for victories and a championship."
In the 2024 season, the Nürburgring magic continues to work for GRT. The legendary circuit in the Eifel region was the venue for the third round of the Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe Powered by AWS Endurance Cup for the Austrian Lamborghini team last weekend. The GP circuit, a modern addition to the historic track, measures 5.137 kilometers (3.194 miles) and features 16 turns, offering a mix of high-speed straights and technical corners that make it a favorite among drivers for its challenging layout.
In this endurance series, the team competed with two Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVO2s against a top-class field of 50 GT3 cars. The PRO line-up of Lamborghini factory drivers Franck Perera, Marco Mapelli, and Jordan Pepper achieved a successful comeback at the Nürburgring after missing out on victory at the 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps. The trio once again demonstrated their impressive speed and secured Grasser Racing's first win of the season in the Endurance Cup in the 3-hour race. Thanks to this success, the team now holds third place in the overall standings.
It was a flawless performance at the front of the field for over three hours! Franck Perera, Marco Mapelli, and Jordan Pepper claimed victory in the GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup race at the Nürburgring, marking Grasser Racing Team's first win since the 2017 race at Silverstone in what was then called the Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup. The car took the lead in the opening lap of the highly competitive race and never relinquished it throughout the event.
The foundation was laid by the three Lamborghini factory drivers in the #163 car, supported by MOUNTAIN WOLF, during Sunday morning's qualifying. Starting from third place, Jordan Pepper had an excellent starting position. In the first few corners, the South African took the lead with the Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVO2. Under stable weather conditions, he kept his pursuers at bay. After the first pit stop, Marco Mapelli continued the duel for the lead and maintained the position. The final pit stop was decisive. The GRT crew brought Mapelli in before the competitors for the final driver change to Franck Perera. The Frenchman brought his tires up to optimal temperature, preventing an overcut by the rivals. With a determined maneuver, he reclaimed the lead and extended the gap to ten seconds in the last hour of the race, securing a comfortable victory for GRT.
For GRT, the victory by Perera, Mapelli, and Pepper marked their first overall win in the Endurance Cup since 2017. Seven years ago, Gottfried Grasser's team won the title in this fiercely contested endurance series of the SRO Motorsports Group. With this triumph, the three Nürburgring winners now hold third place in the drivers' standings. In the team standings, GRT is just 16 points behind the leaders. With two races remaining, the Lamborghini Squadra Corse-supported team still has every chance of winning the title. The next round of the Endurance Cup will take place from September 20 to 22 in Monza.
Jordan Pepper (RSA) / Marco Mapelli (ITA) / Franck Perera (FRA)
#163 Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVO2
PRO CUP
Qualifying: P3 - Race: P1