GT World Challenge Europe: Sensational Double Victory for Team WRT After Chaotic Monza Race

The fourth season race of the Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup at Monza (ITA) made history. For the first time in the race series’ history, a car not competing in the Pro class clinched the overall victory.

The sensational winners were Ahmad Al Harthy (OMA), Jens Klingmann (GER), and Sam De Haan (GBR) in the #30 BMW M4 GT3 from OQ by Oman Racing, run by WRT.

At the end of the chaotic three-hour race, the Bronze Cup trio triumphed over the #32 BMW M4 GT3 driven by Sheldon van der Linde (RSA), Dries Vanthoor, and Charles Weerts (both BEL).

This resulted in a one-two for Team WRT and a win in the Pro Cup, securing crucial overall standings points in the GT World Challenge Europe title fight.

The one-two result was extraordinary because both cars were involved in start collisions and had almost a lap deficit within minutes.

Thanks to outstanding strategy, both crews fought back to the front during the race. In the final laps, Klingmann, under immense pressure from Vanthoor and the third-placed Ferrari, drove to victory with nerves of steel.

The #46 BMW M4 GT3, driven by Raffaele Marciello (SUI), Maxime Martin (BEL), and Valentino Rossi (ITA), also performed strongly and finished in fifth place.

ROWE Racing experienced a disappointing race on Sunday. In qualifying, the weekend he ended for the #98 BMW M4 GT3 crew. Maxime Oosten (NED) lost control of the car and spun into the tyre barriers.

The BMW M4 GT3 was so heavily damaged that a race start for Oosten and his two driver colleagues Marco Wittmann (GER) and Robin Frijns (NED) became impossible.

Oosten and Frijns replaced IMSA regular drivers Philipp Eng (AUT) and Nick Yelloly (GBR), who were in action in Indianapolis (USA) simultaneously. Starting from tenth place, the #998 BMW M4 GT3 had an outstanding race for over two hours and was even in the lead at times.

However, after a problem during a tyre change, final driver Max Hesse (GER) had to make an additional stop. That pushed him and his driver colleagues Augusto Farfus (BRA) and Dan Harper (GBR) significantly down the order.

Century Motorsport celebrated a solid second place on the podium in the Bronze Cup with Jake Dennis, Darren Leung, and Toby Sowery (all GBR). BMW Italia Ceccato Racing competed with the #15 BMW M4 GT3 at its home event and finished ninth in the Bronze Cup.