Hatch Brands. BMW M Team WRT has started the 2024 Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe season powered by AWS Sprint
Cup with victory. Dries Vanthoor and Charles Weerts (both BEL) won the first of two races held on Sunday at Brands Hatch (GBR) in the #32 BMW M4 GT3. His teammates, Valentino Rossi (ITA) and Maxime Martin (BEL), who are taking part in individual Sprint Cup matches in the #46 BMW M4 GT3, were not rewarded for their strong performances.
Starting from third place, Vanthoor took the #32 car to second place before the driver change. With a perfect and quick pit stop, BMW M Team WRT ensured that Weerts returned to the track as leader. After an hour of racing, the team celebrated a well-deserved victory for Vanthoor and Weerts. Rossi/Martin finished fifth, but dropped to 15th due to a time penalty.
In the second race, Martin and Rossi managed to move up to a temporary sixth place, starting from 11th on the grid. However, just minutes before the end, whilst in P8, Rossi reported steering problems and had to pit. Weerts and Vanthoor, starting tenth, crossed the finish line in seventh.
In the Silver Cup, the WRT team’s No. 30 BMW M4 GT3 was successful: Sam De Haan (GBR) and Calan Williams (AUS) finished both races in second and third place in class respectively, securing podiums in their category.
Reactions after the races at Brands Hatch:
Vincent Vosse (BMW M Team WRT team director): “It’s a great way to start the Sprint Cup season with a win here at Brands Hatch. Dries did a great job to get to P2 after a few laps and then the pit crew did a great job, they were a second and a half faster than everyone else, which got us to P1 and Charles finished the job of best way. It was a shame for Valentino and Maxime’s number 46 car. They were in P5 at the end of the first race, but were penalized for speeding in the pit lane. In the second race, unfortunately, a problem stopped them after a strong chase through the field. But they also did a great job.”
Seca Vanthoor, #32 BMW M4 GT3: “The first lap of the first race was very interesting. I gained a position and then lost again. So I tried to hunt for the Ferrari in front of me. It was difficult, I just tried not to make mistakes and drive as fast as I could. It was crucial to stay as close to P1 as possible. Then the boys made an incredible pit stop and Charles did a great job to maintain P1 and the victory. The second race was a little more difficult, as we started in tenth. Finishing seventh was the best we could do. Now I’m looking forward to the next race.”
Charles Weerts, #32 BMW M4 GT3: “Dries did a great job qualifying us third for the first race. So he had a very good start to the race. When we arrived at the pit stop, the guys in the pits did an incredible job – as we are used to from them. So we managed to take the lead in the pits, which was crucial in a way, as it would have been very, very difficult to do so on the track. So they played a very important role in this victory. It was a great start to the season and this victory will give us momentum for the next rounds.”
Maxime Martin, #46 BMW M4 GT3: “It wasn’t the weekend we were hoping for, but it’s always great to come here and race on an old school track. It was still a very positive weekend for the team, as they took a victory with their sister car. We had good fights and a lot of fun. Let’s see what Misano brings!”
Valentino Rossi, #46 BMW M4 GT3: “I achieved my first podium with the BMW M4 GT3 here at Brands Hatch, but this time it was more difficult! Yesterday we suffered a lot but today was better. Unfortunately, I had a problem with the steering in the second race where I had to retire and we also had a penalty for speeding in the pit lane in the first race. Anyway, we suffered more than we expected, but it was still a pleasure to race at Brands Hatch! Let’s see what we can do in Misano!”
