Lionspeed GP bounced back in style at Brands Hatch to win Race 2 of the first GTWC Europe Sprint Cup weekend. After heartbreak in the opening contest, the #80 Porsche returned to the front and stayed there.
Bastian Buus led from pole in the opening stint, then handed over to Ricardo Feller, who brought the car home for a lights-to-flag victory. The result gave Lionspeed GP a deserved reward after a steering issue had forced the team out of Race 1 while leading.
Lionspeed converts pole into victory
The #80 Porsche had already shown race-winning pace earlier in the weekend, having controlled Race 1 from pole before a steering issue brought its challenge to an early end. Race 2 of the first GTWC Europe Sprint Cup event of the season at Brands Hatch followed a similar pattern at the front, but this time Lionspeed GP completed the job without trouble.
Buus made a strong start and quickly settled into the lead, managing the opening stint with confidence while keeping the chasing pack at arm’s length. After the driver change, Feller continued in the same rhythm and brought the car home to secure a convincing lights-to-flag victory.
Behind the Porsche, Mercedes-AMG Team Verstappen Racing finished second with the #3 car of Dani Juncadella and Chris Lulham, 3.073 seconds behind the winner. Their result came after frustration in Race 1, where they had crossed the line first before a yellow flag penalty cost them victory.
Winward holds podium despite penalty
Winward Racing completed the overall podium with its #48 Mercedes-AMG after Maro Engel made the key move at the start, jumping from fourth to third before handing over to Lucas Auer. Although the crew later received a five-second penalty for a pit infringement, its advantage over the cars behind was large enough to keep third place and secure another strong result for Mercedes-AMG.
Team WRT followed in fourth with the #46 BMW, recovering the place it had briefly lost at the start when Marvin Kirchhöfer moved the #59 Garage 59 McLaren ahead of Max Hesse. The position changed again during the pit phase, as a rapid 39.4-second stop helped Valentino Rossi jump back in front of Dean MacDonald and bring the BMW home fourth.
Class winners break into the top 10
Garage 59 brought the #59 McLaren home in fifth, with three Team WRT BMWs following close behind. The #32 led that group in sixth, ahead of the #31 and the #30, with the latter also securing Silver Cup victory for Matisse Lismont and Ignacio Montenegro.
Emil Frey Racing placed ninth with the #14 Ferrari, while the #555 CSA Racing McLaren completed the top 10. That finish also gave Simon Gachet and Romain Andriolo Gold Cup victory, rounding out a busy and competitive second race at Brands Hatch.
Full results of Race 2 of 2026 GTWC Europe Sprint Cup at Brands Hatch
