Endurance Cup line-up made up entirely of Lamborghini factory drivers, as the reigning champions switch to the new Temerario GT3 for the 2026 season.
The Remchingen-based squad has fielded a Porsche 911 GT3 R in the category since 2021 and secured last year’s Endurance Cup crown with Patric Niederhauser, Sven Müller and Alessio Piciarello. However, the team has elected to begin a new chapter with Lamborghini, becoming one of three outfits to campaign the Temerario GT3 in its debut season in the GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS.
With this announcement, all three Temerario-running teams in GTWC Europe have now confirmed their driver rosters, following recent reveals from GRT and VSR.
Niederhauser leads the charge as Rutronic Racing takes on 2026 GTWC campaign after switch to Lamborghini
Patric Niederhauser remains central to the project. The Swiss driver has raced with Rutronik Racing since 2019 and has played a defining role in many of the team’s biggest successes. He clinched the ADAC GT Masters title in his first season with the squad and, most recently, delivered the decisive manoeuvre that sealed the 2025 Endurance Cup championship in Barcelona.
For 2026, Niederhauser steps into a new phase of his career as an officially appointed Lamborghini factory driver, maintaining his bond with Rutronik while embracing a new manufacturer.
“The switch from Porsche to Lamborghini brings many new things and is certainly a big change for me and for Rutronik Racing. Therefore, it’s all the more wonderful that we have the chance to master this challenge together and continue our very successful collaboration. Luca and Marco are both highly talented drivers with whom I’ve had a lot of experience in the past. We have a top-notch package, and I’m incredibly excited about this year and this opportunity,” said Patric Niederhauser.
Engstler returns stronger and sharper after claiming victory in the 2025 CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa
Niederhauser will contest the Sprint Cup alongside Luca Engstler, who returns to Rutronik having previously raced for the team in ADAC GT Masters in 2022, marking the beginning of his GT3 journey. Since then, he has matured into one of the most respected young talents on the international GT scene.
He secured two DTM victories in 2024 and claimed overall victory in the CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa last year, narrowly defeating Rutronik Racing in a dramatic finish. That triumph underlined his credentials as a driver capable of delivering under extreme pressure.
“I’m very happy to be returning to Rutronik Racing. I achieved my first GT3 podium with the team in the ADAC GT Masters. Competing alongside Patric again after several years is a great pleasure. And having Marco on the team, with whom I contested the 24 Hours of Nürburgring last year, is fantastic. I think it’s a very strong driver lineup and a very competitive team,” explained Luca Engstler.
“We have a new car and a lot to learn, but I think we have the right people in the team and we’ll quickly understand the car. This year we’ll have to take it one step at a time. The fact that I won the 24 Hours of Spa ahead of Rutronik Racing last year, and that the team also won the Endurance Cup championship, shows how strong the team is and how good the combination will be. I can’t wait for the season to finally start!”
Engstler’s blend of youthful aggression and growing experience should prove invaluable as Rutronik navigates the steep learning curve that accompanies a new GT3 platform.
Lamborghini veteran Mapelli strengthens Rutronik Racing’s 2026 GTWC Europe Endurance Cup line-up
Marco Mapelli completes the trio for the five Endurance Cup rounds, reinforcing the programme with nearly a decade of Lamborghini factory experience. The Italian secured the overall GTEC Europe title in 2019, alongside both the Endurance Cup and Sprint Cup crowns, and has consistently remained among the marque’s most trusted development drivers.
His technical insight will play a crucial role in refining the Temerario GT3 across long-distance formats, where tyre management, balance and strategic precision often determine success.
“I’m very happy to be joining Rutronik Racing,” said 2019 champion Marco Mapelli. “I’ve known Patric for a long time and have already worked with Luca in recent years. As official Lamborghini drivers, we share the same goals and want to further develop the car and achieve the best possible performance together with the team. Joining the reigning champion team always gives me goosebumps, and we have set ourselves ambitious goals. Rutronik Racing is a very professional team, and we are working hard to ensure that we will be competing for top results with the Lamborghini. We have a long-term partnership, and I’m very excited to be joining them.”
Mapelli’s endurance expertise strengthens Rutronik’s bid to remain a benchmark in the longer races while accelerating the car’s competitive evolution.
Rutronik Racing maintains high expectations for new-era project with Lamborghini
Team principal Klaus Graf has set ambitious targets as the squad transitions from Porsche to Lamborghini machinery.
“After winning the title last year in the Endurance Cup, we certainly have high expectations of doing well right from the start with the new Lamborghini Temerario GT3,” he said. “We are very happy with the driver trio. Above all, we are very happy that Lamborghini has signed Patric Niederhauser and made him available to us, which gives us continuity and certainly brings many positive aspects to a new project and a brand change. We have also known Luca for many years, and are therefore delighted to welcome him back. As a long-standing Lamborghini works driver and experienced test and development driver, Marco will be a great help to us in the endurance races.”
Rutronik now embarks on a pivotal campaign. It defends its Endurance Cup crown with a new manufacturer, a brand-new GT3 car and a trio of factory-backed drivers determined to deliver immediate results in both Sprint and Endurance competition.
