The 2025 GT World Challenge Europe Sprint Cup kicked off at Brands Hatch with two action-packed races. Ferrari and Mercedes-AMG split the victories, confirming that this year’s Sprint campaign will be fiercely contested.
Winward Racing fastest out of the box
The weekend began with sunshine over Brands Hatch. Winward Racing immediately made an impression. Lucas Auer and Maro Engel pushed the #48 Mercedes-AMG to the top of the timesheets. Their speed highlighted the German duo’s intent to defend their Sprint Cup crown.
BMW’s #32 WRT entry of Charles Weerts and Kelvin van der Linde stayed close. Ferrari also looked competitive, with AF Corse’s #50 and #51 machines running inside the top five. Porsche, led by Rutronik Racing’s Sven Müller and Patric Niederhauser, used the session to refine balance rather than chase outright pace.
Ferrari sets the benchmark
Momentum shifted in pre-qualifying as Ferrari hit the front. Arthur Leclerc and Thomas Neubauer steered the #50 AF Corse Ferrari 296 GT3 to P1. Their consistent pace proved that the Italian marque had the balance to handle Brands Hatch’s tight corners and fast sweeps.
Teammates Alessio Rovera and Vincent Abril in the #51 car backed that up with a top-five run. Mercedes-AMG and BMW remained in the fight, but the scarlet Ferraris were the headline story heading into qualifying.
Vermeulen and Engel on pole
Qualifying produced split results across the two sessions. Thierry Vermeulen in the #69 Emil Frey Ferrari claimed pole for Race 1 with a superb lap, confirming Ferrari’s speed. His teammate Chris Lulham supported the effort with a solid run, locking the car into the top group.
For Race 2, Maro Engel showed his class. The German put the #48 Winward Mercedes on pole, underlining the defending champions’ determination. Weerts kept the #32 WRT BMW on the front rows for both races, while AF Corse maintained a strong presence with both the #50 and #51 Ferraris.
With Aston Martin and Porsche just behind, the stage was set for two close contests.
Ferrari dominates the opener
Race 1 of the GTWC Europe weekend at Brands Hatch belonged to AF Corse – Francorchamps Motors. The #50 Ferrari of Leclerc and Neubauer delivered a near-perfect performance. Leclerc made a strong start and controlled the first stint. Neubauer then carried the momentum to the flag, securing Ferrari’s first win of the season.
Behind them, Rovera and Abril in the #51 Ferrari completed a dream result for the Prancing Horse with a double podium. BMW’s Weerts and Van der Linde kept the #32 WRT entry in the mix but couldn’t match Ferrari’s relentless pace. Mercedes, despite Engel’s early pressure, faded as tire management became critical.
Auer and Engel hit back
Mercedes-AMG answered in Race 2. Engel converted pole into the lead and held off pressure in the opening laps. Auer then executed a clinical second stint, guiding the #48 Winward AMG to victory. The result marked a perfect start to their Sprint Cup title defence.
Ferrari remained strong, with Rovera and Abril again securing a podium for the #51 entry. BMW’s #32 WRT pairing of Weerts and Van der Linde added another consistent top-five finish, showing their championship credentials. Porsche’s #96 Rutronik crew of Müller and Niederhauser also impressed with competitive race pace, though traffic limited their podium chances.
A balanced start to the Sprint Cup
The GTWC Europe Brands Hatch weekend highlighted the balance of power in the 2025 Sprint Cup. Ferrari left with a Race 1 victory and multiple podiums, showing the 296 GT3’s pace in short-format racing. Mercedes-AMG, through Auer and Engel, responded with a Race 2 win to launch their title defense.
BMW, Porsche, and Aston Martin left without a win but proved their consistency will keep them in the hunt. Next up is Round 3 at Zandvoort, followed by Monza, the 24 Hours of Spa, and a packed summer schedule including Misano and Magny-Cours. With Nürburgring, Valencia, and Barcelona still to come in the autumn, the 2025 GT World Challenge Europe is already shaping into one of the closest-fought seasons in years.
