Round 4 of the 2025 GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS brought the series to Monza for the first Italian Endurance Cup race of the season. After a weekend of high speed and heavy strategy, Mercedes-AMG Team MANN-FILTER earned a landmark victory with Lucas Auer, Matteo Cairoli, and Maro Engel.
Rutronik and AF Corse show early pace
The weekend of the GTWC Europe Monza opened with strong performances from Porsche squad Rutronik Racing. Sven Müller and Patric Niederhauser placed the #96 car near the top, while Pure Rxcing’s #911 Porsche ran consistently inside the top five.
AF Corse delivered for Ferrari on home ground. Antonio Fuoco and Arthur Leclerc pushed the #50 entry to the front in several segments, giving the Tifosi optimism. Rowe Racing’s BMW and Grasser Racing’s Lamborghini focused on longer stints, while both GetSpeed and MANN-FILTER quietly prepared for the race.
Rowe and Comtoyou shine
Pre-qualifying saw Rowe Racing rise to the top with the #98 BMW of Marciello, Farfus, and Krohn. AF Corse stayed close with the #51 crew of Rovera, Pier Guidi, and Abril. Aston Martin’s Comtoyou Racing also made an impression as Drudi, Thiim, and Sørensen ran strongly in the #7 entry.
Mercedes-AMG’s factory-backed GetSpeed and MANN-FILTER teams remained near the sharp end but continued to hold back their ultimate pace.
Mercedes-AMG Locks Out the Front Row
Mercedes-AMG took control in qualifying. Team GetSpeed’s #17 car of Stolz, Gounon, and Schiller secured pole, narrowly ahead of Team MANN-FILTER’s #48 AMG shared by Auer, Engel, and Cairoli.
Garage 59 placed their #59 McLaren on the second row with Kirchhöfer, Goethe, and Loake. Comtoyou Racing’s Aston Martin and Team WRT’s #32 BMW of Van der Linde, Weerts, and De Wilde completed the top five, while AF Corse’s #51 Ferrari ensured home fans had a contender inside the first three rows.
MANN-FILTER triumphs at Monza
The three-hour GTWC Europe Race in Monza began with Mercedes-AMG firmly in command as GetSpeed and MANN-FILTER battled at the front. The #17 GetSpeed car looked strong until pit stop issues dropped Stolz, Gounon, and Schiller out of contention.
That left Team MANN-FILTER in control during the GTWC Europe in Monza. Auer, Engel, and Cairoli executed a perfect strategy, running faultless stints to build a decisive lead.
Behind them, Garage 59 impressed as Kirchhöfer, Goethe, and Loake guided the #59 McLaren to second place. Comtoyou Racing converted strong pace into third with Drudi, Thiim, and Sørensen in the #7 Aston Martin.
AlManar Racing by WRT’s #777 BMW claimed Gold Cup victory in fourth overall, while Team WRT’s #32 BMW finished fifth. Schumacher CLRT kept Porsche in the mix, with Güven, Schuring, and ten Voorde taking sixth. Century Motorsport celebrated Silver Cup honors in seventh, and Rutronik Racing’s #97 Porsche won the Bronze Cup.
When the checkered flag fell after 84 laps, Team MANN-FILTER’s trio delivered Mercedes-AMG’s first Endurance Cup win of 2025.
A Breakthrough for Team MANN-FILTER
GTWC Europe Monza proved decisive for Mercedes-AMG’s factory teams. After GetSpeed’s misfortune, it was Team MANN-FILTER that stepped up, earning a breakthrough win thanks to Auer, Engel, and Cairoli.
Garage 59 confirmed its growing endurance credentials with a strong second place, while Comtoyou Racing carried Aston Martin to the podium with a composed drive. AlManar Racing by WRT showed strength in the Gold Cup, and WRT’s #32 BMW maintained its title momentum with a top-five finish.
Rutronik Racing, AF Corse, and VSR all showed flashes of pace at the GTWC Europe Monza but could not match the execution of the race-winning AMG squad.
With the CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa next, the battle for the Endurance Cup is wide open. Mercedes-AMG carries momentum, but rivals from BMW, Ferrari, McLaren, Aston Martin, Lamborghini, and Porsche remain ready to strike.
