Round 3 of the 2025 GT World Challenge Europe unfolded at Zandvoort, with Porsche and BMW celebrating victories. Rutronik Racing took Race 1 glory, while Team WRT answered in Race 2.
Feller tops the times
Ricardo Feller showed his mastery of Zandvoort in Free Practice of Round 3 of the GTWC Europe championship. Driving the #80 Lionspeed GP Porsche, he set the fastest time and underlined Porsche’s potential for the weekend. With teammate Gabriel Rindone, Feller looked confident in both one-lap pace and long runs.
Mercedes-AMG stayed close with the #48 Winward entry of Auer and Engel, while Ferrari entries from Emil Frey and AF Corse hovered in the top five. BMW’s #32 WRT duo of Weerts and Van der Linde ran consistent laps, setting up a strong foundation.
Ferrari strikes back
Ferrari responded in pre-qualifying. The #93 Ziggo Sport Tempesta Ferrari, driven by Eddie Cheever and Marco Pulcini, surprised many by setting the pace. The result boosted Ferrari’s confidence, especially as Emil Frey’s #14 and #69 cars also ran strongly.
Mercedes-AMG and BMW kept themselves near the front, but Ferrari’s balance around the Dutch circuit was the headline story.
Buus on Pole for Porsche
Bastian Buus delivered in Qualifying 1, putting the #89 Lionspeed Porsche on pole for Race 1 of the GTWC Europe in Zandvoort. His lap edged out rivals from Mercedes and BMW, confirming that Porsche’s speed would carry into the races.
Behind him, the #96 Rutronik Porsche with Niederhauser and Müller stayed close, while Lamborghini’s #63 of Engstler and Pepper lined up among the leaders. The stage was set for a Porsche-led battle at lights out.
Rutronik Racing seals victory
Race 1 went to Porsche, but not the pole-sitting Lionspeed car. Instead, Rutronik Racing delivered a commanding drive with Patric Niederhauser and Sven Müller in the #96 Porsche 911 GT3 R. They won after 36 laps, keeping Engstler and Pepper’s #63 Grasser Lamborghini at bay.
The #48 Winward Mercedes of Lucas Auer and Maro Engel completed the podium, just over 13 seconds behind. Sainteloc’s #25 Audi of Gilles Magnus and Paul Evrard impressed with fourth place and Gold Cup honours.
BMW’s #32 WRT crew of Weerts and Van der Linde finished fifth, while Garage 59’s McLaren of Kirchhöfer and Goethe took sixth. In the Silver Cup, Tresor Attempto’s #99 Audi (Aka/Perez Companc) claimed class victory in 10th overall. Bronze Cup honors went to Bastian Buus and Bashar Mardini in the #89 Lionspeed Porsche.
Green Leads Ferrari One-Two-Three
Qualifying 2 turned into a Ferrari showcase. Ben Green in the #14 Emil Frey Ferrari stormed to pole, leading a one-two-three for the Prancing Horse. Arthur Leclerc (#50 AF Corse) and Thierry Vermeulen (#69 Emil Frey) slotted in just behind, completing a red front row.
Mercedes and BMW could not match Ferrari’s one-lap burst, though WRT and Winward stayed within striking distance.
WRT hits back with BMW
Race 2 belonged to BMW and Team WRT. Charles Weerts and Kelvin van der Linde converted their front-running start into a decisive win in the #32 M4 GT3 EVO. After 37 laps, they took victory by more than 12 seconds.
The Silver Cup was the surprise story. Ivan Klymenko and Lorens Lecertua powered the #26 Sainteloc Audi to second overall, scoring a stunning class win. The #63 Lamborghini of Engstler and Pepper completed the overall podium, confirming their consistency across the Zandvoort weekend of the GTWC Europe.
Garage 59’s #59 McLaren of Kirchhöfer and Goethe finished fourth, just ahead of the Race 1-winning #96 Rutronik Porsche. Tresor Attempto’s #99 Audi again topped Silver Cup challengers, while Emil Frey’s #69 Ferrari and AF Corse’s #51 car rounded out the top ten.
In the Bronze Cup, Dennis Marschall and Dustin Blattner guided the #74 Kessel Ferrari to class honors in 22nd overall.
A weekend of variety
Zandvoort delivered a balanced weekend. Porsche triumphed in Race 1 with Niederhauser and Müller, while BMW’s WRT squad struck back in Race 2. Lamborghini’s Engstler and Pepper collected a pair of podiums, underlining their consistency.
Ferrari shone in qualifying but couldn’t convert pole positions into wins, while Audi’s Sainteloc squad grabbed headlines with their Silver Cup car finishing second overall in Race 2.
After three rounds, BMW, Porsche, Ferrari, Mercedes, Lamborghini, and Audi have all scored major results. The 2025 GT World Challenge Europe continues at Monza, where the battle for Sprint and Endurance supremacy will only intensify.
