It’s lights out at Paul Ricard: here's how the first weekend of the GT World Challenge went
- Race Diary
- Apr 8, 2024
- 2 min read
The GT World Challenge Europe season has finally kicked off with the first round at Circuit Paul Ricard, which hosted the inaugural race of the Endurance series. The first race certainly wasn't boring, with plenty of Safety Cars and full-course yellows due to accidents and punctures.
Every year, the first round of the GT World Challenge brings with it many expectations, from those who must confirm their worth to those who, with new teams or different teammates, need to find it. After two years of kicking off the season in Italy, this year it was France's turn to set the stage for what promises to be a thrilling 2024 championship. Even if Paul Ricard’s reputation isn’t the best for motorsport fans, the symphony of Gran Turismo engines on display transformed the atmosphere into a spectacle of entertainment. Here's how the first race of the GT World Challenge went.
Dominating the 3-hour race at Paul Ricard in the Pro category was the BMW from Rowe Racing, number 998, with Farfus, Harper, and Hesse behind the wheel. They managed to seize and maintain the lead ahead of the Iron Lynx Lamborghini 63, which had clinched pole position the day before. The two crews left nothing on the track, engaging in a continuous battle that provided great racing for all three hours of the race, immediately making it clear that it will be tough to dominate for any crew given the high-level of the line-ups this year. Closing out the podium was the Mercedes number 2 of Gounon, Schiller, and Stolz.
In the Gold class, victory belonged to the Audi number 25, with drivers Gilles Magnus, Jim Pla, and Paul Evrard at the helm. Following closely behind was the Mercedes number 777 driven by Zumbair, Baumann, and Grenier, with another Audi, the number 111 of CSA Racing, securing the final podium spot. The Silver category podium was dominated by Mercedes, with Winward Racing's car driven by Tanart Sathienthirakul, Daan Arrow, and Colin Caresani claiming the top step. Boutsen VDS and Madpanda Motorsport completed the trio.
The Bronze class saw a Ferrari emerge victorious, with Kessel Racing's 296 GT3 number 8 driven by the trio Fumanelli-Schiró-Rosi. AF Corse's number 52 secured the second spot, with Comtoyou Racing's Aston Martin rounding off the podium.
The three-hour race was characterized by relentless action across all four classes, setting the stage for an electrifying championship. As the celebrations quiet down and the teams regroup, all eyes turn to the next challenge: the iconic 24 Hours of Spa Francorchamps in June, which will be marking its centenary by hosting the second round of the championship for the 55 competitors.
Comments