– Increased numbers for Sprint Cup, Endurance Cup and full-season entries
– Multiple new squads join for 2020
GT World Challenge Europe Powered by AWS has revealed an expanded 2020 entry list that brings together 11 leading automotive brands to compete in the continent’s premier GT series.
The Endurance Cup will celebrate its 10th season of competition in style, with 53 cars committed to the long-distance championship. The addition of race-by-race entries will see grids grow further, while even greater numbers are already confirmed for the marquee Total 24 Hours of Spa. The Sprint Cup grid has enjoyed similar growth, with 33 entrants signed up for the 2020 campaign.
A total of 28 cars will complete the full GT World Challenge Europe schedule, which also marks an increase on last year. The list of brands set to hit the track is as impressive as ever, with Aston Martin, Audi, Bentley, BMW, Ferrari, Honda, Lamborghini, Lexus, McLaren, Mercedes-AMG and Porsche all part of this year’s field. These are the teams that will represent them during the 2020 season.
ASTON MARTIN VANTAGE AMR GT3: 3 Sprint Cup entries – 4 Endurance Cup entries
R-Motorsport will once again be the flagship Aston Martin outfit this term, fielding a pair of overall contenders and a Silver Cup entry across the full campaign. The British brand will have further representation at Endurance events thanks to Garage 59, which enters its second season under the Aston Martin banner with a one-car entry in the Silver Cup.
AUDI R8 LMS GT3 : 9 Sprint Cup entries – 9 Endurance Cup entries
Audi remains a major force in GT World Challenge Europe, with nine full-season cars split between three firmly established squads. Team WRT leads the way, deploying three overall contenders and a further Silver Cup entry at all 10 events. French outfit Sainteloc Racing will have one car competing for overall victory this term, as well as Pro-Am and Silver Cup challengers. Attempto Racing completes the German brand’s contingent, with two of its cars set to contend for overall honours throughout the 2020 campaign.
BENTLEY CONTINENTAL GT3 : 2 Sprint Cup entries – 5 Endurance Cup entries
An expanded customer base has ensured healthy representation for the Bentley brand this year. French outfit CMR returns to GT3 competition with a pair of full-season entries, while K-Pax Racing will build on its successful American operation by entering two cars in the Endurance Cup. A further Continental GT3 will compete at long-distance events thanks to Team Parker Racing, which will field a trio of young Silver Cup hopefuls through the Bentley Motorsport Academy programme.
BMW M6 GT3 : 1 Endurance Cup entry
BMW will continue to be represented at all Endurance Cup events this term as Boutsen Ginion Racing extends its working relationship with the Bavarian marque. The Belgian squad will compete for Pro-Am honours at long-distance events, while further M6 GT3 entries are already confirmed for this summer’s Total 24 Hours of Spa where BMW will challenge for a record-extending 25th overall victory.
FERRARI 488 GT3 : 4 Sprint Cup entries – 6 Endurance Cup entries
Ferrari’s presence in GT World Challenge Europe is led by AF Corse, which will field three cars in the Endurance Cup and two at Sprint events. This will include a pair of top-tier contenders at long-distance rounds, ensuring the Prancing Horse continues to fight for overall victory. Tempesta Racing and Rinaldi Racing will both launch full-season assaults on the Silver Cup class this term, while the latter will add an additional Pro-Am Cup car for Endurance events.
HONDA NSX GT3 : 1 Endurance Cup entry
Honda will remain on the Endurance Cup grid thanks to Reno Racing, which is set to compete with its NSX GT3. The Danish squad steps up to GT World Challenge Europe following last year’s title-winning GT Sports Club Europe assault with owner/driver Jens Reno Moller. An additional top-tier NSX GT3 is confirmed for the Total 24 Hours of Spa as part of the Japanese brand’s Intercontinental GT Challenge Powered by Pirelli campaign.
LAMBORGHINI HURACAN GT3 : 2 Sprint Cup entries – 7 Endurance Cup entries
Lamborghini enjoyed a superb 2019 thanks to Orange1 FFF Racing, which swept all three top-tier drivers’ titles with its Huracan GT3. The brand remains strong this year, with Emil Frey Racing returning to the series to launch a two-car full-season assault. A further six will join them at Endurance Cup events, with Orange1 FFF Racing defending its long-distance title and entering additional machines in the Silver Cup and Pro-Am classes. There will also be a two-car effort from the successful Barwell Motorsport stable.
LEXUS RC F GT3 : 1 Sprint Cup entry – 1 Endurance Cup entry
Lexus will contest its third GT World Challenge Europe season in 2020 thanks to Tech1 Racing, which will enter both the Sprint and Endurance Cups with its RC F GT3. The French squad has assembled a trio of talented young drivers to lead its assault on the highly competitive Silver Cup class and could expand its operation further for the Total 24 Hours of Spa.
MCLAREN 720S GT3 : 3 Sprint Cup entries – 3 Endurance Cup entries
The McLaren brand makes a major return in 2020, with three teams fielding the 720S GT3 across the Sprint and Endurance categories. In the Sprint Cup, new entrant 2 Seas Motorsport will deploy one overall contender and another Pro-Am class machine, while Optimum Motorsport will field a Silver Cup entry. The Endurance rounds will see Optimum run for overall and Pro-Am honours, while Jenson Team Rocket RJN will contend in Pro-Am.
MERCEDES-AMG GT3 : 9 Sprint Cup entries – 10 Endurance Cup entries
The Mercedes-AMG GT3 will be the best-represented car in both Sprint and Endurance competition this season, with nine cars competing in the former and ten in the latter. Overall title-winning squads AKKA ASP and Black Falcon lead the way with multi-car efforts, while established squad RAM Racing will resume its front-running Pro-Am assault. The Mercedes-AMG roster also features a host of newcomers, with Madpanda Motorsport, HTP-Winward, TokSport WRT, SPS Automotive and ERC Sport all competing with the German brand this term.
PORSCHE 911 GT3-R : 6 Endurance Cup entries
Porsche added yet more silverware to its collection last term by winning the Total 24 Hours of Spa and is well-placed to defend its victory thanks to an impressive line-up of Endurance Cup squads. Dinamic Motorsport will run three 911 GT3-R machines, with its leading overall contender joined by Silver Cup and Pro-Am entries. Spa winner GPX Racing expands to two cars, both competing for overall honours, while the accomplished ROWE Racing squad adds a sixth 911 to the grid.
Stephane Ratel, SRO Motorsports Group founder and CEO: « We are proud to present the fantastic entry lists that GT World Challenge Europe Powered by AWS has attracted this season. We remain thankful to the loyal teams that continue to race with us year after year, while the number of new additions is also very encouraging.
« For the Endurance Cup to be entering its 10th year with more than 50 cars on the grid is nothing short of exceptional. The Sprint Cup has also shown fantastic growth and, with 33 entrants, has surpassed our own targets.
« Clearly the world is facing some serious challenges right now and motorsport is particularly impacted. Nevertheless, SRO is fully committed to maintaining the 10-event GT World Challenge Europe calendar even if some changes are required. Our promise is to deliver a fantastic season of racing for our teams, drivers and fans. »
Adelheid Terryn,