SRO has revealed a bumper 59-car entry list for the GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup season opener at Circuit Paul Ricard. It’s the largest field assembled for the opening round since 2013.
The entry list features multiple changes from the full season list revealed in March.
The 18-car Pro class has been bolstered by a fourth Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo from Nordique Racing, which was originally entered into the Gold Cup. Kazuto Kotaka, Edoardo Liberati and Yuichi Nakayama will drive for the series debutants. Also running AMG GT3 Evos are Boutsen VDS, GetSpeed and Winward Racing.
Defending champions AF Corse – Francorchamps Motors are the only multi-car outfit in Pro, and will field a pair of Ferrari 296 GT3s. Comtoyou Racing and Walkenhorst Motorsport will represent Aston Martin, with Team WRT and Rowe Racing each running a BMW M4 GT3 Evo.
GRT – Grasser Racing Team and VSR have both entered a Lamborghini Huracán GT3 Evo2, whilst Garage 59 and CSA Racing are running McLaren 720S GT3 Evos.
Porsche are represented by single car efforts from Schumacher CLRT, Rutronik Racing and Pure Rxcing, with the Pro field rounded out by a Ford Mustang GT3 from HRT Ford Performance.
The Gold Cup will feature eight cars, with Aston Martin, Audi, BMW, Lamborghini, McLaren and Porsche all represented.
Previously unannounced drivers revealed on the entry list include Largim Ali and Mikey Porter aboard Optimum Motorsport’s #5 McLaren 720S GT3 Evo, and the trio of Marzio Moretti, Maximilian Paul and John Paul Southern Jr in the #333 Paul Motorsport Lamborghini.
The Silver Cup has experienced significant growth since last season, and will feature 17 cars from nine different manufacturers at Circuit Paul Ricard. Of the 10 manufacturers contesting GT World Challenge Europe this year, only Ferrari aren’t present in the Silver Cup ranks.
Notably, Steller Motorsport has moved their #24 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R from the Bronze Cup and into the Silver class. The British squad’s second entry, the #424 Corvette, is not listed for the season opener.
The field is completed by the 16-car Bronze Cup, which features machinery from Aston Martin, Audi, BMW, Ferrari, McLaren, Mercedes-AMG and Porsche.
Saintéloc Racing are fielding an additional car, the #27 QMMF by Sainteloc Racing Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo II for Abdulla Ali Al-Khelaifi, Ghanim Salah Al-Maadheed and Ibrahim Al-Abdulghani. Paul Evrard, Gilles Magnus and Benjamin Ricci have been confirmed for the team’s sister #25 entry.
It has also been confirmed that father-and-son duo Louis and Jef Machiels will return to the #52 AF Corse – Francorchamps Motors Ferrari alongside the previously announced Andrea Bertolini. At Herberth Motorsport, Alfred Renauer is joining the returning Ralf Bohn and Robert Renauer in the #91 Porsche 911 GT3.R (992).
The 2025 GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup begins at 18:00 CEST on Saturday 12th April, with a six-hour race at Circuit Paul Ricard.
Photo: SRO/JEP
