Cheever Boosts LP Racing Maserati Effort
Eddie Cheever joins the GT2 European Series powered by Pirelli this year to spearhead 2022 and 2023 Pro-Am Champions LP Racing’s Pro-Am Maserati entry alongside newcomer Anik Patel.
The fresh line-up will take charge of the #8 Maserati GT2, which finished runner-up in the hands of Leonardo Gorini and Carlo Tamburini last term. LP Racing cemented a stellar year with the sister #2 machine claiming the Am class crown – the team’s second in series history.
Cheever won the Endurance Cup Pro-Am crown in 2020 in GT World Challenge Europe followed by back-to-back Bronze Cup titles in 2023 and 2024. There’s a busy season ahead, as he defends this title with Chris Froggatt in the Ziggo Sport Tempesta Ferrari, while also making his GT2 debut.
“I’m very happy to be part of LP Racing, a team whose owner I’ve known for many years and with whom I share a great friendship”, says Cheever. “I’m also excited to be sharing the Maserati in the GT2 European Series with Anik, a longtime friend. It’s great to bring him into the world of racing, and I hope we can achieve strong results and grow together as a team. I can’t wait to put my helmet on at Paul Ricard for the first race!”
Completing LP Racing’s Pro-Am line-up, Patel is set for his European racing debut when the season launches at Circuit Paul Ricard.
“I am very excited to join LP Racing for my first foray into racing at this level” adds Patel. “I will be learning and improving every session thanks to the help of my long-time friend, team-mate and coach Eddie Cheever. I am looking forward to this season which will be my first ever championship in motorsport. I love the feeling of driving the Maserati GT2 and am improving every session with the car. I can’t wait to be on track at Paul Ricard!”
Team Principal Luca Pirri commented: “I am extremely pleased to announce the line-up for car #8! My longtime friend Eddie Cheever – whose outstanding career I’ve followed since his years in Formula racing and his great successes with the SKY Tempesta team – will be joining Anik Patel in this exciting season.
“Anik, in his very first year of racing, obtained his International License in the USA this winter and is now ready to take on the GT2 Series. He has been testing the Maserati and has quickly adapted to the car, showing great promise despite his limited experience.
“With Eddie’s coaching and guidance, I am confident that the team will achieve strong results over the season.”
Razoon – more than racing Return
Razoon – more than racing return to the GT2 European Series for a second season fighting for the Pro-Am title with the #80 KTM X-BOW GT2.
The Austrian outfit delivered a promising 2024 season debut, the driver pairing of Thomas Andersen and Simon Birch achieving five podium finishes, including a trio of second place finishes on their way to third in the Pro-Am standings.
Recent victory at the Barcelona 6-Hour race aboard the Razoon GT3 Porsche already put this pair on winning form ahead of their second GT2 Europe campaign.
Birch, who will dovetail his duties with racing in ADAC GT Masters, is already looking forward to a return to the GT2 fold. “I can hardly wait to attack together with Thomas! We want to at least repeat last year’s successes – but if I’m honest, we also have our sights set on winning the title!’”
Team owner, Dominik Olbert commented: “Thomas and Simon already showed how fast they are in their debut season last year. With a bit of racing luck and a flawless team performance on our side, I have every confidence that they can be in the fight for the Pro-Am title.”
The GT2 European Series powered by Pirelli season gets underway with two one-hour races at Circuit Paul Ricard, France on 12-13 April, as the series once again runs its full season in support of GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS.
Mičánek Motorsport powered by Buggyra Add Lamborghini
Mičánek Motorsport powered by Buggyra is set to make its GT2 European Series season debut in 2025, competing for Pro-Am honours with a Lamborghini Huracan Super Trofeo EVO GT2.
A family concern led by Jiří Mičánek Jr and Jiří Mičánek Sr, the Czech squad boasts more than 30 years of motorsport heritage at home and abroad including nearly 30 domestic titles between them.
The team will field a single Lamborghini GT2 Europe entry for drivers Bronek Formanek and Stefan Rosina, who together claimed the Lamborghini Super Trofeo Europe Pro-Am honours last season.
Rosina will make a full-time return to GT2 Europe having come agonisingly close to taking the Pro-Am spoils in both 2022 and 2023, and scored podium finishes at select races with LP Racing in 2024.
Fresh off the back of his 2024 Super Trofeo success, including three victories and six podiums on his way to the title, Formanek is ready for his next challenge since joining the outfit in 2023.
“This is a huge step for us and a great motivation,” says Formánek. “After five years in Super Trofeo Europe, we knew everything there was to know. Now, we’ll be up against a wider range of competitors, and we’ll have more room to fine-tune the car’s setup.”
Mičánek Motorsport will hope to replicate their title-winning form throughout GT2 Europe’s six double-header race events, supporting Europe’s premier GT series – GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS.
Team manager Jiří Mičánek Jr says: “We felt that after winning the Lamborghini Super Trofeo Europe title, it was time to take the next step and seek out a new challenge. At the same time, we wanted to stay on Europe’s top circuits and maintain our connection with Lamborghini. The GT2 European Series offers all of that.
“Compared to a one-make series, we now have greater freedom to develop the car and fine-tune its setup. We’ll do everything possible to be among the fastest once again. Even after the first tests, we can already see that [the Pirelli tyres] will be a major step forward.”
The GT2 European Series powered by Pirelli season gets underway at Circuit Paul Ricard, France, 11-13 April.
