Rutronik Racing will contest the 2026 GT World Challenge Europe season with a trio of Lamborghini factory drivers in its first season with the Italian brand and the Temerario GT3.
Patric Niederhauser and Luca Engstler, will compete in all 10 events, while Marco Mapelli will support the duo in the five Endurance Cup races.
Niederhauser and Rutronik Racing already have a long history of collaboration, as the Swiss driver has been competing with the team since 2019. In 2019, he won the ADAC GT Masters title with it and also played a key role in winning the GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup title in 2025.
“The switch from Porsche to Lamborghini brings a lot of new things with it and is certainly a big change for me and for Rutronik Racing,” adds Niederhauser. “That’s why it’s all the more wonderful that we have the chance to master this challenge together and continue our very successful collaboration. Luca and Marco are both highly talented drivers with whom I have had a lot to do with in the past. We have a top package, and I am really looking forward to this year and this opportunity.”
For Engstler, this is a return to Rutronik Racing, after his 2022 campaign in ADAC GT Masters in 2022 with it at the start of his GT career. In 2026 he looks to build on his victory with Lamborghini in the 24 Hours of Spa as part of Grasser’s line-up, the world’s largest GT race, just a few seconds ahead of Rutronik Racing.
“I am delighted to be returning to Rutronik Racing,” he says. “With this team, I achieved my first podium finish in GT3 racing in the ADAC GT Masters. After several years, it is a great pleasure for me to be competing alongside Patric again. And to have Marco on the team, with whom I contested the 24-hour race at the Nürburgring last year, is also fantastic. I think it’s a very good driver line-up and a very strong team.
“We have a new car and a lot to learn, but I think we have the right people in the team and we will quickly get to grips with the car. This year, we will have to take everything step by step. After winning the 24h Spa ahead of Rutronik Racing last year and the team winning the Endurance Cup championship, it shows how strong the team is and how good the combination will be, and I can’t wait for the season to finally start!”
38-year-old Italian Marco Mapelli, winner of the GT World Challenge Europe title in 2019, completes the trio for the longer races.
“I have known Patric for a long time and have already worked with Luca in recent years,” he says. “As official Lamborghini drivers, we are pursuing the same goals and want to work with the team to further develop the car and perform as well as possible. Joining the reigning championship team gives me goosebumps every time, and we have set ourselves high goals.
“Rutronik Racing is a very professional team, and we are working hard to ensure that we will achieve top results with the Lamborghini. We have a long-term partnership and I am very happy to be joining them.”
Image courtesy of Rutronik Racing
