Barwell Motorsport has confirmed that it will field two Lamborghini Huracan GT3 Evo IIs in this year’s Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe Powered by AWS Sprint and Endurance Cup series.
Both cars will compete in the Bronze Cup as part of a stated aim for the team to earn an invitation to enter the 2025 Le Mans 24 Hours by winning the title.
For the Endurance Cup, Till Bechtolsheimer will team with Antoine Doquin and Lamborghini Squadra Corse factory driver Sandy Mitchell aboard the #78 car.
In the #72 JNKD Group/VIP Motors-backed Huracan GT3 Evo II, Gabriel Rindone will be partnered by Patrick Kujala and a yet-to-be-confirmed third driver.
For the Sprint Cup, Barwell has retained the services of Pro driver Mitchell in the #78, and he will be joined by Rob Collard – reuniting Barwell’s 2020 British GT Championship-winning pairing for the first time since their domestic title triumph.
Rindone and Kujala will double up in the #72 by sharing the car for all four of the Sprint rounds in which the Bronze Cup category will feature.
British driver Bechtolsheimer is both a prolific racer and also the new owner of the famed Lola Cars marque. He has spent much of his career competing in America, most recently in the LMP3 category of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. His GT3 experience includes a GTD class victory at Petit Le Mans in 2022.
“With all my sportscar racing having been in the US, I’m extremely excited to get the opportunity to race at some of Europe’s greatest tracks,” said Bechtolsheimer.
“While the car, the tracks, and the GTWCE format will all be new to me, I’m partnering with one of the best teams on the grid in Barwell, and two fantastic drivers in Sandy and Antoine. The start of the season can’t come soon enough.”
Frenchman Doquin is new to the team and brings with him a blend of youth and speed. Just 19, he has gained experience in both GT cars and prototypes. Last season he mixed a successful LMP3 campaign in the European Le Mans Series with outings in a Saintéloc Junior Team Audi R8 LMS Ultra GT3 in GTWCE, which yielded a Silver Cup podium in the 24 Hours of Spa.
Scotsman Mitchell returns to the Barwell team for Europe this year after racing with the K-Pax Lamborghini team last season. Mitchell will be competing across three championships with Barwell this season, with his Sprint and Endurance campaigns also being mixed with a full season of British GT.
“This year’s going to be a busy one, but I can’t wait to get started,” he said. “Racing in all three series with Barwell will be a great thing as having a consistent team around you, event after event, will definitely help us push the car forward. It’s also amazing to be back with Rob. He’s a superb driver, and we’ve already achieved a lot together. Hopefully that can continue this season.”
Collard is another driver on double duty with Barwell this season, twinning his British GT programme alongside eldest son Ricky with a return to European competition to partner Mitchell.
Rindone has significant GT experience with Lamborghini, competing in the brand’s single-make Super Trofeo championship across recent seasons. After finishing second in the Super Trofeo’s Am class in 2022, he won the championship last season and dovetailed that with a race-winning season in the Le Mans Cup, where he shared a Huracan GT3 with Kujala.
Finnish driver Kujala first competed with Barwell back in 2017. His accolades include winning the 2020 GTWCE Endurance Silver Cup title and an Am class win in the 2018 24 Hours of Spa. Last year he and Rindone finished fourth in the Le Mans Cup points, and the pair will continue their partnership into the GT World Challenge Europe this term.
“It’s great to confirm our European plans, and be back up to two cars for the full GT World Challenge Europe season,” Barwell Motorsport team principal Mark Lemmer added.
“We’ve got strength in depth across both our entries, and I believe we have all the ingredients to put together a title challenge with both cars. Till and Gabriel have already demonstrated their speed and skill, having already been winners in other major series.
“In Patrick and Sandy we have two proven Pro drivers who have already won races both with us and with Lamborghini, and then you add in young Antoine and we have a great mix.
“We know it’s going to be tough, but we relish the challenge and we can’t wait to take Till and Gabriel on the amazing journey that the GT World Challenge Europe presents. Plus, they’ll get to experience to incredibl 24 Hours of Spa in what will be the event’s centenary year – that will be the cherry on top.”
Image courtesy of Barwell
