Victories for Mercedes and Ferrari at Hockenheim

Text: Rick Kiewiet

Images: SRO

Hockenheim played host to a thrilling weekend in the Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS Sprint Cup, where the battle for the title took center stage. Two fiercely contested races saw multiple lead changes in the championship, with both Winward Racing and Team WRT claiming vital points, while Emil Frey Racing made a strong case to stay in contention. The ever-evolving title race leaves fans wondering: is it still a two-horse contest, or has a new contender emerged?

Race 1: Engel and Auer Dominate for Winward Racing

Maro Engel and Lucas Auer delivered a crucial victory for the #48 Winward Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo in the first of two 60-minute races, fending off relentless pressure from Dries Vanthoor in the #32 WRT BMW M4 GT3. Despite late drama at Turn 7, where Vanthoor briefly took the lead before running wide at Turn 8, Engel reclaimed first place and held on for the remainder of the race, taking the win by just over a second.

The #48 Winward car moved into the lead during the mandatory pit stops, thanks to a stellar opening stint by Auer, who had earlier climbed from third to second, overtaking Ben Green in the Emil Frey Racing Ferrari 296 GT3. The pole-sitting AF Corse Ferrari of Eliseo Donno, meanwhile, fell back after a slow pit stop, eventually finishing in fifth.

The race also featured a strong performance from the Team WRT BMWs, with Sam De Haan and Calan Williams completing the top five in their Silver Cup entry. Auer and Engel’s win catapulted them into the lead of the championship—at least for a day.

Race 2: Emil Frey Racing Strikes Back with Lappalainen and Green

Sunday’s contest saw Emil Frey Racing secure their first Sprint Cup victory since 2021, with Konsta Lappalainen and Ben Green taking the top step of the podium in their #14 Ferrari 296 GT3. Lappalainen started the race from fourth, but quickly moved into second after Ricardo Feller’s Audi suffered suspension failure. Green then capitalized on a slow pit stop for the race-leading Liqui-Moly Team Engstler Lamborghini, taking the lead and never looking back.

Green crossed the line 6.3 seconds ahead of the #32 Team WRT BMW of Vanthoor and Charles Weerts, who had overtaken the #48 Winward Racing Mercedes for second. This victory puts Lappalainen and Green firmly in the title conversation as they close the gap on their rivals, demonstrating their potential to challenge for the championship in the closing rounds.

With just two rounds left in the Sprint Cup season, the title fight couldn’t be closer. Vanthoor and Weerts reclaimed the championship lead with their runner-up finish in Race 2, putting them two points ahead of Engel and Auer. Both teams have shown remarkable consistency, with five podiums from six races, and neither seems ready to back down.

However, with their first win of the season, Lappalainen and Green have thrown their hats into the ring. Emil Frey Racing’s return to the top of the podium, combined with strong race pace from the Ferrari crew, signals that the title race may be far from a two-car duel.

As the Sprint Cup heads into the final stages of the season, the penultimate event at Magny-Cours hosts the next round in this tight championship battle. Can Winward Racing regain the upper hand, or will Team WRT’s consistency see them lift the title? And with Emil Frey Racing on the rise, the fight for the Sprint crown could be far from over.