GT World Challenge Europe Reveals 2021 Entry Lists: 40 Cars in Endurance Cup, 29 For Sprint

Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe Powered by AWS has revealed its full-season entry lists for the coming season with the series planning to resume its familiar 10-round schedule this year, combining five Sprint weekends with five long-distance Endurance contests. Sprint Cup GT World Challenge Europe Sprint Entry List The Sprint Cup sees a 29 car […]

Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe Powered by AWS has revealed its full-season entry lists for the coming season with the series planning to resume its familiar 10-round schedule this year, combining five Sprint weekends with five long-distance Endurance contests.

Sprint Cup

GT World Challenge Europe Sprint Entry List

The Sprint Cup sees a 29 car full season entry, its biggest full-time grid since 2017 and a substantial recovery from the 23 full-season cars named in the Series’ revised, post lockdown, entry list last season, though still down on the 33 initially announced pre-Covid in 2020.

Eight brands are set to contest every round of the short-format championship. Mercedes-AMG will be the best-represented marque with seven cars, while Audi, Lamborghini, Ferrari and Bentley all remain popular. The grid has been further bolstered by new entries from Porsche, McLaren and Aston Martin squads, with all three brands making a welcome return to the Sprint Cup.

Endurance Cup

GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Entry List

The Endurance Cup sees a 40 car full-season entry, down on both the initial (53) and post lockdown (42) levels last year though several races also welcomed guest cars with the Spa 24 Hours in 2020 seeing a 56 car entry. Additional race-by-race entries are again expected in 2021.

Now entering its 11th year of competition, the Endurance Cup will welcome nine brands to the long-distance championship, with BMW added to the eight that compete in the Sprint Cup. Once again Mercedes-AMG is best-represented, with nine of its AMG GT3 models set to run full-time.

GT World Challenge Europe Overall Entry

A total of 25 cars will undertake the complete Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe Powered by AWS schedule in 2021, an increase of seven compared with last year. This includes returns to full-season competition for Aston Martin, McLaren and Porsche, while Audi is the best-represented brand with seven entries committed to all 10 rounds. These are the teams that will compete for glory in 2021.

ASTON MARTIN

2 Sprint Cup entries | 2 Endurance Cup entries

Aston Martin will return to full-season competition this year thanks to a pair of entries from Garage 59. Part of the series since 2016, the team clinched the Pro-Am title in the Endurance Cup last term and now has its sights set on earning a maiden series championship for the legendary British marque. It will launch a two-pronged assault, with its full-season Pro-Am entry running alongside a Silver Cup contender at all 10 events.

AUDI

7 Sprint Cup entries | 7 Endurance Cup entries

Audi’s presence on the grid remains strong, with three firmly established teams fielding seven full-season cars. Reining overall champion Belgian Audi Club Team WRT will oversee three entries, while front-runners Sainteloc Racing and Attempto Racing will each deploy two. With strong representation across both disciplines, Audi has more cars contesting the full 2021 season than any other brand.

BENTLEY

2 Sprint Cup entries | 1 Endurance Cup entry

Despite the cessation of the factory programme Charly Bourachot’s CMR squad will continue to fly the flag for the British marque this season. The French outfit has committed a pair of cars to the Sprint Cup and will launch a solo effort at Endurance events.

BMW

3 Endurance Cup entries

Walkenhorst Motorsport will field a pair of Pro cars in the Endurance Cup as it chases a second overall win at the Total 24 Hours of Spa, as well as a record-extending 25th triumph for the Bavarian marque.

The familiar Boutsen Ginion Racing BMW will also be present at long-distance events, extending the Belgian squad’s commitment to the series with its M6 GT3.

FERRARI

3 Sprint Cup entries | 6 Endurance Cup entries

Following a stellar 2020, Ferrari is pushing hard to earn more silverware this term. Its contingent is led by full-season efforts from Pro-Am squads AF Corse and Sky Tempesta Racing, while Rinaldi Racing will embark upon a complete campaign in the Silver Cup.

Series newcomer Iron Lynx will defend the Italian marque’s overall Endurance Cup titles with a two-car effort, while there’s a welcome return for Kessel Racing, which will field a Pro-Am car at long-distance events.

LAMBORGHINI

4 Sprint Cup entries | 7 Endurance Cup entries

Lamborghini machinery remains a popular choice for Sprint and Endurance squads, with Emil Frey Racing expanding to field three full-season cars and Barwell Motorsport also running a complete schedule.

Three additional Huracan GT3s will run at Endurance Cup events, with Orange1 FFF Racing contending for overall victory and Pro-Am honours, while Grasser Racing returns to the series with a promising young Silver Cup crew.

MCLAREN

1 Sprint Cup entry | 1 Endurance Cup entries

McLaren will contest its first full-season programme since 2017 thanks to accomplished British squad JOTA, which will field a strong crew at both Sprint and Endurance events. Ben Barnicoat and Oliver Wilkinson will be ever-present, while 2016 Endurance Cup champion Rob Bell completes the trio at long-distance events. Among its objectives, JOTA will be looking to give McLaren its maiden win at the Total 24 Hours of Spa.

MERCEDES-AMG

9 Sprint Cup entries | 9 Endurance Cup entries

A significant Mercedes-AMG effort will be led by full-season programmes from AKKA ASP, Madpanda Motorsport, TokSport WRT and SPS automotive performance.

They will be joined at Sprint Cup rounds by RAM Racing, while HRT and Winward Racing will add further cars at Endurance Cup events. These impressive numbers mean that Mercedes-AMG will be the best represented manufacturer in both disciplines this year.

PORSCHE

2 Sprint Cup entries | 4 Endurance Cup entries

Porsche will return to full-season competition this year, with Dinamic Motorsport fielding a 911 GT3-R to challenge for overall honours and series newcomer Allied Racing contesting the Pro-Am class.

Additional representation at Endurance Cup events will see Dinamic field a Silver Cup challenger, while GPX Racing adds another top-tier entry as Porsche chases its third successive win at the Total 24 Hours of Spa.

Stephane Ratel, SRO Motorsports Group founder and CEO:

“I am pleased to present competitive and diverse season entry lists for the 2021 Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe Powered by AWS season.

“The Sprint Cup has attracted its biggest grid for a number of years and I am grateful to the teams, both new and old, that have shown their commitment.

“Looking at the line-ups that have already been confirmed in the Endurance Cup, the level remains extremely high and I am sure the fight for the overall win will be closer than ever.

“We have seen a shift from the Am Cup towards Pro-Am, while the creation of our new GT Sports Cup programme has also attracted Bronze drivers.

“Finally, it is very pleasing to see all of the seven brands competing for the global Fanatec GT World Challenge Powered by AWS title on our European entry list and I am looking forward for what promises to be a fantastic season of racing.”