The final weekend of the Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS Sprint Cup at Zandvoort was a successful one for BMW M Team WRT. The team’s crews achieved multiple podium finishes throughout the weekend, with impressive performances from BMW M works drivers Valentino Rossi and Maxime Martin. On Saturday, Rossi and Martin made a fantastic comeback to secure a third-place finish. On Sunday, Charles Weerts and Dries Vanthoor took second place in an epic race, joined on the podium by Niklas Krütten and Calan Williams in third. Krütten and Williams were crowned Champions in the GTWC Gold Cup and GTWC Sprint Gold Cup.

Saturday’s race saw the BMW M Team WRT’s four BMW M4 GT3s starting in the middle of the grid after a difficult qualifying session. However, the drivers managed to avoid trouble and gain positions. Rossi, driving the #46 BMW M4 GT3, made up five positions before a Safety Car interrupted the race. Martin then took over the car and showcased an excellent performance, making several daring overtakes to claim third place after starting from 15th. Vanthoor and Weerts in the #32 car finished in fifth place.

Sunday’s race was filled with action due to mixed weather conditions. The BMW M crews performed well in qualifying, securing the front row. Martin started from pole position in the #46 BMW M4 GT3, followed by Williams in the #30 car, who impressed with a second-place qualifying position.

Both drivers had a strong start, with Martin maintaining the lead comfortably. However, heavy rain poured down on the Zandvoort circuit, making track conditions challenging. The race was neutralized by a Full Course Yellow and a Safety Car. After the restart, Krütten took the lead with the #30 car, followed by Rossi in second, while Vanthoor advanced from further behind. The slippery track led to various position changes throughout the race. In the end, Weerts and Vanthoor secured second place, while Krütten and Williams took third place and the championship titles. Martin and Rossi finished the final race in seventh place. Jean-Baptiste Simmenauer and Thomas Neubauer finished in seventh and 13th place, respectively, in WRT’s number 31 BMW M4 GT3.

Here are some quotes from the team after the Zandvoort races:

Vincent Vosse, BMW M Team WRT Team Principal: “Finishing the season with a double podium and winning the drivers’ championship in the gold class is a great feeling. Although we didn’t win the overall championship, we have learned a lot and will come back stronger next year.”

Valentino Rossi (#46 BMW M4 GT3): “Yesterday was very good, reaching our third podium of the season. It was a great race. Today we expected more as we started from pole position and Max was flying, especially in the dry. But unfortunately, heavy rain made me struggle with the wet tires. I made a mistake near the end and lost three positions. Nevertheless, the season was good, and I would like to thank Max and the whole team.”

Maxime Martin (#46 BMW M4 GT3): “It was a good final weekend. Yesterday’s podium was the highlight, starting from 15th and ending on the podium. Today was more unfortunate, but we still scored some points. We had a good sprint championship, and now we will see what next season brings.”

Charles Weerts (#32 BMW M4 GT3): “Overall, it was quite a difficult weekend for us. Coming here as title contenders and not winning the championship is a bit disappointing. But we did our maximum, and Dries’ great drive helped us secure a podium finish to end the sprint season.”

Dries Vanthoor (#32 BMW M4 GT3): “It wasn’t the weekend we hoped for, but ending on a positive note is good. Yesterday’s race eliminated our chances for the championship. Today we had nothing to lose, so we went all out and gave a P2 finish to the team. It was a nice Sunday for the whole team.”

Calan Williams (#30 BMW M4 GT3): “The day started fantastic with qualifying and then a podium finish. It’s amazing! Well done to Niklas as well. We were behind in the championship, but we gave it our all.”

Niklas Krütten (#30 BMW M4 GT3): “Today’s race was quite interesting. Racing at the front was new to us, and we hadn’t performed well in previous rounds. But Calan changed everything this morning. I still can’t believe we are champions!”