Magny-Cours. The title battle in the Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS intensified on the penultimate race weekend of the Sprint Cup in Magny-Cours (FRA). BMW M Team WRT drivers Dries Vanthoor and Charles Weerts (both BEL) secured a win and a second place in the #32 BMW M4 GT3, defending their narrow lead in the overall standings. The BMW M Motorsport teams also celebrated podium finishes in the silver and bronze classes. The Sprint Cup season finale will take place from November 11 to 17, 2018.^th-13^th October in Barcelona (ESP).

Vanthoor and Weerts showed strong comebacks in both races. On Saturday they drove from sixth to second place, which was subsequently converted into a win after the first-placed Porsche received a time penalty. On Sunday they climbed from eighth to second place. In both races they had close duels with the Mercedes #48 of Lucas Auer (AUT) and Maro Engel (GER). In the end, both duos were able to record a win and a second place, meaning Vanthoor and Weerts were able to defend their two-point lead in the Sprint Cup drivers’ championship. The same narrow gap also separates the two teams in the overall standings of the Sprint and Endurance Cups.

BMW M works driver Dan Harper (GBR) took third place in both races in the Bronze Cup with Darren Leung (GBR) in the #991 BMW M4 GT3 from Century Motorsport. Harper put in an impressive performance on Saturday in particular, when he started from second place and fought for the lead for a long time during his stint. Ultimately, Leung crossed the finish line first in his class, but because Harper had pushed a competitor into the gravel during a duel, the duo received a 10-second penalty and were classified third. Harper and Leung lead the drivers’ standings in the Bronze Cup, just as Calan Williams (AUS) and Sam de Haan (GBR) lead the Silver Cup. The duo from Team WRT took fifth and third places in the Silver class in Magny-Cours with the #30 BMW M4 GT3.

Voices after the races:

Vincent Vosse (Team Principal, BMW M Team WRT): “I am very happy with this weekend. With the win and second place, we got everything out of it. The starts in both races were fantastic. The pit stops were also extremely strong again – we won the Pit Stop Challenge. We also got a podium place in the Silver Cup, so we fully fulfilled our task in Magny-Cours.”

Dries Vanthoor (#32 BMW M4 GT3, BMW M Team WRT): “A win and a second place – that was a good weekend for us. Unfortunately, our title rivals also had a strong weekend and so we will take the fight to the final in Barcelona. It will be very exciting, but we will give everything to defend our narrow lead there.”

Charles Weerts (#32 BMW M4 GT3, BMW M Team WRT): “We can be very happy with the result this weekend. Of course we would have preferred to win on the track on Saturday, but in the end the points are what count. Many thanks to the team, BMW M Motorsport and Dries for the great job! The #48 is merciless and offers us a tough fight. We will build on that at the finale in Barcelona. If things go the same way there as they did here and we defend our two-point lead, I will be happy.”

Dan Harper (#991 BMW M4 GT3, Century Motorsport): “A great weekend – many thanks to Century Motorsport! My qualifying on Saturday with pole position in the class and second place overall was a highlight. Unfortunately, the time penalty after my collision cost us the class win. But going home with two third places is a good result. Darren did a great job. The BMW M4 GT3 was in top form this weekend.”