Engel-Auer win Race 1 at Hockenheim and take lead

Auer-Engel take lead of Fanatec GT World Challenge Powered By AWS Sprint Cup Drivers

Maro Engel and Lucas Auer in #48 Winward Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo won Race 1 of the Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS Sprint Cup at Hockenheim. The Race 1 win enables them to take the lead of the Fanatec GT World Challenge Powered By AWS Sprint Cup Drivers from Vanthoor-Weerts.

📷 © Luc Warnotte at Hockenheim Race 1. Maro Engel cross checkered flag first with #48 Winward Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3.

Lucas Auer started third and moved up to second by passing Ben Green in the #14 Emil Frey Racing Ferrari 296 GT3. He became first when the then leading #71 AF Corse Ferrari 296 GT3 had a slow stop. Maro Engel kept his leadership despite several attempts from Vanthoor with #32 BMW M4 GT3 to overtake but ending 1.089 sec. behind Engel when crossing checkered flag.

📷 © Luc Warnotte at Hockenheim Race 1. Luca Auer, Maro Engel and his daughter celebrating Race 1 win at Hockenheim.

Vanthoor-Weerts end second

Charles Weerts started P19 with BMW M Team WRT #32 BMW M4 GT3 and moved up the hierarchy during his stint. Thank to a slow stop from #71 AF Corse Ferrari and a prefect pit stop from Team WRT, Vanthoor took over in second chasing Engel. Dries Vanthoor made several attempts to pass Engel but ended 1.089 sec. short in P2.

📷 © Luc Warnotte at Hockenheim Race 1. P7 for Charles Weerts in #32 BMW M Team WRT BMW M4 GT3 after 15’ of racing from P19 at the start.

Wrong operation for the Belgian duo in the Fanatec GT World Challenge Powered By AWS Sprint Cup Drivers as they lose the leadership to Auer-Engel for 0,5 points.

📷 © Luc Warnotte at Hockenheim Race 1. Dries Vanthoor not happy with race result speaking with Sam De Haan and Charles Weerts before the podium ceremony.

Front row Ferraris end third and fourth

📷 © Luc Warnotte at Hockenheim Race 1. Podium for Ben Green and Konsta Lappalainen in # 14 Emil Frey Racing Ferrari 296 GT3.

📷 © Luc Warnotte at Hockenheim Race 1. Eliseo Donno kept P1 during his stint but a slow pit stop by AF Corse brought Thomas Fleming in P5. A brilliant take over from Fleming bring Silver Cup win and P4 overall to the team.

Second Team WRT BMW M4 GT3 in top 5

📷 © Luc Warnotte at Hockenheim Race 1. Calan Williams hands over to Sam De Haan in P4 but De Haan was not able to resist to Fleming (#71 Ferrari). Both complete the overall top five and finish second of Silver Cup.

Gold Cup honors

📷 © Luc Warnotte at Hockenheim Race 1. Luca Engstler and Max Hofer with #6 Liqui-Moly Team Engstler Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO2 won Gold Cup in sixth overal.

Century BMW M4 GT3 win Bronze Cup

📷 © Luc Warnotte at Hockenheim Race 1. Dan Harper in the #991 Century BMW M4 GT3 he shared with Darren Leung demonstrated his talent and the velocity of the BMW M4 GT3 by running as high as fourth overall in the opening stint. Leung was able to maintain the class lead of the Bronze Cup.

Tomorrow Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS Sprint Cup schedule

• Qualifying 2 at 9:50 a.m. CEST

• Race 2 at 2:15 p.m. CEST

Related news

📷 © Luc Warnotte at Spa-Francorchamps 24 Hours. Engel tops pre-qualification at Hockenheim.

📷 © Luc Warnotte at Spa-Francorchamps 24 Hours. Team WRT at Hockenheim to defend championship lead.

📷 © Luc Warnotte at Spa-Francorchamps 24 Hours. Mercedes-AMG tops 2024 Manufacturer standing.

📷 © Luc Warnotte at Spa-Francorchamps. A Lamborghini tops Spa 24 Hours Qualifying.