The new season of the Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS kicks off this coming weekend, with BMW M Motorsport once again well-represented. At Circuit Paul Ricard (FRA), BMW M Motorsport teams WRT, ROWE Racing, and Century Motorsport will field a total of six BMW M4 GT3 cars and more than a dozen BMW M works drivers.
The works-supported teams WRT and ROWE Racing will each compete with two cars in the Pro Cup for overall victories. Both teams have only one personnel change from last year. In the #46 BMW M4 GT3, Raffaele Marciello (SUI) will be the third driver alongside Maxime Martin (BEL) and Valentino Rossi (ITA), as he was already at Bathurst (AUS) in February. The #32 BMW M4 GT3 line-up remains unchanged with Sheldon van der Linde (RSA), Dries Vanthoor, and Charles Weerts (both BEL).
The same applies to the ROWE Racing #98 BMW M4 GT3, where Philipp Eng (AUT), Marco Wittmann (GER), and Nick Yelloly (GBR) will compete, among others, to defend the title at the 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps (BEL). In the #998 BMW M4 GT3, Augusto Farfus (BRA) – who was with BMW M Team WRT in 2023 – will be the third driver alongside Dan Harper (GBR) and Max Hesse (GER). The car will feature a new design from BMW M Motorsport partner MultiBank Group in 2024.
In the Bronze Cup, Team WRT will field a third BMW M4 GT3. The #30 car will be driven by BMW M works driver Jens Klingmann (GER), FIA WEC driver Ahmad Al Harthy (OMA), and Sam De Haan (GBR). Century Motorsport celebrates its debut in the highly competitive Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS. In the #991 BMW M4 GT3, Formula E World Champion Jake Dennis, British GT Champion and FIA WEC driver Darren Leung, and Toby Sowery (all GBR) will share duties.
In the Sprint Cup of the Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS (starting on 4th/5th May), Team WRT will compete for the entire season with two BMW M4 GT3 cars. Vanthoor and Weerts will race in the Pro Cup, while De Haan and Calan Williams (AUS) will compete in the Silver Cup. Rossi and Martin will make individual starts and race the #46 BMW M4 GT3 in the sprint events at Brands Hatch (GBR) and Misano (ITA). Century Motorsport combines the two British GT champions Harper and Leung in one car in the Bronze Cup.
The opening race of the Endurance Cup at Le Castellet (FRA) starts on Sunday, 7th April, at 15:00 CEST and will run for a shortened distance of three hours compared to previous years. On the same weekend, the GT4 European Series will also start its season. Eight BMW M4 GT4 cars are registered for the first race weekend. They will be entered by teams Borusan Otomotiv Motorsport, L’Espace Bienvenue, W&D Racing Team, Razoon-more than racing, Lestrup Racing Team, and CHAZEL Technologie Course.
