- Assenheimer and Cabezas Catalan join Companc
- Team confirms full lineup for GT World Challenge Endurance Cup
- Season begins next weekend at Imola
Madpanda Motorsport has signed Patrick Assenheimer and Jorge Cabezas Catalan to partner with team principal Ezequiel Companc in the upcoming GT World Challenge Europe Powered by AWS Endurance Cup season.
Assenheimer is a proven expert in the Mercedes-AMG GT3 while Cabezas Catalan is a GT3 debutant. Both will drive for the Barcelona-based team in top-level endurance races at Imola, Nürburgring, Circuit Paul Ricard and the legendary Total 24 Hours of Spa between July and November.
They will share driving duties with team principal Companc at all four rounds of the GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup, competing in the Silver Cup. Companc launched Madpanda Motorsport earlier this year after several seasons competing with other top level GT3 teams.
Patrick Assenheimer (28, from Heilbronn, Germany) has raced both the previous and updated 2020 version of the Mercedes-AMG GT3 for a number of top teams, and will bring valuable experience to Madpanda Motorsport for its debut season.
Jorge Cabezas Catalan (27, from Malaga, Spain) tested for Madpanda Motorsport at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya and Circuit Paul Ricard earlier this year and made a strong impression on the team straight away. Last year, he raced a Ginetta G55 GT4 in the GT4 European Series and GT4 South European Series, taking two wins in Jarama.
Ezequiel Companc (26, from Buenos Aires, Argentina) is Madpanda Motorsport’s founder and team principal but will race with Assenheimer and Cabezas Catalan throughout the Endurance Cup season. He will also compete in the GT World Challenge Europe Sprint Cup, for which his teammate will be announced at a later date.
Madpanda Motorsport’s first race will take place on Sunday, July 26 with a three-hour contest at Imola, Italy. The field will include almost 50 GT3 cars, including nine directly competing with Madpanda in the Silver Cup.
Quotes
Ezequiel Companc: “I’m thrilled to be joined by Patrick and Jorge because they are both exactly what we’re looking for to enter the Silver Cup with a lineup capable of winning. Patrick has a wealth of experience in the Mercedes-AMG, so his familiarity with the car will help the entire team. We’ve done a few test days with Jorge so far and he has had great chemistry with the whole team, proving himself to be a great team player who wants the best for all of us. I’m confident that we’ll make a winning team and I can’t wait to start bringing home the results!”
Patrick Assenheimer: “I didn’t expect to be returning to GT World Challenge Europe this year due to the current circumstances, but now I am very glad to have this opportunity with Madpanda Motorsport. It’s a new team and new teammates, but we’re ready to fight and I can’t wait for it.”
Jorge Cabezas Catalan: “I am very happy to be competing in GT World Challenge Europe this year as it is a great step in my racing career. I know I’m the ‘rookie’ on the team but I will contribute as much as possible to win races so that we can be in the title fight at the end of the season. I want to thank Madpanda Motorsport and Ezequiel for placing trust in me and giving me this opportunity.”
Driver lineup: No. 90 Madpanda Motorsport Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo
GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup
- Ezequiel Companc (ARG)
- Jorge Cabezas Catalan (ESP)
- Patrick Assenheimer (DEU)
GT World Challenge Europe Sprint Cup
- Ezequiel Companc (ARG)
- TBC
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credits press release Madpanda Motorsport