Barwell Motorsport will contest this season's Fanatec GT Endurance Cup with a trio of familiar drivers sharing its #78 Lamborghini.
The British squad has forged a strong reputation on the European stage, not least by earning CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa class wins in 2018, 2019 and 2020. The team will once again campaign a Black Bull Scotch Whisky-liveried Lambo this term, with Adam Balon, Rob Collard and Dennis Lind competing for Pro-Am honours.
Balon will make the transition from the Intelligent Money British GT Championship, where he has enjoyed four successful seasons in a Barwell-run Lamborghini. During that time the Barwell/Balon combination wracked up numerous race wins and finished as championship runner-up last term.
Due to business commitments, Balon is unable to contest the marquee CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa. As such, the team is seeking a suitable Bronze-graded driver to join Lind and Collard at the season's main event.
Collard returns to Barwell’s Fanatec GT Europe line-up having previously claimed a Pro-Am class win at the CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa in 2020. In that same year, he secured the Intelligent Money British GT crown alongside recently-announced K-PAX Racing driver Sandy Mitchell.
The final member of the crew is also a British GT title winner. Lind continues a varied Fanatec GT Europe career that has seen the Danish ace at the wheel of Lamborghini, Audi and McLaren machinery. He was also the 2021 British GT champion with Barwell alongside Leo Machitski.
Mark Lemmer, Barwell Motorsport Team Principal: “I’m delighted that we will be returning to Fanatec GT Europe with such a strong driver line-up. Adam, Rob and Dennis have all won some massive races with Barwell so I don’t see any reason that we shouldn’t be aiming for the title.”
Adam Balon: “Back at Barwell, but with a twist. Europe in the EVO2. And racing with, rather than against the ever-rapid Rob and Dennis. Can’t wait…”
Rob Collard: “I’m really pleased to be back racing with Barwell Motorsport, competing in one of the most competitive GT endurance championships in the world. As a team, together with Dennis and Adam, we make a strong line-up so I’m looking forward to getting out testing and hope to replicate the success we had in 2020.”
Dennis Lind: “Delighted to be back with Barwell. It's going to be a great year I am sure. I am also very excited to drive the new Lamborghini Huracan EVO2. It's going to be a strong line-up this year, Barwell is as usual a great team so I am sure we will back scoring some pretty strong results!”
Euan Shand, Chairman of sponsors Black Bull Scotch Whisky: “This Huracan EVO2 car with our Black Bull sponsorship emblazoned across it has attracted a lot of attention pre-launch and we’re looking forward to seeing it racing in Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe Powered by AWS this year. It’s the perfect line up of the very best Barwell racing drivers coming together and we know their combined racing skills will make them a force to be reckoned with. We wish the entire team the very best of luck for the season ahead.”
The Barwell squad will join its rivals at the official Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe Powered by AWS test days, which take place next week at Circuit Paul Ricard (7-8 March). The Endurance Cup campaign launches at Monza on 21-23 April, followed by trips to Circuit Paul Ricard (2–4 June), the CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa (29 June–2 July), the Nürburgring (28–30 July) and Circuit de Barcelona Catalunya (29 September–1 October).