Rutronik Racing has confirmed its first line-up for the 2024 Fanatec GT Europe season, which will see the team field a pair of Porsche entries in the full 10-round championship.
Dustin Blattner and Dennis Marschall will share the wheel of the #97 machine in the Sprint Cup, with Loek Hartog making up the trio at Endurance events. This crew will compete for Bronze Cup honours, while its second car is set to be a Pro entry.
Blattner and Hartog are both new to Fanatec GT Europe; indeed, Blattner is a newcomer to GT3 racing, having made his debut in last year's Intercontinental GT Challenge finale at Yas Marina. Hartog, meanwhile, has built up considerable experience at the wheel of Porsche machinery and scored a win in the marque's prestigious Supercup last term.
Pro driver Marschall returns to the Rutronik fold having previously driven for the team in ADAC GT Masters between 2019 and 2022. Previously part of Audi Sport's factory programme, the German turned in some eye-catching performances last season as part of the Tresor Attempto squad.
In addition to the regular drivers, Zacharie Robichon will join the crew at the CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa. The experienced Canadian has previously won the IMSA GTD title at the wheel of Porsche machinery.
“The entry of another Porsche 911 GT3 R in Fanatec GT Europe is a milestone in the development of Rutronik Racing," said team boss Klaus Graf. "The entry centred around Bronze driver Dustin Blattner will compete in both the Endurance Cup and the Sprint Cup. At this point I would like to thank everyone involved and our partners for the trust they have shown in making it possible to realise this project.
"With the return of Dennis Marschall to Rutronik Racing, we were able to gain an absolute top driver for the Endurance and Sprint programmes. With Loek Hartog's participation in the Endurance races as a young, up-and-coming talent from the Porsche environment, I am convinced that we will have a say in the fight for victory in the Bronze classification."
The line-up for Rutronik's Pro car is set to be confirmed in the coming weeks. The new season launches with the traditional Prologue at Circuit Paul Ricard on 5/6 March, followed by the opening Endurance Cup race at the same venue on 5–7 April and the first Sprint contest at Brands Hatch on 4–5 May.