Raffaele Marciello will defend his Fanatec GT Europe Endurance Cup drivers' title alongside Valentino Rossi and Maxime Martin as part of Team WRT's multi-car line-up for the coming season.
As had been widely expected, the Swiss driver's switch to BMW has resulted in him landing a berth at WRT, uniting the championship's most successful driver with its most successful team.
Marciello will share the #46 entry with the continuing Rossi and Martin at all five Endurance Cup rounds, including the CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa. This means that Rossi will make his third bid for Spa victory with a pair of past winners: Martin triumphed at his home event in 2016, while Marciello took top spot in 2022.
In addition to their Endurance programme, Rossi and Martin will also contest the Sprint Cup rounds at Brands Hatch and Misano. The duo scored a famous victory at the latter in 2023 and were podium finishers at the British venue, while both events proved a major hit with Rossi's fanbase.
The #46 crew headlines a typically stout Team WRT programme. The #32 BMW remains unchanged for 2024, with three-time Sprint Cup champions Dries Vanthoor and Charles Weerts set to contest their fifth season as teammates. As was the case last term, they will be joined by Sheldon van der Linde in the Endurance Cup.
The #30 BMW will also run the full campaign. Sam de Haan will anchor the programme, moving to WRT after a successful 2023 with Optimum Motorsport. The Brit will be joined by the experienced Ahmad Al Harthy and BMW factory driver Jens Klingmann for a Bronze Cup entry in Endurance.
In Sprint, De Haan will be partnered by the returning Calan Williams in a Silver Cup entry. The #31 BMW is also set to contest the Sprint campaign, with drivers to be confirmed at a later date.
The line-ups were announced during WRT's annual winter part in Spa, where team boss Vincent Vosse was bullish about his team's ambitions for 2024.
“We had a positive start to our cooperation with BMW last year," said the Belgian. "We took up the challenges, we won races, long-distance and sprint ones, and we collected some memorable moments like those lived in Misano. But we want more!
"We want to improve, to win more races, to be champions again. I think we have what it takes, including stellar line-ups, and we’ll go for it. Now is the time, to show we know what to do, with the determination and the passion we have always had.”
The 2024 Fanatec GT Europe 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.
TEAM WRT LINE-UPS
ENDURANCE CUP
#30 Ahmad Al Harthy (OM) – Sam De Haan (GB) – Jens Klingmann (DE) Bronze
#32 Sheldon Van der Linde (ZA) – Dries Vanthoor (BE) – Charles Weerts (BE) Pro
#46 Raffaele Marciello (CH) – Maxime Martin (BE) – Valentino Rossi (IT) Pro
SPRINT CUP
#30 Sam De Haan (GB) – Calan Williams (AU) Silver
#31 Line-up to be confirmed
#32 Dries Vanthoor (BE) – Charles Weerts (BE) Pro
#46 Maxime Martin (BE) – Valentino Rossi (IT) Pro (Brands Hatch & Misano)