FINAL RESULT: Nürburgring
Mercedes-AMG Team Mann-Filter completed its mission to clinch the Endurance Cup on home turf in Sunday's three-hour GT World Challenge powered by AWS race at the Nürburgring. Fourth place was enough to put the drivers' title beyond doubt for Maro Engel, Lucas Auer and Luca Stolz, cementing their status among the elite of global GT racing.
The star of the three-hour race was the #7 Comtoyou Racing Aston Martin, which was in full control from start to finish. The Belgian squad came to the Nürburgring knowing that victory was essential to keep its title hopes alive and its trio of Nicki Thiim, Marco Sørensen and Mattia Drudi executed perfectly from pole.
It was not quite enough to take the fight to the finale at Portimão, but the win was a fitting reward for a peerless performance. Team WRT claimed the runner-up spot with its #32 BMW, which made steady progress from eighth on the grid. Mercedes-AMG Team Verstappen Racing which claimed its first-ever Endurance Cup podium just a few weeks after earning a maiden Sprint Cup triumph. Second on the road went to the #59 Garage 59 McLaren, but a 10-second time penalty dropped the British car – which had been a contender from the start – to P10.
After the title-winning #48, fifth spot went to the #17 Mercedes-AMG Team GetSpeed, followed by the #64 HRT Ford Racing which again showed top form at the team's home track.Tresor Attempto Racing took seventh and earned Gold Cup victory after Dylan Pereira seized the class lead during the final hour. The #99 Audi was a factor from the very beginning, first with Alex Aka and then Alex Frassineti at the wheel.
The #10 Boutsen VDS Porsche was second, while the #71 Selcted Racing Ferrari completed the class podium. The battle for the Gold Cup crown will go to Portimão with several crews still firmly in the hunt.
The Silver Cup has been settled. Team WRT wrapped up the title with its #30 BMW crew of Matisse Lismont, Ignacio Montenegro and Amaury Cordeel, who led much of the race but finished second after a late charge from HRT Ford Racing. This marked the first GT World Challenge class victory for the Mustang GT3 thanks to the crew of Eduardo Coseteng, Nicolas Baert and Niklas Kalus – the latter making a big impression on his series debut by completing the winning overtake. Third in class went to the #6 GetSpeed Team Bartone Bros Mercedes-AMG.
The #222 2 Seas Motorsport Mercedes-AMG won the Bronze Cup class from pole, though the car lost the lead at the start and did not regain it until the final hour. The same squad won this race last year with Charles Dawson at the wheel for both; on this occasion, his victorious teammates were Kiern Jewiss and Reece Barr.
The Bronze Cup teams' title has been decided in favour of Kessel Racing, which came home third in class with its #74 Ferrari despite being involved in a Turn 1 incident. The drivers' fight will be resolved at Portimão. The Portuguese track hosts the season finale on 16–18 October, before which there will be two Sprint Cup rounds. The first of these runs at Zandvoort on 18–20 September.