The long summer break for the GT Cup Europe is over! The series of GT Sport aimed at cars, teams and drivers right below GT3 is back for the fifth and penultimate round of the season. Hosting it will be the technical and beautiful 4.657-km Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. The late summer round close to the many attractions of Barcelona and its surroundings is always one of the most awaited and appreciated ones. The GT Cup Europe heads to Montmeló in full gear, with a grid of 21 cars and close battles in all classes.
OVERALL: ALREADY THE MOMENT OF TRUTH?
With only one event (Monza) left after this one, Barcelona could already be a defining moment. The current leaders, Ian Rodríguez and Luca Franca, in the FAEMS Team Porsche 911, will try to defend and possibly expand their advantage, which starts to be a tangible advantage: 21 points.
On their side, their main opponents, young guns Pietro Armanni and Ludovico Armanni, in the 911 of ZRS Motorsport, are obliged to score very heavy points to keep their title bid alive up to Monza.
Outsiders, of course, can influence the course of events, as the top Silver class includes only candidates to race wins, starting from Lars Zaenen and Gonçalo Fernandes, the Q1 Trackracing pair currently fourth in the points ranking, who have already stepped once to the highest ladder of the podium.
The other two contenders in the top class in Spain are partial new entries including ex-Mertel drivers: Matteo Luvisi is back with a second Porsche entered by FAEMS Team, alongside newcomer Matteo Martinelli. On their side, Davide Larini and Tommaso Lovati have found a new home at Hans Wijk Motorsport, which also fields a second car.
PRO-AM: LAURA AND PAUL ON A MISSION
The Dutch squad is precisely the one leading the Pro-Am class, with an 8-point advantage. Laura van den Hengel and Paul Meijer have had so far a dominant tenure, cinching five wins in their Burgers Motorsport-livered car, but things are not done yet, as their main challengers, Davide Scannicchio and Fabio Babini, in the Tsunami RT Porsche, retain all chances to reverse the situation.
The ‘middle class’ includes other serious contenders. Nico Saelens and Stienes Longin, in the Q1 Trackracing car, are still chasing their first success of the season, a target that the Brazilian pair of LMR Motorsport, Peter Furter and Diego Nunes, have already achieved.
Finally, Luca Attianese and Riccardo Romagnoli continue to be faithful to the series, but their Porsche is now entered by Team Cars Racing with the support of Lema Racing.
AM: THE REIGNING CHAMPIONS AIMING AT A REPEAT
With 11 cars, the Am class is again the best-attended, and despite its many race winner candidates, the lead in the standings is firmly in the hands of the reigning champions, Leandro Martins and Dieter Svepes, in the LMR Motorsport Porsche, who now have a 15-point lead.
Their top challenger is Brazil’s Cássio Homem de Mello, racing for GDL Racing, which also fields the Porsches of the third classified, Argentina’s Fran Viel Bugliotti, and Italy’s Giacomo Giubergia.
Ebimotors, on its side, is present with its two cars, and partially renewed line-ups. Cosimo Papi will be associated with a driver to be nominated, while Luigi Peroni is partnering this time with an old friend of the series, Davide Roda.
No changes for Q1 Trackracing, always at the top with Nathan Brauns and Nico Vandierendonck, and RO1 Racing, sporting the Romanian colours with Camil Perian and Florin Tincescu.
The delegation of Lamborghini Huracán SuperTrofeo is on the rise. Luciano Privitelio is back in the Scuderia Villorba Corse car, while a completely new entry will be Aggressive Team Italia. The Milanese squad, which has built its reputation in TCR competitions and has recently entered the GT scene, is making its debut in the series with a top pair, composed of the reigning double champion Iván Velasco and Anny Frosio. The team is going to contest the remainder of the season, and its second car in Barcelona will be in the hands of its team principal and driver, Mauro Guazzamacchia.